Abstract

Measurement of Natural Radioactivity in Soil Samples from Some Areas of Sharjah by Gamma-Ray Spectrometry

Author(s): El-Sayed S*,Ishag A, Kassar A ,Aljassmi A and Ansari A

Activity survey of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORMs) in surface soil, took place at selected areas in the city of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Twenty-five composite soil samples were collected from five selected regions in Sharjah city, adhering to the procedures laid out by the International Standards Organization (ISO). By utilizing a gamma-ray spectrometry system with a Broad Energy Germanium detector (BEGe), the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K were determined in Bq/kg. Respectively, the activities ranged from 6.27 ± 0.28 to 56.23 ± 0.47, from 0.84 ± 0.11 to 7.10 ± 0.28, and from 29.40 ± 2.82 to 200.49 ± 8.91. From these concentrations, the outdoor absorbed dose rates, radiation hazard Indices, Gamma index and radium equivalent activity were calculated. Wind statistics were also employed to assure that collected surface soil represents the sampled regions. The study concluded that all samples from selected regions emit low-intensity natural terrestrial radiation, which poses no immediate health risks, and is insignificant in comparison to the world’s average values stated by the United Nations Scientific Committee in 2008. c