Assessment of natural radioactivity and external gamma dose rates in environmental samples from the Republic of Kosovo using gamma-ray spectrometry

Assessment of natural radioactivity and external gamma dose rates in environmental samples from the Republic of Kosovo using gamma-ray spectrometry | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Assessment of natural radioactivity and external gamma dose rates in environmental samples from the Republic of Kosovo using gamma-ray spectrometry Besire Cena This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8725247/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Natural radioactivity in environmental soils represents a primary source of external gamma radiation exposure to the population and constitutes an essential component of environmental radiological monitoring. This study presents a systematic radiological assessment of naturally occurring radionuclides (²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K) in representative soil environments of the Republic of Kosovo using a standardized environmental radioactivity evaluation framework based on gamma spectrometry methodology and internationally accepted radiological models. The assessment was conducted using representative activity concentration datasets and established radiological calculation procedures recommended by UNSCEAR, ICRP, and the European Commission for environmental radiation studies. Absorbed gamma dose rates in air and annual outdoor effective doses were estimated using standard dose conversion coefficients, while radiological hazard indicators, including radium equivalent activity and external hazard index, were evaluated to characterize potential environmental radiation risks. The evaluated activity concentrations indicate the dominance of ⁴⁰K compared to uranium and thorium series radionuclides, reflecting the influence of geological and mineralogical composition of soils. The estimated absorbed dose rates and annual effective doses remain within the range of global natural background radiation levels and below the recommended public exposure limit of 1 mSv y⁻¹. The results suggest that the radiological characteristics of soils in the study area are primarily governed by natural geochemical and lithological factors rather than anthropogenic contamination. This study provides a scientifically consistent baseline for environmental radiation monitoring, radiological risk assessment, and future comparative investigations in regions with similar geological settings, in accordance with the methodological scope of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment and related Springer journals. natural radioactivity radionuclide activity concentration environmental soils external gamma dose rate radiological hazard assessment Kosovo Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 18 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 15 Feb, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 15 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 28 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8725247","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":593554884,"identity":"ec48551c-59c0-4775-b5b6-9fa8e55cee2a","order_by":0,"name":"Besire Cena","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA60lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACAyA+AGZJMDYwJFQwMLBJEKlFAqLlDExLAn4tDBAtQJKxDczEr8Wcvf3h4YoKhjr+2c1tHx7OOxzNJ93A9uDjD9xaLHvOGBw8c4ZBQuLOweYZidsO57bJHGA3nIHPYTdyGA42tgFdcyOxmQGsRSKBTZoHn5b7zx8cbPzHICEP1jIHquUPXlsYDA42NjBIGIC1NEC14PO+ZU+OwcGGYxKSG0FaEo6lA/1ysE2yJw23FnP2448/NtTY8MvdSH/M+KPGOnf+7OZjEj9scGuBApQYB8bpKBgFo2AUjALKAABAJFSOJYv3GwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"University 'Isa Boletini' of Mitrovica","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Besire","middleName":"","lastName":"Cena","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-28 21:53:04","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8725247/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8725247/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108509639,"identity":"684d3d12-7513-40f7-b705-f9443504a512","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-05 12:27:07","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":657622,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"1SpringNatureBesira.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8725247/v1_covered_de72dfe3-6f6c-4c48-97ce-2919561cec29.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Assessment of natural radioactivity and external gamma dose rates in environmental samples from the Republic of Kosovo using gamma-ray spectrometry","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"environmental-monitoring-and-assessment","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"emas","sideBox":"Learn more about [Environmental Monitoring and Assessment](http://link.springer.com/journal/10661)","snPcode":"10661","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10661/3","title":"Environmental Monitoring and Assessment","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"natural radioactivity, radionuclide activity concentration, environmental soils, external gamma dose rate, radiological hazard assessment, Kosovo","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8725247/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8725247/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eNatural radioactivity in environmental soils represents a primary source of external gamma radiation exposure to the population and constitutes an essential component of environmental radiological monitoring. 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