Distribution of Natural Radionuclides and their Radiological Risks on Agricultural Soil Samples collected from Yemen

Document Type : Review Paper

Authors

1 Physics Department, Faculty of Education Yafea, Aden University, Aden, Yemen

2 Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt

3 Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt

4 Physics Department, Faculty of Women for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shams University, Egypt

10.22059/poll.2022.344502.1507

Abstract

The main objective of the current study is to determine the distributions of the specific radioactivity concentrations (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) from terrestrial sources using gamma spectroscopy system (HPGe-detector). Forty (40) agricultural soil samples were collected from Wadi Al-Hussini and Tuban in Yemen. The study locations are famous for exporting coffee all over the world. The average of radio-concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were 61.95±11.57, 32.33±8.03 and 1045.17±153.47 Bq/kg for Wadi Al-Hussini and 65.20±11.59, 50.95±9.80 and 1078.13±157.57 Bq/kg for Tuban, respectively. The obtained results are higher than the average worldwide values reported by UNSCEAR. So, it is not acceptable with global safe criteria. Also, the radiation hazard parameters such as radium equivalent activity, absorbed gamma dose rate, outdoor and indoor annual effective dose equivalent, external and internal radiation hazard index, gamma index level, annual gonadal dose equivalent and excess lifetime cancer risk. All of these parameters are acceptable and within the worldwide values. The obtained results could be considered as reference data to follow up any changes in the future for natural radionuclides pollutants and their risks in the study area.

Keywords


Alajeeli, A., Elmahroug, Y., Mohammed, S. and Trabelsi, A. (2019). Determination of natural radioactivity and radiological hazards in soil samples: Alhadba and Abuscabh agriculture projects in Libya. Environ. Earth Sci., 78; 1-8.
Alashrah, S., El-Taher, A. and Mansour, H. (2018). Assessment of radiological parameters and metal contents in soil and stone samples from Harrat Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. MethodsX, 5; 485-494
Alnagran, H., Alashrah, S., Suardi, N. and Mansour, H. (2022). Study of Radionuclides and Assessment of Radioactive risks for Environmental particulate matters in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Pollution, 8(3); 1049-1060.
Adagunodo, T. A., Sunmonu, L. A., Adabanija, M. A., Omeje, M., Odetunmibi, O. A. and Ijeh, V. (2019). Statistical assessment of radiation exposure risks of farmers in Odo Oba, Southwestern Nigeria. Bull. Min. Res. Exp., 159; 201-217.
Adagunodo, T. A., Akinloye, M. K., Sunmonu, L. A., Aizebeokhai, A. P., Oyeyemi, K. D. and Abodunrin, F. O. (2018). Groundwater Exploration in Aaba Residential Area of Akure, Nigeria. Frontiers in Earth Science 6; 66.
Adagunodo, T. A., Enemuwe, C. A., Usikalu, M. R., Orosun, M. M., Adewoyin, O. O., Akinwumi, S. A., Oloke, O. C., Lukman, A. F., Adeniji, A. A. and Adewoye, A. O. (2021). Radiometric survey of natural radioactivity concentration and risk assessment on dwellers around Ijako active dumpsite in Ogun State. IOP Conf. Series: Ear. and Enviro. Sci., 655; 1-7.
As-Saruri, M. (1999). Lithostratigraphie der Tertiär-Sedimente der Republik Jemen: Verlag der Gesellschaft für Geologische Wissenschaften.
Beydoun, Z. (1966). Geology of the Arabian Peninsula, eastern Aden Protectorate and part of Dhofar. United States Geological Survey Professional Paper, 560-H 49
Beydoun, Z., As-Saruri, A. L., Mustafa, E. H., Al-Ganad, I. N., Baraba, R. S., Nani, A. S. O. and Al-Aawah, M. H. (1998). International lexicon of stratigraphy, Volume III, Republic of Yemen, 2nd edn. In: International union of geological sciences and ministry of oil and mineral resources. Republic of Yemen Publication, 34; 245.
Chandrasankaran, A., Ravisankar, R., Senthilkumar, G., Thillaivelavan, K., Dhinakaran, B., Vijayagopal, P., Bramha, S. N. and Venkatraman, B. (2014). Spatial Distribution and Lifetime Cancer Risk due to Gamma Radioactivity in Yelagiri Hills, Tamilnadu, India. Egyptian Journal of Basic and Applied Science, 1; 38-48.
Dugalic, G., Krstic, D., Jelic, M., Nikezic, D., Milenkovic, B., Pucarevic, M. and Zeremski-Skoric, T. (2010). Heavy metals, organics and radioactivity in soil of western Serbia. Journal of hazardous materials, 177; 697-702
El-Azeem, A. and Mansour, H. (2021). Determination of natural radionuclides and mineral contents in environmental soil samples. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 46; 697-704.
El-Taher, A. and Al-Zahrani, J. (2014). Radioactivity measurements and radiation dose assessments in soil of Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Ind. J. Pure Appl. Phys., 52; 147-154.
El-Taher, A., Badawy, W., Khater, A. and Madkour, H. (2019). Distribution patterns of natural radionuclides and rare earth elements in marine sediments from the Red Sea, Egypt. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 151; 171-181.
El-Taher, A., Kamel, M., Tolba, A. and Salaheldin, G. (2021). Evaluation of natural radioactivity and radiological hazards in basement rocks from Gabel Abu El-Hassan in the North Eastern Desert of Egypt by multivariate statistical approach with remote sensing data. Radiation Detection Technology and Methods, 5; 15-26.
Ghazwa, A., Fauziah, B. S. H. and Abdul Rahman, I. (2016). Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiation Hazards in Agricultural and Virgin Soil in the State of Kedah, North of Malaysia. Hindawi Publishing Corporation, the Scientific World Journal, 1-9.
Huang, Y., Lu, X., Ding, X. and Feng, T. (2015). Natural radioactivity level in beach sand along the coast of Xiamen Island, China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 91; 357-361. 
Ibitola, A., Gilbert, A., Ilori, A., Aremu, R., Omosebi, I. (2018). Measurement of (40K, 238U and 232Th) and associated dose rates in soil and commonly consumed foods (vegetables and tubers) at Okitipupa, Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria. Asian Journal of Research and Reviews in Physics, 1; 1-11.
Ibraheem, A., El-Taher, A. and Alruwaili, M. (2018). Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazard indices for soil samples from Abha, Saudi Arabia. Results in Physics, 11; 325-330.
ICRP (1990) Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection). ICRP Publication 60
Ilori, A., Chetty, N. and Adeleye, B. (2020). Activity concentration of natural radionuclides in sediments of Bree, Klein-Brak, Bakens, and uMngeni rivers and their associated radiation hazard indices. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 75; 258-265.
Ilori, A. and Chetty, N. (2021). Activity concentrations and radiological hazard assessments of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in soil samples of oil-producing areas of South Africa. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 1-13.
Issa S. (2013). Radiometric assessment of natural radioactivity levels of agricultural soil samples collected in Dakahlia, Egypt. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 156(1); 59-67. 
Jibiri, N., Farai, I. and Alausa, S. (2007). Estimation of annual effective dose due to natural radioactive elements in ingestion of foodstuffs in tin mining area of Jos-Plateau, Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 94; 31-40.
Mattash, M. (1994). Study of the Cenozoic Volcanics and their associated intrusive rocks in Yemen in relation to rift development Hungarian Acad. Sci. Eötvös Loránd Univ. Budapest, 112.
Menzies, M., Al Kadasi, M., Al Khirbash, S., Al Subbary,  A., Baker, J., Blakey, S., Bosence, D., Davison, I., Dart, C., Owen, L., Mcclay, K., Nicholls, G., Yelland, A. and Watchorn, F. (1994). Geology of the Republic of Yemen. Geology and Mineral Resources of Yemen: Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration Board, Yemen Mineral Sector Project Technical Report, 21-48.
Najam, L., Majeed, F., Kheder, M. and Younis, S. (2017). Estimation the Radiological Hazard Effects for Soil Samples of Nineveh Province. International Journal of Physics, 5; 53-56.
Najam, L., Younis, S. and Kithah, F. (2015). Natural radioactivity in soil samples in Nineveh Province and the associated radiation hazards. International Journal of Physics, 3; 126-132.
Najam, L. A., Mahmmod, R. H. and Albanna, O. M. J. (2022). Evaluation of Natural Radionuclides in Samples of Plant Fertilizers Used in Iraq and Radiation Hazard Indicators. Iran J. Sci. Technol. Trans Sci.
Miroslaw, J. and Shinji, T. (2009). Natural and Artificial Sources of Radioactivity in Poland. Jpn. J. Health Phys., 44 (1); 116-121.
Oni, O., Farai, I. and Awodugba, A. (2011). Natural radionuclide concentrations and radiological impact assessment of river sediments of the coastal areas of Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Protection, 2; 418-423.
Patra, A. C., Sahoo, S. K., Tripathi, R. M. and Puranik, V. D. (2013). Distribution of radionuclides in surface soils, Singhbhum Shear Zone, India and associated dose. Environ. Monit. Assess., 185; 7833-7843.
Pujol, L. I. and Sanchez-Cabeza, J. A. (2000). Natural and artificial radioactivity in surface waters of the Ebro river basin (Northeast Spain). Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 51(2); 181-210.
Salaheldin, G., Elhaddad, M. and El-Gamal, H. (2021). Estimation of the natural radioactivity levels and rare earth elements concentration in the granitic rocks, Gabal Ghareb, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Environmental Earth Sciences, 80; 1-14.
Salaheldin, G., Hussien, M. and Mohamed, H. (2020). Evaluation of radiological hazards of radon in agricultural soil samples, Wadi Al-Hussini and Tuban, Lahj Governorate, Yemen. International Journal of Low Radiation, 11; 244-258.
Salaheldin, G., Tolba, A., Kamel, M. and El-Taher, A. (2020). Radiological hazard parameters of natural radionuclides for neoproterozoic rocks from Wadi Um Huytat in central eastern desert of Egypt. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 325; 397-408.
Tsabaris, C., Eleftheriou, G., Kapsimalis, V., Anagnostou, C., Vlastou, R., Durmishi, C., Kadhi, M. and Kalfas, C. (2007). Radioactivity levels of recent sediments in the Butrint Lagoon and the adjacent coast of Albania. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 65; 445-453.
Tufail, M., Akhtar, N. and Waqas, M. (2006). Measurement of terrestrial radiation for assessment of gamma dose from cultivated and barren saline soils of Faisalabad in Pakistan, Radiation Measurements, 41(4); 443-451. 
UNSCEAR (2000). United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, Report to the General Assembly. United Nations, New York 2000.
UNSCEAR (2008). United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation. Sources and effects of ionizing radiation, New York.
Wahib, A., Fares, A., Henk, R., Ghunaim, N. and Petra, H. (2022). Natural and human-induced drivers of groundwater depletion in Wadi Zabid, Tihama coastal plain, Yemen. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 2; 1-22.
Wilcke, W. (2007). Global patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil. Geoderma, 141; 157-166.
Yang, Y., Wu, X., Jiang, Z., Wang, W., Lu, J., Lin, J., Wang, L. and Hsia, Y. (2005). Radioactivity concentrations in soils of the Xiazhuang granite area, China. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 63; 255-259.
Yuanyuan, L., Weibo, Z., Bai, G., Zhihong, Z., Gongxin, C., Qianglin, W. and Ying, H. (2021). Determination of radionuclide concentration and radiological hazard in soil and water near the uranium tailings reservoir in China, Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability, 33(1); 174-183.