Evaluation of Natural Radioactive Levels and Its Related Potential Radiological Impact of Black Sand in the North of Nile Delta, Egypt.,

Abstract

The objective of this investigation is to quantify the distinct levels of radioactivity exhibited by 238 U ( 226 Ra), 232 Th, and 40 K in samples of black sand that were collected from the northern region of the Nile Delta, in close proximity to Rosetta beach that runs parallel to the Mediterranean shoreline. The specific activities of the radionuclides were measured using a high pure germanium detector (HPGe). The findings indicated that the specific activity levels of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K were observed to fall within a range of values from 10.94 ± 0.76 to 279.31 ±16.44 Bq kg -1 , 10.92 ± 0.67 to 665.72 ± 29.30 Bq kg -1 , and 34.04 ± 1.68 to 101.32 ± 4.79 Bq kg -1 , respectively, with an average value of 87.85 ± 5.26, 155.95 ± 7.04, and 72.42 ± 3.65 Bq kg -1 , respectively. The concentrations of radionuclides in the samples exceeded the limits recommended by UNSCEAR, the IAEA, and the ICRP for the Earth's crust. Moreover, some samples showed radiological hazard indexes, such as radium equivalent activities (Ra eq ), external and internal indexes, gamma and alpha indexes, and annual effective dose, that exceeded the recommended safety values of 370 Bq kg -1 for Ra eq , one for external and internal indexes, gamma and alpha indexes, and 0.48 mSvy -1 for annual effective dose. These findings suggest that black sand samples may pose a radiological hazard, highlighting the need for radiation regulation and regular monitoring of black sand sites.