Journal of Environmental Biology

Assessment of natural radioactivity level and radiation hazards in soil samples of Wadi Al- Rummah Qassim province, Saudi Arabia

Saleh Alashrah¹* and A. El-Taher^1,2

¹Physics Department, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah-51452, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

????????? ²Physics Department, College of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit-71452, Egypt

*Corresponding Author E-mail: salashra@gmail.com; ashrh@qu.edu.sa

Publication Data

Paper received:

13 June 2015

Revised received:

07 December 2015

Re-revised received:

02 February 2016

Accepted:

13 February 2016

Abstract

The present work deals with estimation and distribution of natural radionuclides in 40 soil samples collected from Wadi Al-Rummah (Qassim part) Central Saudi Arabia. Estimations were carried out using NaI (Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer. Activity concentrations ranged from 5.3 to 45.0 Bq kg^-1, from 4.3 to 33.8 Bq kg^-1 and from 38 Bq kg^-1 to 273.1 Bq kg^-1 for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K, respectively. The average activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in soil samples was 15.5 Bq kg^-1, 14.1 Bq kg^-1 and 143.1 Bq kg^-1. The results of this study were compared with other studies around the world. Radiation hazard parameters such as radium equivalent activity, annual dose, external hazard were calculated and compared with the recommended levels quoted from International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP-60) and United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation UNSCEAR reports.

Key words

Natural radioactivity levels, Radium equivalent, Radiation hazards soil 

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