Radiological characterization and environmental impact in northwestern coast of Egypt

Abstract

A study of environmental radioactivity along the northwestern coast of Egypt was performed by the Central Laboratory for Environmental Radioactivity Measurements Inter-comparison and Training within the framework of the research project: Radiological Studies/Measurements of Natural and Man-made Radionuclides in the Environment. The present paper contains important conclusions, correlations and interpretations of the environmental measurements. The samples collection and measurements were conducted according to the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority monitoring plan for locations along the northwestern coast of Egypt and its main tributaries of interest. The specific activities of 226Ra (238U series), 228Ra (232Th series), 40K and 137Cs (Bq/kg dry weight) were measured using gamma-ray spectrometers based on hyper-pure germanium detectors. The absorbed radiation dose rates in air (nGy/h) due to natural radionuclides in shore sediment and radium equivalent activity index (Bq/kg) were calculated. The specific activity ratios of 228Ra/226Ra were calculated for evaluation of the geo-chemical behavior of these radionuclides. Samples textures and CaCO3 and total organic matter contents of sediments were also determined while the pH, major cations and anions such as Na+, K+, Ca++, Mg++and Cl−, SO4 – and HCO3, respectively were also determined in water samples.