TITLE:
Measurement of Gamma Emitting Radionuclides for Assessment, Environmental Hazards of Radiation in Rock and Soil Samples of Shabwah and Hadramout Regions, Yemen
AUTHORS:
Sherif S. Nafee, Dheya Al-Othmany, Safia H.Q. Hamidalddin, J.H. Al-Zahrani, W.R. Alharbi, Hanan M. Barashed
KEYWORDS:
Gamma Spectrometry, Annual Effective Dose, External Hazard Index
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.5 No.5,
May
22,
2017
ABSTRACT: The natural radioactivity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K and the fallout of 137Cs in soils and granite rocks of two regions in Yemen (Shabwah and Hadramout) were measured by using gamma-ray spectrometry (HPGe) detector. The average values of the radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples are 14.34, 25.78 and 566.05 Bq/kg respectively. For rock samples, the average activity concentration for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are 45, 106 and 1235 Bq/kg respectively. Low concentration values of 137Cs in soil and rock samples under investigation, are not radiologically important. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq) and external hazard index (Hex) of all samples are less than the limits of 370 Bq·kg-1 and unity, respectively. The average values of total absorbed dose rate due to three primordial radionuclides in soil and rock samples are 46.5 nGy/h and 138.36 nGy/h, respectively, where the absorbed average value of the granite is higher than the permitted limit. So, the local people must avoid using these granite samples as the interior decorative materials of dwelling without radioactivity control.