Evaluation of environmental radioactivity impacts and its associated radiological hazards with monitoring of radon-222 in rock and sand samples collected from some mountains and valleys in Sinai Area, Egypt

Abstract

Determination of the natural radionuclide contents of soil and rock samples collected from some mountains and valleys in Sinai, Egypt, has been carried out using gamma spectrometric techniques. The total average concentrations of radionuclides 226Ra, 238U, 232Th, and 40K were (51.37, 50.02, 19.34, and 286.66 Bq/kg), respectively. The total average absorbed dose rate in the study areas is found to be 47.08 nGy/h, whereas the indoor and outdoor annual effective dose equivalent has an average value of 0.23 and 0.06 mSv/y respectively. The range of 226Ra activity was found from 11.15 ± 0.96 Bq/kg to 135.85 ± 11.68 Bq/kg. The results of the present study are discussed and compared with internationally recommended values. The concentrations of radon gas in the air were determined as well as the activity concentrations of 222Rn in vegetables. In the present study some mathematical equations models are used to estimate the activity concentrations of 222Rn in the air.