Radiological Impact of Natural Radioactivity in White Granite at Um Baanib Area, Southeastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract

In this study, the ground spectrometric surveying shows the distribution of uranium, thorium and their ratios in the studied white granite, which reflect the addition amount of uranium to the granite from the surrounding rocks. The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides were measured using a highpurity germanium detector (HPGe). The average activity concentrations of 235 U, 238 U, 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K were found as (27.01, 83.29, 90.08, 11.59 and 490.75 Bq/Kg) for nine white granite samples obtained from the studied area. The radium equivalent (Ra eq) in Bq/Kg, external hazard index (H ex), radioactivity level index (), the absorbed dose rate (D) and the annual effective dose (AED) in outdoor environment were estimated. The annual effective dose was found to be high for all samples due to high concentration of 238 U in the area under investigation which represent radiological risk for the health of population. The concentrations of major oxides (%) and trace elements (ppm) have been determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. High average value for Na 2 O and Al 2 O 3 which are useful in ceramic's industry, high average values of Sr and Ba are useful to many important industries.