Radionuclides Determination and Computing Radiobiological Dose for TENORM Exposure Using NaI(Tl) Gamma-ray Spectrometer

Abstract

The present study is carried out to determine the natural radioactivity level and assessment of the radiological impact on El-Missikat younger granites of the Central Eastern Desert in Egypt. Regarding the distribution pattern of radionuclides associated with the abundance of naturally occurring and technically enhanced radioactive materials, 34 investigated samples were collected from predetermined locations in the El-Missikat area. The radioanalytical measurements were performed by using NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer, then PCA3 Oxford software was used to analyze the recorded spectra. The efficiency transfer of Gamma-ray was applied within EFFTRAN software, and the library of radionuclides has been designed to involve radionuclides belonging to the natural uranium-238 and thorium-232 isotopes as well potassium-40. The radiation doses were calculated utilizing activity concentrations and the conversion coefficients recommended by EPA, ICRP, and UNSCEAR. The average values of activity concentrations for U-238, Th-232, and K-40 are (9986.21, 5586.19, and 64.72 Bq/kg) respectively. The average values of calculated effective dose caused by gamma radiation of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 are (6.79E-19, 2.20E-18, and 4.30E-15 Sv/y) respectively. Most of the resulting values are significantly of a high level compared to the worldwide reference EPA, IAEA, ICRP, and UNSCEAR for similar environments. To furnish results regarding radiation protection and human safety integral of organ doses, the excess lifetime cancer risk and hazards indices were calculated to apply a perfect radiation protection methodology for the professionals.