Radioactivity risk associated with the handling of compact fluorescent lamps.

The objective of this work is focused in measuring the level of naturally occurring radionuclides in compact fluorescent lamps commonly used in Egypt. The activity concentration of radionuclides in the (238)U and (232)Th decay chains and from (40)K were determined through gamma-ray spectrometry measurements using high-purity germanium in a low-background configuration. It was found that the activity concentrations ranged from 45 to 198 Bq kg(-1) for (238)U, from 30 to 191 Bqkg(-1) for (232)Th and from 419 to 935 Bq kg(-1) for (40)K.

Radiation dose estimation of sand samples collected from different Egyptian beaches.

A high pure germanium detector-based gamma-ray spectroscopy low-background counting system was used to determine the levels of natural radioactivity from beach sand samples on the Egyptian coast along the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K were found to lie in the range of 30±11 to 60±14 Bq kg(-1) with a mean of 39±15 Bq kg(-1), 12±3 to 30±14 Bq kg(-1) with a mean of 21±13 Bq kg(-1) and 392±22 to 413±22 Bq kg(-1) with a mean of 402±23 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Radiation hazard indices and annual effective doses were evaluated and compared with the international data. The results indicate that the values obtained fall below the internationally accepted maximum limits and do not pose any significant radiation hazard to individuals in the study area. From these results, a radiological baseline map of Egyptian beaches can be drawn and used as reference information to assess any future alterations in the radioactivity of beach sands due to any changes in the sea sediments.