Abstract
The presence of heavy radioactive minerals in the studied granitoids from which the Wadi sediments leads to the study of the exposure to emitted gamma rays from the terrestrial radionuclides, such as 238U, 232Th, and 40K. The geological study revealed that the Wadi sediments derived from the surrounding granitoids, such as syenogranite, alkali feldspar granite, and quartz syenite. The mineral analysis confirmed that the granitoids were enriched with radioactive minerals, such as uranothorite as well as monazite, zircon, yttrocolumbite, and allanite. The mean activity of the 238U, 232Th, and 40K concentrations are 62.2 ± 20.8, 84.2 ± 23.3, and 949.4 ± 172.5 Bq kg−1, respectively, for the investigated Wadi sediments, exceeding the reported limit of 33, 45 and 412 Bq kg−1, respectively. Public exposure to emitted gamma radiation is detected by estimating many radiological hazard indices, such as the radium equivalent content (Raeq), external and internal hazard indices (Hex and Hin), annual effective dose (AED), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), and excess lifetime cancer (ELCR). The obtained results of the radiological hazards parameters showed that public exposure to emitted gamma radiation can induce various dangerous health effects. Thus, the application of the investigated sediments in different building materials and infrastructures fields is not safe. A multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) was applied to detect radionuclide correlations with the radiological hazard parameters estimated in the granite samples.
Highlights
Natural radionuclides can be found in varying amounts in all rock types, depending on their concentration levels in the sources
The assessment of radiological hazards was detected with various radioactive parameters, such as radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate (Dair), the annual effective dose (AED), external (Hex), and internal hazard (Hin) indices
The quantitative result had an accuracy of 2–10 wt% for elements Z > 9 (F) and 10–20 wt% for the light elements B, C, N, O, and F, which were employed to identify the separated heavy minerals, the radioactive ones
Summary
Natural radionuclides can be found in varying amounts in all rock types, depending on their concentration levels in the sources. The enormous geochemical diversity of radionuclides in the atmosphere allows them to transit within a wide range of environments and infect much of the environment humans interact with Natural radionuclides such as the 232Th and 238U chains, as well as 40K, have a half-life duration similar to that of the earth, they still exist in all areas of the earth and are spread in varying quantities depending on geography and geological configuration [6,7,8]. Liver, kidney, bone, lung, and pancreatic malignancies can all be induced by Th exposure [19] Human activities, such as U mining, result in the release of radionuclides and their subsequent dispersion in the environment [20]. The annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) and the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were computed
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