Investigation of natural radioactivity levels and evaluation of radiation hazards in eesidential-area soil near a Ras Tanura Refinery, Saudi Arbia

• Autorzy: Alshahri F. , El-Taher A.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

One of the oldest oil refineries in the Middle East is located south of Ras Tanura in eastern Saudi Arabia, Arabian Gulf. Naturally occurring radionuclides may be associated with the extraction processes of oil and gas. Therefore, the activities concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs in soil samples near Ras Tanura refinery were measured using the gamma ray spectrometric technique. The mean activity concentrations of the radionuclides ²³⁸U,²²⁶Ra,²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs were 39.0±4.8 Bq/kg, 23.2±1.4 Bq/kg, 7.73±1.2 Bq/kg, 278±9.8 Bq/kg, and 1.42±0.5 Bq/kg, respectively. Radiation hazard indices were calculated to evaluate the radiological risk for the public and environment. The results show that the mean values of radium equivalent activity (Raeq) and gamma absorbed dose rate (D) in air, annual effective dose equivalent (E), and external radiation hazard indices for analyzed samples were lower than the recommended limit by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation. This study is the first to evaluate the radiological impacts in the investigation area. Accordingly, the present study could be considered a baseline for natural radioactivity levels in soil near a refinery area in Ras Tanura.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Polish Journal of Environmental Studies
• Rocznik: 2019
• Tom: 28
• Numer: 1
• Opis fizyczny: p.25-34,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Alshahri F.

• Department of Physics, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

autor

El-Taher A.

• Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt

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Identyfikatory

DOI

10.15244/pjoes/83611