Natural Radioactivity and Its Environmental Implications in Soil Samples Collected Around Abou-Zabal Phosphate Fertilizer Factory Area in Egypt

S.Fares, W.M.Moslem, A.K.Hassan, A.A.Eltawil, F.Abdelhamied

A total of twenty three composite soil samples was collected from different geographical areas around the Abou-Zabal phosphate fertilizer factory region area in Egypt. The aim of the present work is to determine the levels of some natural radioactivity in soil samples were collected. Activity concentration of background radionuclides such as ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K of these samples was determined by using a high-resolution co-axial HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry. According to the results this analysis, ²²⁶Ra was found in concentrations mean of 283.87 Bq kg^-1; ²³²Th in mean concentrations of 16.15, Bq kg^-1; and ⁴⁰K in mean concentrations of 146.36 Bq kg^-1 for the analyzed soil, respectively. Radon (²²²Rn) mean concentration content in the samples, were estimated using solid state nuclear track detectors (CR – 39). The Radon gas mean concentration was found 162.37 Bq.m^-3. Based on the radioactivity levels determined, the gamma-absorbed dose rates in soil sample above the ground were calculated. To evaluate the radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity, the gamma-absorbed dose rate and the mean population weighted dose rate were calculated.