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The concentrations of primordial radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in commonly used building materials (brick, cement and sand), the raw materials of cement and the by-products of coal-fired power plants (fly ash) collected from various manufacturers and suppliers in Bangladesh were determined via gamma-ray spectrometry using an HPGe detector. The results showed that the mean concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in all studied samples slightly exceeded the typical world average values of 50 Bq kg(-1), 50 Bq kg(-1) and 500 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The activity concentrations (especially 226Ra) of fly-ash-containing cement in this study were found to be higher than those of fly-ash-free cement. To evaluate the potential radiological risk to individuals associated with these building materials, various radiological hazard indicators were calculated. The radium equivalent activity values for all samples were found to be lower than the recommended limit for building materials of 370 Bq kg(-1), with the exception of the fly ash. For most samples, the values of the alpha index and the radiological hazard (external and internal) indices were found to be within the safe limit of 1. The mean indoor absorbed dose rate was observed to be higher than the population-weighted world average of 84 nGy h(-1), and the corresponding annual effective dose for most samples fell below the recommended upper dose limit of 1 mSv y(-1). For all investigated materials, the values of the gamma index were found to be greater than 0.5 but less than 1, indicating that the gamma dose contribution from the studied building materials exceeds the exemption dose criterion of 0.3 mSv y(-1) but complies with the upper dose principle of 1 mSv y(-1).

In this study, the specific activities of the radionuclides 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K, and 137 Cs in popular pasta samples were measured. The risk indices of the annual effective dose received (AED) and the permitted consumption rate (CR) were calculated.12 samples of pasta were collected from the food stores of Arak city. The specific activities of the mentioned radionuclides were measured by gamma-ray spectrometry using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector with a relative efficiency of 80%. The specific activities of radionuclides ranged from the minimum detectable activity (MDA) to 2.55 for 226 Ra, from MDA to 19.84 for 232 Th, and from 44.3 to 88.2 for 40 K in Bq/kg. The specific activity of 137 Cs for all samples was ≤ MDA (0.88 Bq/kg). The average values for annual effective dose and allowed consumption rate were calculated as 9.31 µSv/y and 491 kg/y. The results indicate that the radiological parameters for the analyzed pasta samples are well below international safety limits, suggesting no significant radiological health risk to consumers.

The utilization of phosphorite deposits as an industrial resource is of paramount importance, and its sustainability largely depends on ensuring safe and responsible practices. This study aims to evaluate the suitability of phosphorite deposits for industrial applications such as the production of phosphoric acid and phosphatic fertilizers. To achieve this goal, the study meticulously examines the geochemical characteristics of the deposits, investigates the distribution of natural Radioactivity within them, and assesses the potential radiological risk associated with their use. The phosphorites are massive and collected from different beds within the Duwi Formation at the Hamadat mining area. They are grain-supported and composed of phosphatic pellets, bioclasts (bones), non-phosphatic minerals, and cement. Geochemically, phosphorites contain high concentrations of P 2 O 5 (23.59–28.36 wt.%) and CaO (40.85–44.35 wt.%), with low amounts of Al 2 O 3 (0.23–0.51 wt.%), TiO 2 (0.01–0.03 wt.%), Fe 2 O 3 (1.14–2.28 wt.%), Na 2 O (0.37–1.19 wt.%), K 2 O (0.03–0.12 wt.%), and MnO (0.08–0.18 wt.%), suggesting the low contribution of the detrital material during their deposition. Moreover, they belong to contain enhanced U concentration (55–128 ppm). They are also enriched with Sr, Ba, Cr, V, and Zn and depleted in Th, Zr, and Rb, which strongly supports the low detrital input during the formation of the Hamadat phosphorites. The high Radioactivity of the studied phosphorites is probably due to the widespread occurrence of phosphatic components (e.g., apatite) that accommodate U in high concentrations. Gamma spectrometry based on NaI (Tl) crystal 3×3 has been used to measure occurring radionuclides in the phosphorite samples. The results indicate that the radioactive concentrations’ average values of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K are 184.18±9.19, 125.82±6.29, and 63.82±3.19 Bq Kg -1 , respectively. Additionally, evaluations have been made of the radiological hazards. The calculated risk indicators exceeded the recommended national and world averages. The data obtained will serve as a reference for follow-up studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the Radioactivity of phosphatic materials collected from the Hamdat mine area.

This is the first attempt in the world to depict the vertical distribution of radionuclides in the soil samples along several heights (900 feet, 1550 feet, and 1650 feet) of Marayon Tong hill in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bandarban by HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry. The average activity concentrations of 232 Th, 226 Ra, and 40 K were found to be 37.15 ± 3.76 Bqkg −1 , 19.69 ± 2.15 Bqkg −1 , and 347.82 ± 24.50 Bqkg −1 , respectively, where in most cases, 232 Th exceeded the world average value of 30 Bqkg −1 . According to soil characterization, soils ranged from slightly acidic to moderately acidic, with low soluble salts. The radium equivalent activity, outdoor and indoor absorbed dose rate, external and internal hazard indices, external and internal effective dose rates, gamma level index, and excess lifetime cancer risk were evaluated and found to be below the recommended or world average values; but a measurable activity of 137 Cs was found at soils collected from ground level and at an altitude of 1550 feet, which possibly arises from the nuclear fallout. The evaluation of cumulative radiation doses to the inhabitants via periodic measurement is recommended due to the elevated levels of 232 Th.This pioneering work in mapping the vertical distribution of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) can be an essential factual baseline data for the scientific community that may be used to evaluate the variation in NORMs in the future, especially after the commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh in 2024.

Impact assessment of building materials is a focused topic in the field of radioecology. A radiological survey has conducted to monitor radioactivity of most common building materials in Semnan Province, Iran, and assess the radiation risk. Activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K were measured in 29 samples including nine commonly used building materials that were collected from local suppliers and manufacturers, using a high purity germanium gamma-ray detector. The activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K varied from 6.7±1 to 43.6±9, 5.9±1 to 60±11, and 28.5±3 to 1085±113 Bq kg −1 with averages of 26.8±5, 22.7±4, and 322.4±4 Bq kg −1 , respectively. By applying multivariate statistical approach (Pearson correlation, cluster, and principal component analyses (PCA)), the radiological health hazard parameters were analyzed to obtain similarities and correlations between the various samples. The Pearson correlation showed that the 226 Ra distribution in the samples is controlled by changing the 232 Th concentration. The variance of 95.58% obtained from PCA resulted that the main radiological health hazard parameters exist due to the concentration of 226 Ra and 232 Th. The resulting dendrogram of cluster analysis also shows a well coincidence with the correlation analysis.

Soil can pose significant radiation hazard in areas with elevated radioactivity levels from geological or anthropogenic sources, potentially contributing to human exposure through the food chain and atmosphere. However, industrial activities can alter radionuclides distribution by releasing residues or effluents, leading to their accumulation in the environment. In general, soil provides clear insights into geological characteristics and heavy metal exploration, in addition to assessing the risks of radiation exposure. This study investigates the distribution of NORMs and assesses radiological hazards in twenty soil samples collected from two major industrial zones in the Chattogram City of Bangladesh: the Bayazid Industrial Area and the Kalurghat Heavy Industry Area. The activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in the analyzed soil samples range from 8 ± 1–18 ± 1, 15 ± 1–35 ± 3, and 192 ± 17–420 ± 35 Bq/kg, respectively, remaining below the global average for soil. The radiological hazard indices indicate negligible health risks to the public or environment, suggesting that the industrial activities are not releasing any radiotoxic elements in the surrounding environment. Statistical analysis identified 40 K and 232 Th as the primary contributors to radiological hazards, supported by strong correlations and significant principal component loadings. Additionally, this study provides baseline data for monitoring environmental radioactivity levels, particularly in light of the upcoming commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in 2025.

Emerald and other beryls represent a family of the most valuable gemstone around the world and particularly in Egypt. Beryllium (Be) contents in beryl-bearing bedrocks in south Sinai (Wadi Ghazala and Wadi Sedri), and in central and south Eastern Desert of Egypt (Igla area, Zabara-Um Addebaa belt, Homret Akarem, and Homret Mukpid) were investigated in this study. The environmental risk levels of Be, associated major ions, and heavy metals in groundwater nearby to beryl-bearing mineralization were also evaluated. Results showed that Be contents ranged from 1 to 374 ppm in beryl-bearing bedrocks, while in nearby groundwater, Be content has a range of 0.0001–0.00044 mg/L with an average of 0.00032 mg/L, which is within the permissible levels and below (0.004) the U.S. EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL). Most levels of heavy metals (e.g., Be, B, Ni, V, Fe, and Al) in the investigated groundwater of central and south Eastern Desert and south Sinai are within the permissible levels and below their corresponding U.S. EPA MCLs. This study also investigated the radiological risk of natural radionuclides distributed in beryl-bearing bedrocks in the study area using gamma spectrometry; Sodium Iodide [NaI(Tl)] scintillation detector. Among the estimated mean 238 U, 232 Th, and 226 Ra activity concentrations of the studied beryl-bearing rocks, Homret Mukpid (79, 87.15, 60.26 Bq kg −1 ) and Homret Akarem (111.6, 51.17, 85.1 Bq kg −1 ) contain the highest values. This may be attributed to their highly fractionated granitic rocks that host uranium and thorium reservoir minerals such as zircon, allanite, and monazite. The estimated data of multi-radiological parameters such as absorbed gamma dose, outdoor and indoor annual effective dose, radium equivalent activity, internal and external indices, index of excess cancer, and effective dose to human organs reflecting no significant impacts from the emitted natural gamma radiation.

The aims of this study were to investigate the vertical distributions of natural radionuclides 232Th, 226Ra and 40K as well as anthropogenic radionuclide 137Cs in soil samples and to analyze the correlation among the radioactivity of these radionuclides and the physiochemical characteristics of soil samples namely pH, grain size, carbonate content and organic matter. Risk assessment of the radiological hazard has also been estimated. Forty-four soil samples were collected from eleven locations in Qatar at four depth levels from 0 to 16 cm. The average concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra, 40K and 137Cs in the soil depth of 16 cm were 10, 17, 201 and 4 Bq/kg, respectively, which were within the reported world mean. The external absorbed gamma dose rate, the annual effective dose, the mean radium equivalent activity, the external hazard index and the lifetime cancer risk were 22 nGy/h, 0.027 mSv/y, 47 Bq/kg, 0.125 and 0.096 × 10−3, respectively. These values were far below the minimum recommended international values. The level of radioactivity concentrations in the soil was affected by the physiochemical characteristics of the soil. The positive correlation with highest R2 value was found among the radioactivity concentrations of 232Th and 40K and the soil clay content. Total organic carbon was also positively correlated for 226Ra and 137Cs activity concentrations, whereas, carbonate content was negatively correlated with the radioactivity concentrations of 232Th and 40K. As far as soil moisture content is concerned, the positive correlation with highest R2 value was obtained for 226Ra activity concentrations. © 2019, The Author(s).

The essential variables used to measure radiological pollution and related human health concerns include radionuclides’ distribution and transfer factors (TFs) in plants. The TF is the radionuclide’s specific activity (Bq kg −1 ) ratio in the plant to its dirt equivalent (in dry weight). This research aimed to determine the radionuclides’ soil-to-plant TF, to evaluate natural radionuclides’ transfer level from soil to a selected cultivated crop (wheat) in the Shaqlawa district of Erbil Province, Iraq. The study randomly collected soil and cultivated plant samples from various locations. The collected samples were analyzed using HPGe gamma spectroscopy. The 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K radionuclides, the average TFs from soil to plant root were 0.032, 0.033, and 0.405, respectively. TF values indicate that approximately 3.2%, 3.3%, and 40.5% of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K, respectively, were transferred from the soil to the wheat, following the order of 40 K (0.40) > 232 Th (0.033) and 226 Ra (0.032). All TFs were below the global standard of unity. A positive Pearson correlation was found among the three radionuclides in soil and plant samples. The three radionuclides were detected in soil and wheat samples, and the positive correlation among them suggested they originated from a common source in each environmental matrix. The results confirmed that the TF values from soil to wheat are safe for agricultural lands in the Shaklawa district, with no immediate radiological health implications.

Ionizing radiation emitted from radionuclides is present everywhere in the environment. It is the main source of health hazards to the general public. The present study elaborates on the analysis of primordial radionuclides in the collected soil samples from the Main Central Thrust (MCT) region of Uttarakhand Himalaya in a grid pattern. The naturally occurring radionuclides radium ( 226 Ra), thorium ( 232 Th) and potassium ( 40 K) were analyzed using a thallium-doped sodium iodide detector-based gamma-ray spectrometer. The activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K were found to vary from 9.82 ± 2.35 to 39.17 ± 5.50 Bq kg −1 (arithmetic mean 15.76 Bq kg −1 ), 15.09 ± 6.93 to 32.90 ± 7.80 Bq kg −1 (arithmetic mean 21.66 Bq kg −1 ), and 165.71 ± 43 to 417.16 ± 61.73 Bq kg −1 (arithmetic mean 320.30 Bq kg −1 ) respectively. The spatial distribution and radiation hazards of primordial radionuclides are discussed in the paper.