Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hazard indices and annual effective dose due to terrestrial radioactivity in the urban areas in the south of Jordan

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

226Ra, 238U, 232Th, and 40K radionuclides have been determined using gamma-ray spectrometry in soil samples collected from urban areas in the southern governorates of Jordan and showed average concentrations of (39 ± 18), (45 ± 20), (23 ± 13), and (233 ± 128) Bq kg−1, respectively. The corresponding radio-elemental concentrations in the existing geological features were obtained and examined for the relative depletion/enrichment processes and state of equilibrium in soils. Radium equivalent activity, hazard indices, and annual gonadal dose equivalent do not exceed the permissible limits. Absorbed dose rates in air outdoor and external effective dose showed average values of 44.0 nGy h−1 and 54.4 μSv y−1, respectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Al-Hamarneh IF, Awadallah MI (2009) Soil radioactivity levels and radiation hazard assessment in the highlands of northern Jordan. Radiat Meas 44:102–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Al-Shboul KF, Alali AE, Al-Khodire HY, Batayneh IM, Al-Shurafat AW (2017) Assessment of secular equilibrium and determination of natural and artificial radionuclide concentrations in the zone surrounding the site of the first nuclear reactor in Jordan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 314(2):1353–1360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hamideen MS, Sharaf J (2012) Natural radioactivity investigations in soil samples obtained from phosphate hills in the Russaifa region, Jordan. Radiat Phys Chem 81:1559–1562

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Al-Khateeb HM, Al-Qudah AA, Alzoubi FY, Alqadi MK, Aljarrah KM (2012) Radon concentration and radon effective dose rate in dwellings of some villages in the district of Ajloun, Jordan. Appl Radiat Isot 70:1579–1582

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Abumurad KM, Al-Tamimi MH (2005) Natural radioactivity due to radon in Soum region, Jordan. Radiat Meas 39:77–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Al-Hamarneh I, Wreikat A, Toukan K (2003) Radioactivity concentrations of 40K, 134Cs, 137Cs, 90Sr, 241Am, 238Pu and 239+240Pu radionuclides in Jordanian soil samples. J Environ Radioact 67:53–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Al-Jundi J, Al-Bataina BA, Abu-Rukah Y, Shehadeh HM (2003) Natural radioactivity concentrations in soil samples along the Amman Aqaba Highway, Jordan. Radiat Meas 36:555–560

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Saleh H, Abu Shayeb M (2014) Natural radioactivity distribution of southern part of Jordan (Ma’an) soil. Annal Nucl Energ 65:184–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Al-Kharouf SJ, Al-Hamarneh IF, Dababneh M (2008) Natural radioactivity, dose assessment and uranium uptake by agricultural crops at Khan Al-Zabeeb, Jordan. J Environ Radioact 99:1192–1199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Abusini M, Al-ayasreh K, Al-Jundi J (2008) Determination of uranium, thorium and potassium activity concentrations in soil cores in Araba Valley, Jordan. Radiat Protect Dosimet 128:213–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Harbottle G, Evans CV (1997) Gamma-ray methods for determining natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in environmental and soil science. Radioact Radiochem 8(1):38–46

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. UNSCEAR (2008) United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation report to the general assembly. Annex B: exposures of the public and workers from various sources of radiation. United Nations, New York

  13. Srilatha MC, Rangaswamy DR, Sannappa J (2014) Measurement of natural radioactivity and radiation hazard assessment in the soil samples of Ramanagara and Tumkur districts, Karnataka, India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 303(1):993–1003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Tufail M, Asghar M, Akram M, Javied S, Khan K, Mujahid SA (2013) Measurement of natural radioactivity in soil from Peshawar basin of Pakistan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 298:1085–1096

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Reddy KU, Ningappa C, Sannappa J (2017) Natural radioactivity level in soils around Kolar Gold Fields, Kolar district, Karnataka, India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 315:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  16. IAEA-TECDOC-1363 (2003) Guidelines for radioelement mapping using gamma ray spectrometry data. IAEA, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  17. UNSCEAR (2000) Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to general assembly, with scientific annexes, United Nations, New York

  18. Tzortzis M, Tsertos H, Christofides S, Christodoulides G (2003) Gamma-ray measurements of naturally occurring radioactive samples from Cyprus characteristic geological rocks. Radiat Meas 37:221–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Chiozzi P, Pasquale V, Verdoya M (2002) Naturally occurring radioactivity at the Alps-Apennines transition. Radiat Meas 35:147–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. NCRP Report No. 77 (1984) Exposures from the uranium series with emphasis on radon and its daughters. Bethesda, Maryland

  21. Orgun Y, Altınsoy N, Sahin SY, Gungor Y, Gültekin AH, Karahan G, Karacık Z (2007) Natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in rocks and beach sands from Ezine region (Çanakkale), Western Anatolia, Turkey. Appl Rad Isot 65:739–747

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Clark SP, Peterman ZE, Heier KS (1966) Abundance of uranium, thorium and potassium. Handbook of physical constants. Geol Soc Am Mem 97:521–524

    Google Scholar 

  23. Tzortzis M, Tsertos H (2004) Determination of thorium, uranium and potassium elemental concentrations in surface soils in Cyprus. J Environ Radioact 77:325–338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. OECD (1979) Exposure to radiation from the natural radioactivity in building materials. Reported by a group of experts of the OECD. Nuclear Energy Agency, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  25. Beretka J, Mathew PJ (1985) Natural radioactivity of Australian building materials, industrial wastes and by-products. Health Phys 48:87–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kurnaz A, Küçükömeroğlu B, Keser R, Okumusoglu NT, Korkmaz F, Karahan G, Çevik U (2007) Determination of radioactivity levels and hazards of soil and sediment samples in Fırtına Valley (Rize, Turkey). Appl Radiat Isot 65:1281–1289

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Arafa W (2004) Specific activity and hazards of granite samples collected from the Eastern Desert of Egypt. J Environ Radioact 75:315–327

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Orgun Y, Altınsoy N, Gultekin AH, Karahan G, Celebi N (2005) Natural radioactivity levels in granitic plutons and groundwaters in Southeast part of Eskisehir, Turkey. Appl Radiat Isot 63:267–275

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. ICRP 60 (1990) Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Annals of the ICRP. Pergamon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  30. UNSCEAR (1988) Sources, effects and risks of ionizing radiation. Report on the general assembly. UNSCEAR, New York

    Google Scholar 

  31. Mamont-Ciesla K, Gwiazdowski B, Biernacka M, Zak A (1982) Radioactivity of building materials in Poland. In: Vohra G, Pillai KC, Sadavisan S (eds) Natural radiation environment. Halsted Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  32. Xinwei L, Lingqing W, Xiaodan J, Leipeng Y, Gelian D (2006) Specific activity and hazards of Archeozoic-Cambrian rock samples collected from the Weibei area of Shaanxi, China. Radiat Prot Dosim 118(3):352–359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge the technical and financial support received by Al-Balqa Applied University, Salt, Jordan. Many thanks are due to Dr. M. Awadallah and Prof. M. Imran for their valuable assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Al-Balqa Applied University, Salt, 19117, Jordan

    Ibrahim F. Al-Hamarneh

  2. Department of Physics, College of Science, Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia

    Ibrahim F. Al-Hamarneh

Authors
  1. Ibrahim F. Al-Hamarneh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ibrahim F. Al-Hamarneh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Al-Hamarneh, I.F. Hazard indices and annual effective dose due to terrestrial radioactivity in the urban areas in the south of Jordan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 316, 139–151 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-5723-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-5723-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation