Analysis of Potassium-40 ( 40 K) in Soil Samples from Dhahran City, Saudi Arabia, Using Gamma Spectrometer
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RESEARCH ARTICLE-PHYSICS
Analysis of Potassium-40 (40 K) in Soil Samples from Dhahran City, Saudi Arabia, Using Gamma Spectrometer Nidal Dwaikat1 Received: 6 March 2020 / Accepted: 13 August 2020 © King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals 2020
Abstract This study presents the results of an analysis of 40 K in soil samples from the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Gamma-ray spectrometry was used to measure the radioactivity of the 8 soil samples. The activity concentration, the absorbed dose, and the annual effective dose were calculated. The activity concentration of 40 K ranged between 216.37 ± 3.66 and 258.12 ± 3.59 Bq kg−1 with an average of 229.38 ± 3.67 Bq kg−1 . The average absorbed dose was found to be 9.57 ± 0.15 nGy h−1 , while the annual effective dose ranged from 11.10 ± 0.19 to 13.20 ± 0.19 µSv with an average of 11.73 ± 0.19 µSv. These results are lower than world average values of activity concentration, absorbed dose, and annual effective dose which are 400 Bq kg−1 , 16.68 nGy h−1 , and 170 µSv y−1 , respectively. All the obtained results are within the safety limit; therefore, there is no radiation hazard and life on the campus of KFUPM is safe. Keywords Potassium (40 K) · Activity concentration · Absorbed gamma dose · Annual effective dose
1 Introduction Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), such as 238 U, 235 U, 232 Th, and 40 K, are part of our environment. They exist in soil, rocks, water, and air. We always expose to natural radiations, and they contribute 80% to the total dose [1–3]. The world average values of activity concentrations of 40 K, 238 U, and 232 Th in the soil are 400, 37, and 33 Bq kg−1 , respectively [2]. In tissues, the annual dose from 40 K in the body is 0.185 mSv for adults [2]. From the health point of view, radiations emitted from NORM are carcinogenic; therefore, it is important to measure the level of NORM in environmental samples. Unfortunately, we cannot detect these radiations by our natural senses. We need special instruments to measure nuclear radiation. Recently, several techniques with advanced technology are developed to measure the nuclear radiation emitted from different sources. Gamma-ray spectroscopy is a powerful technique for measuring the concentration of radioactive elements in samples.
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Nidal Dwaikat [email protected]; [email protected]
In Saudi Arabia, many published studies reported the activity concentration of 40 K in soil samples collected from different areas. Alashrah [4] measured the activity concentration of 40 K in 30 red soil samples collected from Al-Qassim province. The average value was found to be 78.7 Bq kg−1 . The average value of activity concentration of 40 K of 100 soil samples collected from the Riyadh area was reported to be 225 ± 63 Bq kg−1 [5]. Recently, Fatima Alshahri [6] analyzed the activity concentration of 40 K in 34 soil samples collected from Ras Tanura and the average was found to be 278 ± 9.8 Bq kg−1 . It is clear from the literature review t
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