Depleted uranium assessment and natural radioactivity monitoring in North West of Iraq over a decade since the last Gulf War.

For the sake of completeness of the surveillance process concerning the spread of depleted uranium (DU) in the Arabian Gulf region, we have applied a simple gamma spectroscopy technique to evaluate its content in Al Jolan, Nazzal and Askari districts in Al Fallujah area, Iraq for the first time and after more than one decade. The measurements were carried out along the lines of the wars that have been witnessed in Iraq last period and expected to be the region of impact of residuals of a large quantity of DU. The observed radionuclides are 4 K and other naturally occurring radioactive members of uranium and thorium series. The obtained results show that, the average specific activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 4 K, 210Pb 238U and 235U in different soil samples collected from Al Fallujah area, Iraq in range of 20.09 ±â€¯4.0 to 21.94 ±â€¯2.4, 11.51 ±â€¯2.3 to 11.75 ±â€¯3.2, 96.53 ±â€¯8.0 to 112.13 ±â€¯49.8, 19.98 ±â€¯4.6 to 20.76 ±â€¯4.8, 25.4 ±â€¯3.9 to 26.1 ±â€¯6.0 and 1.28 ±â€¯0.18 to 1.34 ±â€¯0.21 respectively. The obtained values of Raeq for all the investigated samples are less than the recommended limit of 370 Bq kg-1 and those for Hex are less than one. These results have been compared with the previous works and the world mean values specified by the UNSCEAR reports. The mean ratio of 238U/235U activity in all cases is about the natural value (21.73) which is less than its value in case of DU (76.92). The present obtained results of DU levels show that although a large amount of DU was released in Iraq during the Gulf wars, the tested samples are DU free. This may be attributed to the reduction of DU from the soil surface by wind or sandstorms and the downward leaching process.

Natural radioactivity levels and associated health hazards from the terrestrial ecosystem in Rosetta branch of the River Nile, Egypt.

Twenty soil and 25 sediment samples were collected from the banks and bottom of the River Nile in the surroundings of biggest cities located close to it. Natural radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K have been evaluated for all samples by means of γ spectrometric analysis. The radioactivity levels of soil and sediment samples fall within the internationally recommended values. Nevertheless, high natural background radiation zones are detected in the Kafr El-Zayat region due to the presence of a fertilizer factory, and in the Rosetta region due to the presence of black sand deposits. The absorbed dose rate, the γ index and excess life time cancer risk are calculated. High values for some of the radiation health parameters are detected in the Kafr El-Zayat and Rosetta regions representing a serious problem to public health because the soil and sediment are used as constructing material for buildings. Furthermore, the isotope analysis of uranium for representative collected sediment samples via α spectrometry showed average specific activities of 18.7 ± 3.6, 0.087 ± 0.0038 and 18.6 ± 3.8 Bq kg-1 for 234U, 235U and 238U, respectively. In general, these values confirm the balance in the isotopic abundance of U isotopes.

Radiological safety assessment inside ancient Egyptian tombs in Saqqara.

Many archaeological sites in Egypt are unique worldwide, such as ancient tombs and pyramids, because they document fundamental developments in human civilization that took place several thousands of years ago. For this reason, these sites are visited by numerous visitors every year. The present work is devoted to provide a pre-operational radiological baseline needed to quantify occupational radiation exposure at the famous Saqqara region in Cairo, Egypt. A hyperpure Ge detector has been used in the γ-ray spectrometric analysis while the (222)Rn concentration was measured using a portable radon monitor RTM 1688-2, SARAD. The mean specific activities of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in the samples collected from the interior walls of the Saqqara tombs were determined and found to show average values of 16, 8.5 and 45 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The concentration of radon was measured inside the tombs Serapeum, South tomb and the Zoser Pyramid (fifth level) and an associated average working level of 0.83 WL was obtained. In order to avoid the health hazards associated with the exposure to radon during the long period of work inside these tombs, proposed solutions are introduced.

Radioactive contamination of the atmosphere of Cairo, Egypt, from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant accident.

Radioactive contamination in air dust particles of Cairo atmosphere from the Fukushima accident was detected by the gamma-ray spectroscopy technique. Analysis of the spectra obtained by using an High-Purity Germanium detector showed that there were some traces of (131)I and (134, 137)Cs. Estimate and study of concentration of those radionuclides were done over a period of about 5 months after the accident. Comparison with corresponding results in different countries all over the world has been performed.