NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY ASSESSMENT AND THE ASSOCIATED RADIOLOGICAL HAZARDS FOR BEACH SAND, BALTIM AREA, EGYPT.

Abstract

Natural radioactivity of 238U, 232Th series and 40K of black sand samples collected along El-Fanar and El-Nargess Beaches in Baltim area, north of the Nile Delta in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, were measured using a gamma-ray spectrometer with a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Results showed that the average activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th in El-Fanar Beach was significantly higher (73.22±5.1 and 70.8 ± 4.9 Bq kg-1) than El-Nargess Beach (31.91±2.2 and 25.95 ±1.8 Bq kg-1) respectively. The average activity concentrations of 40K in El-Fanar Beach was lower (67.47±4.7 Bq kg-1) than that in El-Nargess Beach (80.75±5.6 Bq kg-1). The hazard indices due to these radionuclides have been calculated. The obtained results from this study indicate that the average activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and40K at El-Nargess Beach are within world median ranges while average activities of 238U and232Th in El-Fanar Beach are higher than the world mean (33and45) Bq kg-1 respectively. This study aimed to establish a baseline map of radioactivity background levels in the aforementioned region to assess any change in the radiological background levels due to any artificial effects attributed to any radiation activities.