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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 September 2012
Some theoretical studies on the origin of long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) using stellar evolution models suggest that a low metallicity environment may be a necessary condition for a GRB to occur. However, recent discoveries of high-metallicity host galaxies of some GRBs cast doubt on the requirement of low-metallicity in GRB occurrence. In this study, we predict the metallicity distribution of GRB host galaxies, assuming empirical formulations of galaxy properties. We take internal dispersion of metallicity within each galaxy into account. Assuming GRBs trace low-metallicity star formation 12+log(O/H) < 8.2, we find that ≳ 10% of GRB host galaxies may have Z > Z⊙, depending on the internal dispersion of metallicity within galaxies.