Natural radionuclides in groundwater from Qena governorate, Egypt. Issue 1 (3rd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Salahel Din, Khaled; Ali, Khaled; Harb, Shaban; Abbady, Abdel Baset
• Is Part Of: Environmental forensics. Volume 22:Issue 1/2(2021)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 55
• Publication Date: 2021-04-03
• Subjects: AlphaGUARD -- annual effective doses -- groundwater -- NaI (Tl) detector -- natural radionuclides; Environmental forensics -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Measurement -- Periodicals; Environmental law -- Periodicals; Enquêtes environnementales -- Périodiques; 363.25945
• DOI: 10.1080/15275922.2020.1834026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1527-5922

Abstract

Abstract: AlphaGUARD radon gas analyzer and NaI (Tl) spectrometer were used to measure the concentration levels of 222 Rn and, 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K respectively in 109 groundwater samples collected from four different districts in Qena governorate, Egypt. The average values of the activity concentration were 3.57 ± 0.08, 0.54 ± 0.03, 0.40 ± 0.03, and 5.10 ± 0.44 Bql −1 for 222 Rn, 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K, respectively. The average values of 222 Rn, 226 Ra, and 232 Th are lower than, 100, 1, and 1 Bql −1, respectively, the WHO recommended permissible levels for drinking water. For radiation exposure assessment, the annual effective doses due to ingestion of 226 Ra and 232 Th and inhalation of 222 Rn for adults were determined and compared with the reference limits. The annual effective doses due to ingestion 139.21–201.34 µSvy −1 are higher than the public annual dose limit 100 µSvy −1 recommended by WHO. These indicate that the ingestion of groundwater from the study areas might pose radiological health hazards.