Study of Radionuclides and Assessment of Radioactive risks for Environmental particulate matters in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Physics Department, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, KSA.

2 Medical Physics and Radiation Science Department, School of Physics, University Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang Malaysia

3 Department of Physics, College of Science and Arts, Qassim University, Ar Rass, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

The current research study the comprehensive health and environmental hazard levels of Particulate matters originating from natural radionuclides sources collected from different Qassim region locations, Saudi Arabia. Activity concentration for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K was assessed using a Sodium Iodide detector. Gamma-ray parameters as the Radium equivalent, Gamma level index, absorbed dose, annual effective dose, and lifetime risk were measured to predict the growth of radiological dangers. The average activity concentration for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K is 35±0.06, 32.6±0.4, and 294.99±1.31 Bq/kg. Ra(eq) ranges from38.3 to 143.1 with an average of 104.37 Bq/kg, absorbed dose ranges from 18 to 66.49 with an average of 48.18 nGy/h, and annual effective dose ranges from 22.09 to 81.58 with an average of 59.11 μSv/y. The relative contribution was 26%, 33%, and 41% for 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th, respectively. The obtained results do not cause apprehensions from the radiation population compatible with permissible public limits. The obtained database helps the investigators follow the future pollution exchange due to Scientific progress in the use of radioactive materials.

Keywords

References

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Pollution
Volume 8, Issue 3
May 2022
Pages 1049-1060

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