Soil samples were collected at 30 sampling points distributed evenly in Guangyao Village, South China to determine the radioactivity level around a monazite tailings pond via gamma spectrometry with an HPGe detector. The result of mean radioactivity concentration +/- standard deviation of radionuclides Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 in the soil were 26.84 +/- 4.36,8.87 +/- 0.93 and 453.81 +/- 99.95 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Shapiro-Wilk normality test results show Ra-226 and Th-232 radioactivity concentrations consistent with normal distributions. The natural radioactivity level in the soil was evalua...
