Radioactivity Concentrations in Dust and Soil of Enhanced Occurring Natural Radionuclides and Their Transfer Factors to Urban Trees in Phosphate Polluted Area

A survey was carried out to determine the activity concentration levels from the naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in four different areas affected to varying degrees by TE-NORM activity (Al-Nasr quarry for phosphate) by using of The High Purity Germanium Detector (HPGD) with consideration for the background level. The average activity concentration levels due to radionuclides were measured for soil, dust and urban trees leaves (Eucalyptus globulus leaves) samples collected from these areas. The transfer factors of radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) from soil and dust to plant (Eucalyptus globulus) for these areas were measured. It was found that the activity concentration of (40K, 232Th, and 226Ra) radionuclides varies according to the variations of areas. Samples of area (4) showed lower 226Ra and 232Th concentrations than other areas. Area (1) that close to the source of pollution showed the highest values for 226Ra activity concentration. Leaves of E. globulus exhibited different accumulation coefficients according to the distance from the quarry. The transfer factors of radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) are given to make rough estimates of the two main mechanisms of radionuclide accumulation; atmospheric deposition and root uptake of the urban trees (Eucalyptus globulus leaves). The relationship between the radionuclides concentrations in
leaf, deposited dust and soil samples was estimated by Pearson coefficients.