Assessment of Natural Radioactivity and its Associated Hazards in Ras HankorabBeach,South MarsaAlam City,Egypt (original) (raw)
Related papers
Al-Azhar Bulletin of Science, 2019
Natural radioactivity of 238 U, 232 Th series and 40 K of black sand samples collected along El-Fanar and El-Nargess Beaches in Baltim area, north of the Nile Delta in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, were measured using a gamma-ray spectrometer with a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Results showed that the average activity concentrations of 238 U and 232 Th in El-Fanar Beach was significantly higher (73.22±5.1 and 70.8 ± 4.9 Bq kg-1) than El-Nargess Beach (31.91±2.2 and 25.95 ±1.8 Bq kg-1) respectively. The average activity concentrations of 40 K in El-Fanar Beach was lower (67.47±4.7 Bq kg-1) than that in El-Nargess Beach (80.75±5.6 Bq kg-1). The hazard indices due to these radionuclides have been calculated. The obtained results from this study indicate that the average activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K at El-Nargess Beach are within world median ranges while average activities of 238 U and 232 Th in El-Fanar Beach are higher than the world mean (33and45) Bq kg-1 respectively. This study aimed to establish a baseline map of radioactivity background levels in the aforementioned region to assess any change in the radiological background levels due to any artificial effects attributed to any radiation activities.
The Egyptian mineral sand deposits are beach placer deposits which involve enormous quantities of potentially economic heavy minerals. These minerals occur in variable proportions, mixed with the beach of the Mediterranean Sea of Egypt along a stretch of about 400 km, extending from Rafah eastward to Abu Qir westwards. In addition, these contain different concentrations of radioactive minerals that are considered as raw materials for nuclear energy use. In other hand, the radioactive hazard is mainly attributed to the occurrences of radioactive minerals such as monazite and zircon that host uranium and thorium minerals in the beach black sand deposits. The present study introduced a regime of methods to allow the correct assessment of the radioactive hazards arising from the radioactive mineral content in the beach sand of Metoubas area at the northern cost of Nile Delta of Egypt. Also the studies give recommendations to be applied on the site or area before, during and after the implementation of any constructions in order to satisfy the radioactive safety conditions suggested by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Therefore, this study was conducted as a case study on the northern cost of Egypt. The ground spectrometry has been used to measure the radioactivity. In addition, samples of beach sediments from Metoubas area were collected in order to measure radioactive concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 238 U and 40 K by gamma spectrometry carried out in NMA laboratories. The exposure dose rates assessed are determined; and estimations of the effective dose rate equivalents and health risk assessment on humans have been determined. Results showed low levels of radioactivity in Metoubas beach sediments of the eastern zone where as the western and central zones showed moderate radioactivity. The principal radiation risks are gamma radiation, essentially from radium; windblown radioactive dust dispersal and radon gas and its radioactive progeny, which are known to cause lung cancer. It also reveals that the dose rates sharply decrease towards the southeastern zone. In addition, the exploration results obviously demonstrate that the mineral concentration in the beach sediments of the site is increasing due west of limited mineralization which occurs in this part. This part of resource in site area can be scarped to be utilized later in any future exploration plans conducted in the Abu Khashaba-Metoubas mineral zone. Furthermore, the obtained data set could be used as background levels for future research applications and development of environmental regulatory frameworks along the northern coast.
"Natural Radionuclides Distribution in the black sand –North Coast of Egypt"
The aim of this work is to estimate the effective dose to public in Rasheed (Abu Khashba).The obtained results were compared to IAEA safety Standard and this will be contribute in the establishment of Safety Criteria in the field of mining and milling process. Systematic studies on gamma radiation level and the distribution of natural radionuclides were carried out for the establishment of baseline data on background radiation level and the distribution of radionuclides in the environment of Rasheed seashore, in the north of Egypt, where the black sand cover most of the seashore. The external gamma absorbed dose rates prevailing in the region were measured using (TLD-200). Sixty black sand samples were collected from different locations covers three kilometers of the seashore. Radioactivity of terrestrial radionuclides (238 U, 232 Th, 226 Ra and 40 K) was measured in these samples using gamma ray spectrometry system with an HPGe detector. The activity of 238 U was found to vary between 244.6-3660.19 Bq/kg, with a mean value 1509.6, while 232 Th varies between 258.02-8294.02Bq/Kg,with a mean value 3274.3. 226 Ra varies between 265.05-3906.16 Bq/Kg with a mean value 2085.15Bq/Kg and 40 K varies between 233.7-789.36 Bq/Kg with a mean value 603.9Bq/Kg. The contributions of 238 U, 232 Th, 226 Ra and 40 K to the total gamma absorbed dose rate were calculated. The gamma absorbed dose rate estimated using the results of activity concentration of 238 U, 232 Th, 226 Ra and 40 K are found to compare well with that of TLD-200 chips. Personal dosimetry (TLD-100) chips were used to evaluate the dose rate to public (fishers).
Estimation of Radiation Hazards of Natural Radionuclides in Archaeological Site (Tanis), Egypt
Arab Journal of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, 2019
Natural radionuclides of 238 U (226 Ra), 232 Th and 40 K contained in the earth crust (soil) of Archaeological Site (Tanis, San Al-Hagar, Sharqai, Egypt) were measured using γ-ray spectroscopy system equipped with High pure germanium detector (HPGe). 20 soil samples were collected from the ground surface of tomb rooms, roads among tombs and the outer empty space of Tanis. Arithmetic mean values of radionuclides concentrations in the studied samples were 5.96 ± 1.46 Bq kg-1 for 226 Ra, 3.78 ± 1.60 Bq kg-1 for 232 Th and 70.34 ± 7.20 Bq kg-1 for 40 K, respectively. All the studied natural radionuclides had concentration values less than worldwide recommended value of 35, 30, 400 Bq kg-1 for 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K, respectively. Furthermore, the radiation dose in that site was measured using Digilert100 radiation survey meter and its mean value was of 0.52 ± 0.13 μSv h-1 which is much lower than safety limit. Moreover, radiological hazards indices of radium equivalent activity (Ra eq), external (H ex) and internal hazard indices (H in), alpha and gamma radiation indices and annual effective dose due to the presence of those radionuclides were calculated and their values were less than worldwide limit. These results implied that the Tourists can safely visit and stay in this site (San Al-Hagar) as long as they wish.
Arab Journal of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, 2019
The radiological hazard indices were determined using NaI(Tl) detector for twenty six collected rock samples from Abu Rusheid area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt. The Eastern Desert of Egypt is a source of granitic rocks used for uranium mining and also used as raw materials for building.For this reason cataclastic (mylonitic) rock samlpes were investigated to evaluate the radiation hazard indicators and compare them with the world average values.The results show that the distribution of radionuclides activity concentrations in the rock sample varieties affects the values of the absorbed dose rate in the studied rocks to be higher than the worldwide limit that are not safe for human. The average values of the total annual effective dose varied from 3.30 to 7.51 mSvy-1 and the lifetime cancer risk ranged from 2.31to 5.25. From the radiation protection point, the results were found above the worldwide average. These data record the radioactivity background levels in rock samples and could be used as reference information to assess any changes in the radioactivity background level due to different geological processes in the investigated area.
Radiological aspects of water, soil and shore sediments resources in Marsa Alam-Shalateen area, Red Sea coast, Egypt, were investigated with the aim of presenting background about the radiological levels and assessing the associated hazards. The results of study are intended to support the governmental authorities as regards the future-natural resources management. Sixty nine environmental samples (30 water, 33 soil and 6 shore sediments samples) were collected in 2015 and analyzed for Ra-226 (U-238) series, Th-232 series, K-40 and Cs-137 radionuclides using Hyper-Pure Germanium (HPGe) detector. For all samples, the activity concentrations of Cs-137 radionuclide are under the detection limit of the used analytical procedures. As regards the water resources, the Th-232 activity concentrations in the major part of water samples were under the detection limit. The Ra-226 activity concentrations ranged from <0.7 to 7.6 Bq L À1 and from <0.7 to 6.31 Bq L À1 for groundwater and sea water samples, respectively. All the desalinized water and 50% from wastewaters were clear of Ra-226 activity concentration. The K-40 ranged from <3 to 32.84 Bq L À1 , from <3 to 38.17 Bq L À1 , from <3 to 54.31 Bq L À1 and from <3 to 40.91 Bq L À1 for groundwater, sea water, desalinized water and wastewater samples, respectively. Radiologically, all fresh waters, safe for drinking except Al Gaheliya well showed Ra-226 activity concentration higher than the guidance level recommended by the WHO. For soil cover, the average activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 of the carbonaceous soil samples were 18.45, 16.78, and 334.35 Bq kg À1 , respectively. While for the siliceous soil samples, they were 10.24, 8.68 and 234.47 Bq kg À1 , respectively. For shore sediment samples having calcareous nature, the average concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 were 10.76, 9.86 and 304.74 Bq Kg À1. There are no risks for people health based on the calculated radiological hazard indices. However, people could be affected by radiation in one site (Marsa Alam-Shelateen Road km 33), where the representative level index (1.052 Bq kg À1) and absorbed gamma dose rate (66.5 nGy h À1) exceed the maximum permissible limits.
Measurement of Natural Radioactivity in Beach Sand of Akkuyu Mersin, Turkey
Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 2014
Distribution of natural radionuclide gamma rays produced by 232 Th, 226 Ra and 40 K, were determined for the sand collected along the cost of Mersin in Akkuyu. Gamma radiation in beach sand samples collected from Akkuyu nuclear power plant region has been measured by NaI(Tl) gamma ray spectrometer. Gamma spectrometer has been calibrated with IAEA reference set which were RGK, RGU and RGTH. The radioactivity concentration of were calculated and expressed in Bqkg-1. The source of cause for the total doses of beach sand was formed due to three primordial radionuclide which were 232 Th, 226 Ra and 40 K. The activity of radionuclide were between 3.96-17.18, 15.82-39.48 and 133.54-287.06Bqkg-1 respectively. Radiological hazard, radium equivalent, external hazard and total dose rate were also calculated. Results were discussed with UNCEAR reports.
Natural radioactivity and their radiological effects for different types of rocks from Egypt
Radiation Physics and Chemistry
The present work investigated the radioactivity level of the rocks samples collected from different sites in Egypt. Twenty one rocks samples were analyzed by gamma-ray spectrometry using NaI(Tl) detector with specially designed shield. The concentration of three natural radionuclides namely 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K has been determined and compared with chemical data obtained by XRF analysis. The results showed that these radionuclides were present in concentration ranges (3.4-99, 7.5-134 and 93-3382 Bq kg À 1 ), (54.9-211.6, 20.71-170.5 and 2068-2344 Bq kg À 1 ) and (13-106, 29.25-106.1 and 682-755 Bq kg À 1 ) for gneiss, granite and basalt rocks, respectively, while the values were (7.5, 12.5 and 263.9 Bq kg À 1 ) and (113, 148.5 and 1672 Bq kg À 1 ) for 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K in sandstone and siltstone rocks, respectively. Also radium equivalent activity, total dose rates and external hazard index of the rocks samples under consideration were calculated. The results showed that granite rocks contain a high proportion of natural radioactive elements, while sandstone rocks have lesser radioactivity concentration compared with other types of rocks.
2011
The natural radionuclide (238 U, 232 Th, 226 Ra & 40 K) contents of soil and rock samples at various locations in Wadi Sahu area, Sinai, Egypt were studied using spectrometric techniques. The estimation of radioactivity hazard indices radium equivalent (Ra eq), external hazards (H ex) and internal hazards (H in) beside Eropean Commission index (I EC) in building materials have been derived. Also, integrated measurements for radon gas concentrations beside gamma dose exposure were taken at these locations. The concentration of radon-222 in unit of kBqm-3 , gamma dose in µSv/h and the annual effective dose rate (EDR) in mSv/a were estimated. The average of the radioactivty hazard indices and radium equivalent values are little more than restricted levels for the public.So,some precautions and recommendations should be follow and take into consideration for the public residences in this area. The effective annual dose rate (EDR) of the total area is ranging between 0.18-3.50 mSv/a with average value 1.84 mSv/a.The etch track detector using CR-39 for radon (Rn-222) subserface at the studied locations gives an indication and promissining to uranium occuarence in some regions under study.