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Academic Milestone: First Thesis-Based Publication from 2022–23 Session Published in Marine Pollution Bulletin (IF: 4.9)

 The Geochemical Research Laboratory at the University of Barishal has achieved a significant milestone with the official publication of its first thesis-based research paper from the 2022–23 session, exploring the radio-geochemical dynamics of Kuakata beach sediments.


We are absolutely delighted to announce a stellar academic achievement! A collaborative research paper spearheaded by our students and faculties at the Geochemical Research Laboratory, Department of Geology and Mining, University of Barishal, has been officially published in Marine Pollution Bulletin—a prestigious, peer-reviewed international journal published by Elsevier (Impact Factor: 4.9).

This benchmark work stands out as the first thesis-based international publication from the 2022–23 academic session, showcasing the high caliber of research being produced by our department's upcoming geoscientists.

Research Overview

The study, titled "Studying the geochemical processes of environmental radionuclide alterations in a coastal area in terms of lanthanides: Probabilistic radiological risk assessment," provides a comprehensive evaluation of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs), rare earth element (REE) distributions, and potential public health risks along the littoral sediments of Kuakata Sea Beach, Bangladesh.

Key Scientific Highlights:

  • Advanced Geochemical Mapping: Using High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-spectrometry and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA), the team mapped elemental abundances  and evaluated radionuclides 

  • The Lanthanide Connection: The study's core novelty lies in combining rare earth element (REE) geochemistry with Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) modeling. The findings show that collected sediments hold higher levels of light-REEs, primarily controlled by hydrodynamic sorting and mineralogical contributions from Himalayan felsic sources.

  • Mineralogical Fingerprints: Statistical modeling confirmed that the radioactivity is almost entirely geogenic, closely tied to the natural accumulation of heavy minerals like monazite and zircon in the beach sands.

  • Radiological Safety & Management: While the beach sands generally fall safely within acceptable international radiological thresholds, the study successfully pinpointed a few localized hotspots with elevated internal hazard values and lifetime cancer risks. The researchers emphasize continuous monitoring and suggest restricting the use of these specific sands in local construction to safeguard public health.

This research provides vital baselines for environmental preservation, public safety policies, and sustainable coastal management across Bangladesh's unique deltaic systems.

Congratulations to the Authors!

A huge congratulations to the collaborative research team specifically Zitu Kundu, which beautifully bridges dedicated students and expert senior scientists:

Zitu Kundu, Rahat Khan, Dipraj Roy, Arafat Islam Pranto, Devlina Saha Aishe, Khalid A. Ibrahim, Md. Saiful Islam, Abubakr M. Idris, Kamrun Naher, and Dhiman Kumer Roy.

Read the Full Paper

The complete paper, featuring extensive spatial distribution datasets, PMF model source graphs, and environmental hazard indices, is available online via ScienceDirect:

👉 Access the Publication on Elsevier (DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119896)

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