Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Nuclear and Radiological Safety Research center, EAEA
2
physics
3
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, P.O. Box 44519, Egypt
4
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Egypt
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the specific activity of 238U (226Ra), 232Th, and 40K in black sand samples collected from the north of the Nile Delta in Egypt, near Rosetta beach parallel to the Mediterranean coast. The specific activities of the radionuclides were measured using a high pure germanium detector (HPGe). Results showed that the specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K ranged from 10.94 ± 0.76 to 279.31 ± 16.44 Bq kg-1, 10.92 ± 0.67 to 665.72 ± 29.30 Bq kg-1, and 34.04 ± 1.68 to 101.32 ± 4.79 Bq kg-1, respectively, with an average value of 87.85 ± 5.26, 155.95 ± 7.04, and 72.42 ± 3.65 Bq kg-1, respectively. The concentrations of radionuclides in the samples exceeded the limits recommended by UNSCEAR, the IAEA, and the ICRP for the Earth's crust. Moreover, some samples showed radiological hazard indexes, such as radium equivalent activities (Raeq), external and internal indexes, gamma and alpha indexes, and annual effective dose, that exceeded the recommended safety values of 370 Bq kg-1 for Raeq, one for external and internal indexes, gamma and alpha indexes, and 0.48 mSvy-1 for annual effective dose. These findings suggest that black sand samples may pose a radiological hazard, highlighting the need for radiation regulation and regular monitoring of black sand sites.
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