Abstract
The present study aims to assess Abu Rusheid and Um Naggat albite granite’s natural radioactivity in the Central Eastern Desert, Egypt, using an HPGe laboratory spectrometer. A total of 17 albite granite samples were detected for this study. The activity concentrations were estimated for 238U (range from 204 to 1127 Bq/kg), 226Ra (range from 215 to 1300 Bq/kg), 232Th (from 130 to 1424 Bq/kg) and 40K (from 1108 to 2167 Bq/kg) for Abu Rusheid area. Furthermore 238U (range from 80 to 800 Bq/kg), 226Ra (range from 118 to 1017 Bq/kg), 232Th (from 58 to 674 Bq/kg) and 40K (from 567 to 2329 Bq/kg) for the Um Naggat area. The absorbed dose rates in the outdoor air were measured with average values of 740 nGy/h for Abu Rusheid albite granite and 429 nGy/h for Um Naggat albite granite. The activity concentration and gamma-ray exposure dose rates of the radioactive elements 238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K at Abu Rusheid and Um Naggat exceeded the worldwide average values that recommend the necessity of radiation protection regulation. Moreover, the corresponding outdoor annual effective dose (AEDout) was calculated to be 0.9 and 0.5 mSv y−1 for Abu Rusheid and Um Naggat albite granite, respectively, which are lower than the permissible level (1 mSv y−1). By contrast, the indoor annual effective dose (AEDin) exceeded the recommended limit (3.6 and 2.1 for Abu Rusheid and Um Naggat, respectively). Therefore, the two areas are slightly saving for development projects concerning the use of the studied rocks. The statistical analysis displays that the effects of the radiological hazard are associated with the uranium and thorium activity concentrations in Abu Rusheid and Um Naggat albite granites.
Highlights
Natural radioactivity in the environment is due to the presence of natural radionuclides, namely 238U, 232Th and 40K, in various geological formations [1,2]
Because the ornamental and construction materials used in buildings are derived from natural rocks, such as granitic rocks, it is critical to assess the radiological dangers that humans face by measuring the concentration levels of radionuclides in these rocks
Geological materials utilized in industry, such as granitic rocks and their industrial derivatives, as well as concrete, cement, brick, sand, aggregate, marble, granite, limestone gypsum, etc. typically include a small quantity of terrestrial radioisotopes in varying quantities, depending on the origin of the rocks
Summary
Natural radioactivity in the environment is due to the presence of natural radionuclides, namely 238U, 232Th and 40K, in various geological formations [1,2]. Because the ornamental and construction materials used in buildings are derived from natural rocks, such as granitic rocks, it is critical to assess the radiological dangers that humans face by measuring the concentration levels of radionuclides in these rocks. A thorough study of the concentrations and distributions of terrestrial isotopes in rocks is required to avoid using geological materials with high levels of terrestrial radioisotopes, which could result in natural radioactivity contaminating the environment [7,8,9,10]. High radiation levels are caused by the presence of radionuclides in high concentrations in granite rocks, soils, sediments, and other materials. Granitic rocks contain different amounts of naturally occurring radionuclides of terrestrial origin, 238U and 232Th series and 40K [14,15]. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) and the annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) were estimated
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