Radionuclides concentrations in some rock samples used as building material from Yafea Area in Yemen

Abstract EN

Levels of natural radioactivity of rock environmental samples have been evaluated.

The 226Ra, 232Th series and 40K are the main objective of the current study.

These samples were collected from Yafea town in Yemen (south west Asia) and measured by gamma ray spectrometer using HPGe detector with especially designed shield.

The specific average radioactivity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were determined expressed in Bq kg-1.

The obtained results show that 226Ra specific activity varied between (21.51 ± 1.07 and 42.65 ± 4.72 with an average value of 31.79 ± 2.55); 232Th varied between (8.51 ± 3.52 and 30.21 ± 0.85 with an average value of 13.81 ± 1.63); while 40K varied between (121.64 ± 4.26 and 351.23 ± 18.27 with an average value of 196.46 ± 8.34) Bq kg-1.

The dose rate, radium equivalent, external hazard, internal indices, and annual effective dose rate were evaluated and compared with the international data.