Distribution of radionuclides in soil and beach samples of the Western Coast of Suez Gulf, Egypt

Abstract EN

Twenty-two soil samples from six main coastal regions, Ain Sokhina, Al Zafrana, Ras Gharib, Ras Shokeir, Gebel El Zeit and Hurghada (all lie along the Western Coast of the Gulf of Suez) were collected and investigated.

The specific activity concentrations of the naturally occurring radionuclides of 238U, 232Th and 40K as well as the anthropogenic radionuclide of 137Cs in the samples were determined using HPGe γ-ray spectrometry.

The average specific activities (range) of natural radionuclides in all samples are 9.9±0.8(2.25–30.58) Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 6.6±0.9 (1.18–24.37) Bq kg−1 for 232Th and 172.15±5.4 (5.4–587.3) Bq kg−1 for 40K.

For 137Cs, the specific activity concentration results in most of the soil samples were below detection limits.

Moreover, the radiation hazard parameters such as, absorbed dose rate, radium equivalent activity and external hazard index are also calculated.