Radioactivity concentrations in soil and dose assessments for the coastal area of the Red Sea in Sudan

Abstract

As part of a national project, the levels of natural radioactivity in sand samples from Sudan's Red Sea coastal region were investigated. Sediment samples were collected at different water depths along the shoreline using Van Veen and Peterson grab samplers. The study comprehensively assessed the radiation hazard posed by the total natural radioactivity using various methodologies, including Raeq values, absorbed dose rates, hazard indices, and annual effective dose equivalents. One of our study's key aspects was comparing our findings with internationally endorsed thresholds to allow us to analyze our results in the context of global standards. Radioactivity levels were measured using a NaI(Tl) detector (CANBERRA model 802), and the average concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 were found to be 10.06, 13.63, and 181.80 Bqkg-1, respectively. The measured absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose equivalent, and hazard index were 24.01 nGy/h, 0.029 μSv/y, and 0.172, respectively. The Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR), external hazard index (H_ex), internal hazard index (H_in), and Gamma Radiation Level Index (RLI) were 0.071, 0.26, 0.095 Bq/kg, and 0.115 Bq/kg, respectively. The study results show that the levels in this region are within the safe limits set by regulations, confirming that the environment is safe.