Natural radioactivity and radiological hazard assessment of soil using gamma-ray spectrometry

2013 ◽  
Vol 155 (4) ◽  
pp. 467-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zubair ◽  
D. Verma ◽  
A. Azam ◽  
S. Roy
Keyword(s):  
Hazard Assessment ◽  
Natural Radioactivity ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Gamma Ray Spectrometry ◽  
Radiological Hazard

scholarly journals VZTAH MEZI PŘIROZENOU RADIOAKTIVITOU HORNIN A PŮD NA NICH VYTVOŘENÝCH – ZÁKLADNÍ PROBLÉM INTERPRETACE DAT ZÍSKANÝCH LETECKOU A TERÉNNÍ GAMASPEKTROMETRIÍ

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Zimák
Keyword(s):  
Natural Radioactivity ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Mineralogical Composition ◽  
Gamma Ray Spectrometry ◽  
Spectrometric Analysis ◽  
Radiation Dose Rate ◽  
Parent Rocks ◽  
Mass Activity

The objective of this study was to assess the amount of natural radionuclides in fresh parent rocks and their effect on natural radioactivity of soils developed from them. Forty-five fresh rocks consisting mainly of granitoids, syenitoids, acid to basic metavolcanites, mica schists, gneisses, quartzites, serpentinites, sandstones, graywackes, and limestones and their corresponding overlying soils were sampled for laboratory gamma-ray spectrometric analysis. Contents of potassium, uranium and thorium were converted to mass activity of 226Ra equivalent (am) and terrestrial gamma radiation dose rate (D). Data are tabled and discussed. The highest am values occured in syenitoids (386–441 Bq·kg-1) followed by granitoids, mica schists, greywackes and gneisses, whereas the lowest am values were found in quartzose sandstones (15–36 Bq·kg-1) followed by limestones (less than 15 Bq·kg-1) and serpentinites (less than 6 Bq·kg-1). The natural radioactivity of soils is usually slightly lower than that of parent rocks due to the lower content of potassium, uranium and thorium in soils. This is typical for granitoids, syenitoids and rocks of similar mineralogical composition. In soils developed on granitoids and syenitoids were found increased concentrations of all three elements in the grain size fraction below 0.063 mm. Soils developed on rocks with low natural radioactivity (such as limestones and serpentinites) tend to have significantly higher natural radioactivity than their parent rocks. This may complicate the interpretation of data obtained by airborne gamma-ray spectrometry.

ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN MAIZE AND ESTIMATION OF CONCOMITANT DOSE TO NIGERIAN VIA INGESTION PATHWAY

2019 ◽  
Vol 184 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 359-362
Author(s):  
Mudassir H Yarima ◽  
M U Khandaker ◽  
A Nadhiya ◽  
M A Olatunji
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Natural Radioactivity ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Gamma Ray Spectrometry ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Dose Limit ◽  
Annual Dose ◽  
Lifetime Cancer Risk ◽  
Environmental Media ◽  
Naturally Occurring

Abstract Uranium, thorium and potassium are the most abundant naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) found in soils and other environmental media including foodstuffs. Since the human exposures to NORMs is an unavoidable phenomenon, in such a way that they can easily find their way to human being via food chain, detailed knowledge on their presence in foodstuffs is necessary to assess the radiation dose to the population. Thus, the present study concerns the assessment of natural radioactivity in maize, a staple foodstuff for Nigerian, via HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry. Activity concentrations (Bq/kg) in the maize samples were found to be in the range of 6.1 ± 0.6–8.2 ± 1.3, 2.2 ± 0.4–5.1 ± 0.7 and 288 ± 16–401 ± 24 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. Measured data for 226Ra and 232Th show below the world average values of 67 Bq/kg and 82 Bq/kg, respectively, while the activity of 40K exceeds the global average of 310 Bq/kg. The annual effective dose via the maize consumption was found to be far below the UNSCEAR recommended ingestion dose limit of 290 μSv/y, and the estimated lifetime cancer risk show lower than the ICRP (1991) cancer risk factor of 2.5 × 10−3 based on the additional annual dose limit of 1 mSv for general public, thus pose no adverse health risk to the Nigerian populace.

scholarly journals Natural Radioactivity, Radiological Hazard and Petrographical Studies on Aswan Granites Used as Building Materials in Egypt

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6471
Author(s):  
Nasser M. Moghazy ◽  
Amira M. El-Tohamy ◽  
Mona M. Fawzy ◽  
Hamdy A. Awad ◽  
Hesham M. H. Zakaly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Radioactivity ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Mineralogical Composition ◽  
Eastern Desert ◽  
Granitic Rocks ◽  
Gamma Ray Spectrometry

The present study was carried out on commercial types of Aswan granite used as building and decorative materials. Nearly 29 granitic rocks samples from 11 classes (black Aswan, red Aswan, dark Rosa, light Rosa, yellow Verdi, grey Shirka, Gandolla, Forsan, red Nefertiti, Royal, and white Halayeb) were collected from three stations near Aswan city for petrographical description and assessment of natural radioactivity. The petrographical study of granites was conducted by polarized-light microscope in order to determine their mineralogical composition and investigate their texture; the activity of the natural radionuclides 238U, Ra226, 232Th, and 40K was measured by gamma-ray spectrometry with a NaI(Tl) detector. The average values of the activities, 52.2 Bq kg−1, 57.8 Bq kg−1, 31.2 Bq kg−1, and 1055.7 Bq kg−1 of U-238, Th-232, Ra-226, and K-40, respectively, were higher than that the world average values of 35 Bq kg−1, 30 Bq kg−1 and 400 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, respectively, according to the recommended levels from UNSCEAR reports. The minimum and maximum values obtained were compared with the value ranges from other locations in the Eastern Desert, highlighting the fact that that the maximum values obtained in this work are higher than those in other areas. According to the radiological hazards indices results, most samples lie in the permissible level ranges, suggesting their favorability for use as building materials. In contrast to that, some samples have some environmental parameters higher than the international levels, indicating their unsuitability as building materials.

scholarly journals Radiological Hazard Evaluation of Some Egyptian Magmatic Rocks Used as Ornamental Stone: Petrography and Natural Radioactivity

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 7290
Author(s):  
El Saeed R. Lasheen ◽  
Mohammed A. Rashwan ◽  
Hamid Osman ◽  
Sultan Alamri ◽  
Mayeen U. Khandaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Radioactivity ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Granitic Rocks ◽  
Hazard Evaluation ◽  
Gamma Ray Spectrometry ◽  
Radiological Hazard ◽  
Absorbed Dose Rate ◽  
Ornamental Stone ◽  
Magmatic Rocks ◽  
Ornamental Stones

Magmatic rocks represent one of the most significant rocks due to their abundance, durability and appearance; they can be used as ornamental stones in the construction of dwellings. The current study is concerned with the detailed petrography and natural radioactivity of seven magmatic rocks. All are commercial granitic rocks and are identified as black Aswan, Nero Aswan, white Halayeb, Karnak, Verdi, red Hurghada and red Aswan. Their respective mineralogical compositions are classified as porpheritic granodiorite, granodiorite, tonalite, monzogranite, syenogranite, monzogranite and syenogranite. A total of nineteen samples were prepared from these seven rock types in order to assess their suitability as ornamental stones. Concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclides were measured using NaI (Tl) scintillation gamma-ray spectrometry. Among the studied magmatic rocks, white Halayeb had the lowest average values of 226Ra (15.7 Bq/kg), 232Th (4.71 Bq/kg) and 40K (~292 Bq/kg), all below the UNSCEAR reported average world values or recommended reference limits. In contrast, the other granitic rocks have higher values than the recommended limit. Except for the absorbed dose rate, other radiological hazard parameters including radium equivalent activity, annual effective dose equivalent, external, and internal hazard indices reflect that the White Halyeb rocks are favorable for use as ornamental stone in the construction of luxurious and high-demand residential buildings.

Comparing of the Natural Radioactivity in Soil Samples of University at Al-Husseineya and Al-Mothafeen Sites of Kerbala, Iraq

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-191
Keyword(s):  
Natural Radioactivity ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Standard Errors ◽  
Radiological Hazard ◽  
Gis Technology ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Radiological Hazard Indices

Abstract: Radioactivity must be studied in soil to see the changes in the doses of human exposure. In this study, natural radioactivity and radiological hazard indices in soil samples of the Faculty of Agriculture (Al-Husseineya site) and the Faculty of Medicine (Al-Mothafeen site) in Kerbala Governorate were determined using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The results showed that the mean values of specific activity (in units of Bq/kg) and standard errors of: 238U, 232Th and 40K at Al-Husseineya site was 21.7±7.2, 9.43±3.2 and 335.8±82.2, respectively, while at Al-Mothafeen site, the mean values and standard errors were 22.4±8.8, 11.2±3.3 and 333.1±70.7, respectively. Radiation maps of natural radioactivity (238U, 232Th and 40K) at Al-Husseineya and Al-Mothafeen sites were mapped using geographic information system (GIS) technology. Moreover, most results in the present study fall within the acceptable levels, as defined by OCDE, UNSCEAR and ICRP. Therefore, there is no significant radiological hazard at the sites which were studied. Keywords: Radiological hazard, Natural radioactivity, Soil, NaI (Tl), Gamma-ray, Karbela University.

scholarly journals Assessment of Natural Radioactivity for Some Secondary Ceilings Samples in Iraq

2021 ◽  
Vol 877 (1) ◽  
pp. 012034
Author(s):  
Ali Saeed Al Rmahi ◽  
Ali Abid Abojassim
Keyword(s):  
Natural Radioactivity ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Radiological Hazard ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Hazard Risk ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
The World ◽  
Radiological Hazard Indices

Abstract This research focuses on measuring of specific activity of natural radioactive sources (238U, 232Th and 40K) in some types of secondary ceilings that used as a decorate material and available in Iraqi markets. The measurements were done using gamma ray spectroscopy system that based on NaI(Tl) Detector. Also, the radiological hazard indices have been assessed for all samples in present study. The results show that the specific activity vary from 8.7±0.6 to 32.9±2.3 Bq/kg for 238U, 2.9±0.2 to 40.3±1.5 Bq/kg for 232Th, and 117.4±2.6 to 649.1±7.9Bq/kg for 40K. The latter levels were compared with the world mean values that reported by the UNSCEAR 2008. It was found that all values of 238U and 232Th were below the world wide published values, while the values of only two samples of 40K were above the upper range of the world wide published values. Regarding the average values of radiological hazard risk were found to be within the permissible limit according to the OECD, UNSCEAR 2000, and ICRP. It can be concluded that natural radioactivity levels together with radiological hazard risk studied from the most of the secondary ceilings samples available in local markets of Iraq within natural rates of permissible limits and may not cause any danger to the human when being used.

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