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The current study introduced the activity levels of 238U, 232Th, and 40K as well as their radiological hazard indices for some valleys along the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea. Activity levels of 238U, 232Th, and 40K were performed by a ϒ-ray spectrometer at the Nuclear and Radiological Regulation Authority (CLERMIT), Egypt, using a NaTl detector (3x3 inch). "Genie-2000" program has been used to analyze the gamma-ray spectrum. The mean activity levels of 238U ranged from 6.10Bq/kg to 157.68Bq/kg, 232Th fluctuated between 4.38Bq/kg and 29.92Bq/kg, and 40K changed from 44.80Bq/kg to 497.18Bq/kg. The calculated absorbed and effective dose rate values in the downstream and the tidal flat of Hamrawin valley reached 76.41 and 88.39nGyh-1; the annual effective dose-effect was 93.71, and 108.40Sv Gy-1; the radium equivalent activity level index values were 163.59 and 190.01Bq kg, and the external hazard index reached (0.44 and 0.51). The representative level index values reached 1.16 and 1.30, and the excess lifetime cancer risk reached 0.27×10-3 in the valley downstream and 0.31×10-3 in the tidal flat zone, respectively. The radiological risk parameters values of (D), (AEDE), (Iγr), and (ELCR) at the Hamrawin valley are not safe, exposing health risks to the population, since they are higher than the permissible levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being known with its agricultural fertility, the soil of the Nile Valley of Egypt was subjected to degradation due to fast urbanization and increased industrial activities in recent years. The quality of the agricultural soil and associated radiological health hazards to farm workers in the Northeastern Nile Valley was assessed based on the trace metal analyses (Hg, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Fe) and natural radionuclide measurements (238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 210Pb) of twenty soil samples. Results indicated that the agricultural soil has concentrations of trace elements below the soil world average. However, a significant enrichment in Cd and Cu content was observed in some soil sites. The enrichment in some trace elements contents, especially the Cd metal, was attributed to the effects of the natural and human factors, including the occurrence and distribution of silt and clay deposits, the extensive use of municipal wastewater and pesticide, the incineration of agricultural wastes, and the emission from bricks factories and mazut-fired thermal power plants around the area. The estimated contamination and ecologic risk indices revealed that some soils in the area are uncontaminated with trace elements; others are "moderately contaminated" soil to "contaminated." Results from the radiological measurements revealed that the activity concentrations of the investigated radionuclides were also below the world median activities of soil. The total annual effective dose rates from the different exposure pathways were calculated. The estimated excess lifetime cancer risk values for farm workers were greatly higher than that of the soil world average. This implies a high probability of introducing cancer over the lifetime of farmers in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface luminescence dating to Egyptian monuments of the age range 3000 B C to Hellenistic times has been applied for first time. Monuments include the Giza plateau (Sphinx Temple, Valley Temple, Mykerinus), the Qasr-el-Saqha, the Khasekemui tomb and the Seti I Temple with Osirion at Abydos. Equivalent doses were measured by the single and multiple aliquot additive and regeneration techniques, and dose rates by portable gamma ray probes, and with laboratory counting and dosimetry systems. The resulted ages have confirmed most conventional Dynastic dates, while in some cases, predating was obtained by some hundred of years. The dates are discussed in the light of current archaeological opinions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed gamma ray spectrometry survey was carried out to make an action in environmental impact assessment of urbanization and industrialization on Port Said city, Egypt. The concentrations of the measured radioelements U-238, Th-232 in ppm, and K-40 %, in addition to the total counts of three selected randomly dumping sites (A, B, and C) were mapped. The concentration maps represent a base line for the radioactivity in the study area in order to detect any future radioactive contamination. These concentrations are ranging between 0.2 and 21 ppm for U-238 and 0.01 to 13.4 ppm for Th-232 as well as 0.15 to 3.8 % for K-40, whereas the total count values range from 8.7 to 123.6 uR. Moreover, the dose rate was mapped using the same spectrometer and survey parameters in order to assess the radiological effect of these radioelements. The dose rate values range from 0.12 to 1.61 mSv/year. Eighteen soil samples were collected from the sites with high radioelement concentrations and dose rates to determine the activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 using HPGe spectrometer. The activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 in the measured samples range from 18.03 to 398.66 Bq kg, 5.28 to 75.7 Bq kg, and 3,237.88 to 583.12 Bq kg, respectively. In addition to analyze heavy metal for two high reading samples ( a and a) which give concentrations of Cd and Zn elements ( a 40 ppm and a 42 ppm) and ( a 0.90 ppm and a 0.97 ppm), respectively, that are in the range of phosphate fertilizer products that suggested a dumped man-made waste in site A. All indicate that the measured values for the soil samples in the two sites of three falls within the world ranges of soil in areas with normal levels of radioactivity, while site A shows a potential radiological risk for human beings, and it is important to carry out dose assessment program with a specifically detailed monitoring program periodically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the specific activity of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) in some building materials, soil, sand, redbrick, clay brick, limestone, alabaster and marble commonly used in Upper Egypt is presented. Measurements were done by using gamma spectrometry (NaI (Tl) 3"x 3"). Concentrations of natural radionuclides (CRa, CTh and CK), radium equivalent (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), the specific dose rates in door (D) and the annual effective dose (DE) due to gamma radiation from building materials was calculated. Concentrations of natural radionuclides (226Ra and 232Th) are in usual range and below maximal permitted values. The lowest value of (Hex) is 0.15 for sand while the highest one is 0.5 for Redbrick. The ranges of (DE) are between 0.9 and 3.5 μSvy-1, it is below maximal permitted values, so that examined materials can be used for construction of new buildings (for interior and external works) as well as for covering of pavements, floors, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The development of climatotherapy in Safaga opens the field of medical tourism in Egypt, in order to detect any harmful radiation that would affect the patients during treatment and is becoming important economic resource. Studies and survey of natural radiation and radioactivity in upper Egypt conducted since 1990, included monitoring of the concentration of natural radionuclides in environmental samples. The results of the study reveals that, for all sand samples, the mean activity concentration of 40K (618±122–548±82Bqkg−1) are much higher than that of both 226Ra (25.3±14–20.6±10Bqkg−1) and 232Th (21.4±10–22.4±10Bqkg−1). Different radiation hazard indices were calculated, the radiation dose to which workers are subjected is not negligible (26.5–50.9nGyh−1), although depending on the inhalation of dust. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Stream sediment is a useful raw material used for building construction, mostly used in the desert parts of the world. Such sediment is a Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and, hence, it requires a radiological characterization to be used. This work aims to study the natural radioactivity in fifty points distributed in surface of stream sediments in the area of Gabal El Seila region, south-eastern desert of Egypt, since there is a lack of information about the radioactivity levels of the sediment samples from such recent growing interest area. The activity concentration of 238U, 232Th and 4 K natural radionuclides using a portable RS-230 γ-ray spectrometer were determined. Mean values are 38.51 ± 10.83, 33.35 ± 8.82, 659.18 ± 110.87 Bq/kg for 238U, 232Th, 4 K respectively. Radiological hazard indexes were computed and compared with the UNSCEAR and other worldwide ranges. All the results are statistically presented and discussed. They show that no significant radiation hazard coming from the studied area, with the most values lower than international recommended limits. The achievements of the present study fall within the measurements of natural environmental radiation in an unexplored area of great interest being a desert. The obtained results can be used as database for future research, and as tool for radiological awareness in the use of sediments as raw material. • Natural radioactivity characterization of Gabal El Seila region - Egypt, was carried out. • Radiological hazard indexes were computed to evaluate the human risk assessment. • 232Th/238U ratio showed 20% higher and 80% lower values than worldwide average value. • No significant natural radiation hazard comes from the region, lower than recommended levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity concentrations of natural 40 K, 232 Th, and 238 U in 89 soil and 84 sediment samples collected over the entire Egyptian Nile River basin including the Nile delta are reported based on the results of epithermal neutron activation analysis. The average activity concentrations of 40 K, 232 Th, and 238 U equal to 15.3 ± 6.6, 15.6 ± 11.1 and 220 ± 31 Bq/kg, respectively, are significantly lower than those reported for the Upper Continental Crust, World Average Sediments as well as World Average Soils, suggesting the presence of a considerable portion of mafic material, most probably originating from the Ethiopian High Plateau. Their average activity concentrations are statistically the same in soil and sediments, indicating that the Nile sediments and soil material are of the same origin. The main goal of this study was not only to estimate the radiological hazards but also to show the influence of sedimentary material transportable by the Blue Nile from the Ethiopian High Plateau. The different hazard indices like the radium equivalent, gamma index, external hazard as well as the internal hazard show a low radiological exposure either on direct contact or if local mud bricks are used in the construction of dwellings.