EVALUATION OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN A CULTIVATED AREA AROUND A FERTILIZER FACTORY

Abstract

Soil samples were collected from a cultivated area, where phosphate fertilizers produced by Abu-Zabal factory. Radioactivity concentration was measured using HPGe (high purity germanium detection system). Specific activity levels due to Ra, Th and K were measured in 23 fertilized soil samples at different depth from zero to 25 cm with a step of 5 cm depth. The average activity concentration (Bqkg) in the collected soil samples were found to be in the ranged from 6.0 ± 1.2 to 87.5 ± 4.5 Bqkg with an average value of 31.12 ± 2.22 Bq.kg for Ra, the Th specific activities ranged from 3.8 ± 1.2 to 14.2 ± 3.3 Bqkg with an average value of 10.96 ± 1.89 Bqkg and the K specific activities ranged from 71.8 ± 24 to 543.2 ± 26.5 Bqkg with an average value of 264.1 ± 11.94 Bqkg. The absorbed dose in air at the cultivated farm was found to be 31 nGyh within the range (9.7-57.8) nGyh while it is in the order of the world average level (57nGyh). The radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the external hazard index (Hex) and the annual dose equivalent were also calculated and compared with the international recommended values and found to be within the international level.