Assessment of the Environmental Radioactivity Impacts and Health Hazards at Wadi Sahu Area, Sinai, Egypt .

Abstract

Components of natural environmental such as soils, rocks, sediments, vegetation, air and water include some naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). These radionuclides give rise to internal and external radiation exposures both indoor and outdoor .so, the measurements of radon exhalation rates of soil and rocks are helpful to study health hazard. According to the plan of Nuclear Materials Authority, that is based on radiation survey in various regions of the Arab Republic of Egypt. It have been developing a national program for radioactive mineral exploration, especially uranium mineralization Wadi Sahu as a part of Sinai area is inhabited by Migrant Bedouins which used natural materials in building. Also, there is a quarry and manganese mine in this region that cause significant environmental and occupational radiological impacts. The study area lies between longitude 33 º 25 `00 and 33 º 22` 19 "East and latitude 28 º 58` 54 "5 and 28 º 58` 00 North. The aim of the present work is to determine the environmental radioactivity hazards indices and the exposure dose rate for the public and workers from collected samples of rocks and soil, using Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTDs) of CR-39 as a tool to study 222 Rn emanation for 238 U prospection of the subsurface of rocks and soil distributed in the area , measure the radon exhalation rate and estimation of 222 Rn and radioelement measurements in well water & plants in the investigated area. The techniques used in measurements have been carried out as follows: direct gamma dose measurements using (RDS-100) gamma survey meter, radon gas concentration in subsurface soil using closed cup technique, radon exhalation rate using closed can technique, radiometric measurements for soil and plants using NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometry, radon gas concentration in water using Alpha spectroscopy (SARAD GmbH RTM1688 ) and finally analysis of environmental pollutants by Atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results obtained from this work is useful for establishing a data baseline on the radon and gamma background radiation levels in Wadi Sahu, and represent a basis to assess any further changes in the radioactivity background levels due to various geological processes or any artificial influences around the area under considerations . Also,to prepare radioelement maps for geological study and mineral resource assessment. The results showed that ; - The average results of gamma dose rate was (0.9)µSv/h which did not exceed the recommended action limit (10) µSv/h . - The average radon concentration in the four regions were higher than the permissible limit for radon in the air outside (1-100( Bq/m3 as the first region (R1) were higher than other regions (19.84) KBq/m 3 .