TITLE:
Natural Radioactivity Assessment and Radiological Hazards in Soils from Qarun Lake and Wadi El Rayan in Faiyum, Egypt
AUTHORS:
Saher M. Darwish, Samia M. El-Bahi, Amany T. Sroor, Najat F. Arhoma
KEYWORDS:
Natural Radioactivity; Radiological Hazards; HPGe Detector; Gamma-Ray Spectrometry
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Soil Science,
Vol.3 No.7,
November
7,
2013
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.