Natural Radioactivity Assessment and Radiological Hazards in Soils from Qarun Lake and Wadi El Rayan in Faiyum, Egypt

Saher M. Darwish, Samia M. El-Bahi, Amany T. Sroor, Najat F. Arhoma

Nuclear Physics Laboratory, Ain Shams University, Fac- ulty of Girls, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt..
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt;.

DOI: 10.4236/ojss.2013.37034                

Abstract

The activity concentrations of naturally occurring ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in surface soils along Qarun Lake and Wadi El Rayan located in Faiyum, Egypt were determined. The measurements were carried out through gamma-ray spectrometry using a coaxial HPGe detector. The results were compared with those reported in the literature. The radiological hazard radium-equivalent activity index, external and internal indices, radioactivity level index, absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose rate and total absorbed dose rate associated with radioactivity in all samples were evaluated and compared with recommended values. Correlation studies between pairs of radionuclides were performed and discussed.

Keywords

Natural Radioactivity; Radiological Hazards; HPGe Detector; Gamma-Ray Spectrometry

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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