Elemental and Radioactivity Concentration of Stream Sediments in Abu-Rusheid, Nugrus area – South Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract

The present study describes the technique and procedures used for the simultaneous determination of elements involved in Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, applied to some geological samples as a sensitive and non-destructive tool. Average thermal neutron flux of 1014 n.cm-2.sec-1 from the 2nd research Egyptian reactor (ET-RR-2) has been utilized, the delayed gamma-rays emitted due to neutron capture have been applied for the investigation of the elemental constituents and concentrations of trace elements in such samples. As a part of the national survey to evaluate some strategic elements such as U, Mn, Fe and Cu we have undertaken a quantitative study to fulfill this target. Twenty sediment samples were collected from Abu Rusheid Area in South Eastern desert of Egypt. The concentrations of uranium-238 ,thorium-232 and Potassium-40were determined by direct counting using a hyper pure germanium (HPGe) detector interfaced with a multi-channel analyzer (MCA) .The obtained results showed that the specific activity of 238U ranged from 65.71±16 to 208.2±20 Bq/kg and 232Th from 27.14±8.69 to 206.89±40.1 Bq/kg while 40K from 127.73 to 443.84 Bq/kg. These values are higher than the international recommended levels. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate (D), the external hazard index (Hex), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) and the representative level index (Iγr) were also calculated and compared with the international recommended values. Additionally, X-ray fluorescence analysis for soil sample has been performed and considerable concentration of Al, Fe, Mn and Zn have been found.