Abstract
Due to heightening concern about radiation hazards protection, activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K in forty soil samples collected from Shoubra El Kheima in the South Nile Delta were measured using gamma-ray spectrometry. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra and 40K were higher in 20% of the considered samples than the world average values. A comprehensive comparison with up-to-date data was carried out. Spatial distribution maps of the measured radionuclides and radiological parameters were generated. The distributions of natural radionuclides were influenced by the soil organic matter, clay content, and scavenger metals oxides, as well as differences in the physical and chemical attributes and solubility of these radionuclides. The results revealed that industrial activity and agricultural practices in the study area caused an incremental increase in 226Ra and 40K activity concentrations. It can be deduced that although there are intensive industrial activities in this area, the natural radiation that comes from the soil is normal and does not pose a significant radiological hazard to the public. The natural radioactivity of soil in this area needs to be monitored periodically to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure to inhabitants.
Highlights
There is a growing consensus among scientists, international organizations, decisionmakers, and laypersons that human exposure to external and internal radiation is a critical and inevitable environmental issue
The textural properties of the considered soil samples show a marked variation in clay content and soil class
Most of the agricultural soil samples are classified as clay, while urban and industrial soil samples are varied in their classification from clayey to loamy sand (Figure 2)
Summary
There is a growing consensus among scientists, international organizations, decisionmakers, and laypersons that human exposure to external and internal (inhalation and ingestion) radiation is a critical and inevitable environmental issue. The primordial radioactive isotopes 238 U and 232 Th, their decay products, and 40 K are present at different concentrations in all environmental compartments and produce significant human exposure [1,4,5]. These radioactive elements naturally make their way into the soil, surface water, and groundwater through different earth surface processes [2,6].
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