Eucalyptus forests can be considered as the main source of raw material for
the pulp industry of Spain. This environment was selected for a radioactiv
ity study because natural and artificial radionuclides can be transferred i
nto the pulp mills, associated with raw material, wood and barks, where the
y are concentrated by industrial processes, becoming a cause of doses. Radi
onuclide concentration of natural radionuclides (U-238, U-234, Th-228, Th-2
30, Th-232) were determined by alpha- and gamma-spectrometry. Well-establis
hed radiochemical procedures were applied to environmental samples in order
to isolate these radionuclides. A comparison between Th-228 activity, dete
rmined by gamma-spectrometry, and Th-232 activity, determined by alpha-spec
trometry, was used as quality control parameter for analyses. The concentra
tion factors were finally evaluated from experimental data. (C) 2001 Elsevi
er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.