Considerable radioactivity levels in the granitic rocks of the central areas of the Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract

The distribution of the natural radioisotopes U,Ra, Th, andK in addition to their radiological parameters in granitic rock samples from five different localities (Gebel El-Missikat, Gebel El-Gidamy, Gebel Ria El-Garra, Gebel El-Aradiya, and Gebel Kab Amira) in the central area of the Eastern Desert, Egypt, was measured using high purity germanium (HPGe) detector-based γ-spectrometry. The average activity concentrations of U,Ra, Th, andK in all five studied areas are higher than the corresponding global average values. The highest average activity concentrations of U andRa were observed in Gebel El-Missikat, whereas the highest average value of Th activity concentration was found at Gebel El-Gidamy, and the highest concentration ofK was obtained at Gebel El-Aradiya. The radiological hazard parameters radium equivalent (Ra), external hazard index (H), internal hazard index (H), absorbed dose rate (ADR), annual effective dose rate (AEDR) outdoors, annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), and excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCR) were calculated to assess the radiation hazards associated with the rock samples. The average values of these parameters are higher than the recommended reference levels. The obtained data provide a valuable future database for estimating the impact of radioactive contamination in the studied area and in the places where the rocks are used.

Health Hazards Assessment and Geochemistry of ElSibai-Abu ElTiyur Granites, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

“…Table 4 shows the mean value (5.17 ± 0.45 Bq m −2 h −1 ) and range (2.2 h −1 ) of RER from ElSibai-Abu ElTiyur granites. They are consistent with p (Chen et al [72]) on building materials falling within the range 0.013 to 13 within the range (0.01 to 21 Bq m −2 h −1 ) published by other authors [32,63,7 ent analytical methods.…”

“…From a geological point of view, the Egyptian deserts contain one of the best-preserved granites in the world. Since no systematic data on environmental radioactivity in Egypt were available, many studies commenced in 2002 with the objective to systematically measure the terrestrial gamma radiation, and determine its contribution to the annual effective dose equivalent to the population (e.g., [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]). It has been shown that many of these areas have high levels of radioactivity.…”

Spatial Distributions and Risk Assessment of the Natural Radionuclides in the Granitic Rocks from the Eastern Desert, Egypt

“…The CPSA contains younger granites; amphibolite and older granite distributed along five various areas (G. El-Missikat, G. El-Gidamy, G. El-Aradiya, G. Rie El-Garra and G. Kab Amira). The detailed geological setting was considered by El-Gamal et al [26].…”

“…ELCR = AEDR × DL × RF (11) where (DL) is life expectancy, considered to be 70 years, and (RF) is the risk factor referred to as cancer risk per sievert (for stochastic effects, RF value is 0.05 for the public (ICRP [41])). All of these parameters were discussed in detail by El-Gamal et al [26,27]. Table 1 summarizes ranges and mean values of the specific activity concentrations of 238 U, 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in the studied rocks.…”