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Analysis of Potassium-40 (40K) in Soil Samples from Dhahran City, Saudi Arabia, Using Gamma Spectrometer

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Abstract

This study presents the results of an analysis of 40K 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 40K 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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, College of Science, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Nidal Dwaikat

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  1. Nidal Dwaikat
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Correspondence to Nidal Dwaikat.

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Dwaikat, N. Analysis of Potassium-40 (40K) in Soil Samples from Dhahran City, Saudi Arabia, Using Gamma Spectrometer. Arab J Sci Eng 46, 731–735 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-020-04863-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-020-04863-2

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