An extended assessment of natural radioactivity in the sediments of the mid-region of the Egyptian Red Sea coast

Hesham M H Zakaly; M A M Uosif; Shams A M Issa; H O Tekin; Hashim Madkour; Mahmoud Tammam; Atef El-Taher; Gharam A Alharshan; Mostafa Y A Mostafa

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112658

An extended assessment of natural radioactivity in the sediments of the mid-region of the Egyptian Red Sea coast

Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Oct:171:112658. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112658. Epub 2021 Jul 13.

Authors

Hesham M H Zakaly¹, M A M Uosif², Shams A M Issa³, H O Tekin⁴, Hashim Madkour⁵, Mahmoud Tammam⁶, Atef El-Taher⁶, Gharam A Alharshan⁷, Mostafa Y A Mostafa⁸

Affiliations

¹ Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, 71524 Assuit, Egypt; Institute of Physics and Technology, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg 620002, Russia. Electronic address: h.m.zakaly@azhar.edu.eg.
² Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, 71524 Assuit, Egypt; Physics Department, College of Science, Jouf University, P.O. 2014 Sakaka, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: mauosif@ju.edu.sa.
³ Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, 71524 Assuit, Egypt; Physics Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71451, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Medical Diagnostic Imaging Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; Medical Radiation Research Center (USMERA), Uskudar University, 34672 Istanbul, Turkey.
⁵ National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Hurghada, Egypt.
⁶ Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, 71524 Assuit, Egypt.
⁷ Physics Department, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint, Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Institute of Physics and Technology, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg 620002, Russia; Department of Physics, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt.

PMID: 34271507
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112658

Abstract

In this study, nearly 84 marine sediment samples were collected from twelve points in four cities (Quseir, Safaga, Hurghada, and Ras Gharib) along the Egyptian Red Sea sectors. The collected samples were extensively examined to estimate the natural radioactivity level. The obtained results were compared to the reported ranges from other locations in different countries. Hazardous radiation parameters such as radium equivalent, annual dose, and external hazards were estimated and compared to United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) recommended levels. The values were recorded in the first natural radioactivity database of coastal sediments from Egyptian Red Sea cities. The dose rate for certain organs was evaluated. The results showed that Red Sea beach sediments are safe in terms of natural radioactivity. It can be concluded that they do not pose a risk to tourists going to the beaches for recreation or to sailors and fishers involved in economic activities along the Egyptian Red Sea coast.

Keywords: Coastal sediment; Egyptian Red Sea coast; Natural radionuclides; Radiological hazard.

MeSH terms

Egypt
Geologic Sediments
Indian Ocean
Potassium Radioisotopes / analysis
Radiation Monitoring*
Radioactivity*
Soil Pollutants, Radioactive* / analysis
Spectrometry, Gamma
Thorium / analysis

Substances

Potassium Radioisotopes
Soil Pollutants, Radioactive
Thorium