Determination of the Levels of Natural Radioactivity and the Resulting Radiation Hazards in the Soil from the Cities of Wadi EL-Shati and Zawiya (Libya)

Mustafa Sahoub^1,

¹Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zawia, Libya

Cite this paper:
Mustafa Sahoub. Determination of the Levels of Natural Radioactivity and the Resulting Radiation Hazards in the Soil from the Cities of Wadi EL-Shati and Zawiya (Libya). International Journal of Physics. 2024; 12(1):34-39. doi: 10.12691/ijp-12-1-3

Abstract

The study examined the levels of natural radioactivity in the soil of two cities: Wadi El-Shati and Zawiya. Eight soil samples were taken from Wadi El-Shati and four from Zawiya. A gamma spectrometry technique was used to detect the levels of radioactivity in the soil samples, using a high-purity germanium detector. The average values Activity concentrations (A) recorded for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were 27.25 Bq/kg, 40.83 Bq/kg, and 756.63 Bq/kg in Wadi El-Shati city areas and 26.50 Bq/kg, 05.50 Bq/kg, and 169.50 Bq/kg in Zawiya city areas. The radiation risks to health were considered, and the Radium Equivalent Activity (Ra_eq), external absorbed dose rate (D_out), and annual equivalent effective dose (AD_out) were calculated. The average values for the areas in Wadi El-Shati City were 191.3 Bq/kg, 90.9 nGy/h, and 0.111 mSv/y, while in the areas of Zawiya City, they were 47.02 Bq/kg, 22.52 nGy/h, and 0.028 mSv/y, respectively. The average values of external (H_ex), internal (H_in), and gamma radiation (I_γi) hazards were recorded in Wadi Shati City areas as 0.517, 0.721, and 1.410, respectively. In Zawiya City areas, the corresponding values were 0.127, 0.199, and 0.342. Based on the results obtained from the hazard indicators in the two cities, it has been noted that the values are within the safe and recommended limits, except for the external absorbed dose rate and the gamma radiation hazard index in the areas of Wadi EL-Shati city. These indicators are one and a half times and slightly higher respectively, compared to the recommended global average value. The obtained values may serve as reference data for future monitoring of environmental radiation for natural radionuclide activity in Libya.

Keywords:
activity concentrations radium equivalent activity absorbed dose rate annual effective dose equivalent hazard indices

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