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Estimation of radiation hazard indices from natural radioactivity of some rocks

ADVANCED NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTATION AND DETECTION

Estimation of radiation hazard indices from natural radioactivity of some rocks

A. ABBADY
N.K. AHMED
A.M. EL-ARABI
R. MICHEL
A.H. EL-KAMEL
A.G.E. ABBADY
Nuclear Science and TechniquesVol.17, No.2pp.118-122Published in print 20 Apr 2006
39800

Different samples of igneous and metamorphic rocks from Egypt and Germany have been considered to measure γ-ray activity concentrations due to naturally occurring, potentially hazardous radonuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K. The radiation hazard parameters including radiation equivalent activity, gamma-absorbed dose rate, and external and internal hazard indices have been estimated. The gamma-absorbed dose rates in air of rocks in Egypt range from 4.2 to 128.5 nGy·h-1 with a mean value of 55.3nGy·h-1. For igneous and metamorphic rocks from Germany, the values of absorbed dose rates fluctuate from 5.1 to 148.6nGy·h-1, with a mean value of 60.9nGy·h-1. Generally, it is found that the radiation hazard indices in common igneous rocks are distinctly higher in acidic than in ultrabasic rocks. The results are discussed and compared with the corresponding published data.

Natural radioactivityRocksHazard indices
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