Assessing the Radiological Risks Associated with High Natural Radioactivity of Microgranitic Rocks: A Case Study in a Northeastern Desert of Egypt

Neveen S. Abed, Mohamed Abdel Monsif, Hesham M. H. Zakaly, Hamdy A. Awad, Mahmoud M. Hessien and Chee Kong Yap
Additional contact information
Neveen S. Abed: Geochemical Exploration Department, Nuclear Materials Authority, El-Maadi, Cairo P.O. Box 530, Egypt
Mohamed Abdel Monsif: Geochemical Exploration Department, Nuclear Materials Authority, El-Maadi, Cairo P.O. Box 530, Egypt
Hesham M. H. Zakaly: Institute of Physics and Technology, Ural Federal University, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
Hamdy A. Awad: Institute of Earth Sciences, Southern Federal University, Zorge St., 40, 344090 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Mahmoud M. Hessien: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21974, Saudi Arabia
Chee Kong Yap: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the radiological hazards of uranium ( 238 U), thorium ( 232 Th), and potassium ( 40 K) in microgranitic rocks from the southeastern part of Wadi Baroud, a northeastern desert of Egypt. The activity concentrations of the measured radionuclides were determined by using a gamma-ray spectrometer (NaI-Tl-activated detector). The mean ( 238 U), ( 232 Th), and ( 40 K) concentrations in the studied rocks were found to be 3680.3, 3635.2, and 822.76 Bq/kg, respectively. The contents in these rocks were elevated, reaching up to 6.3 wt%. This indicated the alkaline nature of these rocks. The high ratios of Th/U in the mineralized rocks could be related to late magmatic mineralization, suggesting the ascent of late magmatic fluids through weak planes such as faults and the contact of these rocks with older granites. The present data were higher than those of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) guideline limits. All the radiological hazard results indicated high human health risks. This confirmed that this area is not radiologically safe, and care must be taken when working in this area. This study showed that the area under investigation had high U content suitable for uranium extraction that could be used in the nuclear fuel cycle.

Keywords: Wadi Al-Baroud; high activity concentration; radiological impacts; microgranite; Egypt (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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