Assessment of Natural Radionuclide Concentrations (238U, 232Th, and 40K) in Soil Samples from Different Locations in Sohag Governorate, Egypt | ||||
| Sohag Journal of Sciences | ||||
| Volume 9, Issue 1, March 2024, Page 99-104 PDF (374.4 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Regular Articles | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/sjsci.2023.230580.1116 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Mohamed A. El-Zohry1; Mahmoud H. El-Zayat2; Khaled S.A. Hassaneen   1; Asmaa A. Mahmoud1; Shaimaa T. Tawik3; Waleed M. Abdellah3
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| 1Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt | ||||
| 2STEM School, Ministry of Education, Qena 83511, Egypt | ||||
| 3Radiation Protection Department, Nuclear and Radiological Safety Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo 13759, Egypt. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| The inherent levels of radioactivity present in the environment of uranium (238U), thorium (232Th), and potassium (40K) along with radium equivalent, absorbed dose rates, and annual effective dose equivalent were analyzed in soil samples collected from various locations within Sohag Governorate, Egypt using an N-type HPGe coaxial detector with a relative efficiency of 40% and an energy resolution of 2.0 KeV at 1.33 MeV photons of 60Co. The activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K ranged from 9.23±0.69 Bq/kg to 20.17±1.48 Bq/kg, 12.69±0.73 Bq/kg to 23.76±1.62 Bq/kg and 178.80±3.74 Bq/kg to 373.90±7.27 Bq/kg, respectively, with an approximate mean of 16.22±1.21 Bq/kg, 18.71±1.18 Bq/kg and 311.28±5.71 Bq/kg. The calculated radium equivalent values varied from 41.14 Bq/kg to 79.23 Bq/kg with an approximate mean of 66.94 Bq/kg. Absorbed dose rates caused by γ-ray ranged from 19.60 to 37.98 nGy/h, with an approximate mean of 32.09 nGy/h. Furthermore, the annual effective dose equivalent values ranged from 0.02 mSv/year to 0.05 mSv/year, with an approximate mean of 0.04 mSv/year. These findings provide valuable insights into the levels of natural radionuclides and radiation exposure in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. The results demonstrate compliance with international safety guidelines, signifying a diminished potential for radiation hazards among the inhabitants residing in the area. The study contributes to the overall understanding of environmental radioactivity and serves as a valuable reference for future assessments and radiological protection measures. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Natural radionuclides; activity concentrations; radium equivalent; absorbed dose rates; annual effective dose equivalent; radiation exposure; radiological protection | ||||
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