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Airborne γ-ray spectrometric characteristics of lithological units and environmental issues in the Bahariya Oases area in the northern part of western desert, Egypt

المميزات الإشعاعية الطيفية الجيمية الجوية للوحدات الصخرية و المؤشرات البيئية في مصر

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Abstract

Two significant airborne gamma ray spectrometic (AGRS) statistical parameters, i.e., the arithmetic mean and the standard deviation, were computed for all lithologic units and formations of the Bahariya Oases area, Northern Western Desert, Egypt. The results ascertain that the maximum AGRS values are associated with sabkha sediments, Bahariya Formation, basalt flows and sand dunes. The intermediate values are correlated with El-Heiz, El-Hefhuf, Qazzun and Naqb formations. The minimum values are connected with Khoman Chalk and El-Hamra formations. The AGRS records were found to vary from one type of rock to another and to some extent between units of the same rock type too. On the aerial total-count (TC) radiometric maps, the records change from 6.2 to 69.36 μR/h. On the potassium map, the values range from 0.05% to 4.35%. On the equivalent uranium (eU) and equivalent thorium (eTh) maps, the records oscillate from 0.12 to 7.4 ppm and from 0.28 to 8.4 ppm, respectively. Concerning the Bahariya Oases area, the calculated arithmetic mean natural dose rate values originating from the terrestrial gamma radiation were found to range from 0.14 to 0.26 mSv/year and where the maximum value attains 0.62 mSv/year. These values remain on the safe side and within the maximum permissible safe radiation dose without harm to individuals, with continuous external irradiation of the whole body.

الخلاصة

تم حساب المتوسط الحسابي و الحيدان المعياري و اللذين يمثلان خصيصتين إشعاعيتين طيفيتين جيميتين جوتين إحصائيتين هامتين لجميع الوحدات والتكوينات الصخرية الكائنة بمنطقة الواحات البحرية، الصحراء الغربية الشمالية، مصر. تؤكد النتائج إرتباط القيم الإشعاعية الطيفية المرتفعة برواسب السبخات، و تكوين البحرية و فيوض البازلت و الكثبان الرملية، في حين ترتبط القيم المتوسطة بتكوينات الحيز و الهفوف وكازون ونقب، وأدنى قيم بتكوين طباشير خومان و الحمرا.

تبين تفاوت القيم الإشعاعية الطيفية الجيمية الجوية من صخر إلى آخر، وكذلك فيما بين وحدات الصخر نفسه. إتضح تغير القيم الإشعاعية الكلية الجوية المسجلة فوق مختلف الصخور بالمنطقة من 6.20 إلى 69.36 ميكرورونتجن/ساعة، وقيم البوتاسيوم من 0.05 إلى 4.35 في المائة، وقيم كل من اليورانيوم المكافئ و الثوريوم المكافئ من 0.12 حتى 7.40 جزء في المليون و0.28 إلى8.40 جزء في المليون على التوالي. تم رسم خريطة لقيم معدلات التعرض للإشعاع الطبيعي و معدلات الجرعة الإشعاعية الطيفية المنبعثة من الأرض لمختلف نوعيات الصخور ممثلة بوحداتها و تكويناتها بمنطقة الدراسة.

تبين بلوغ أقصى قيمه لمعدل الجرعة 0.62 ميلي سيفرت في العام متراوحة بين 0.14 حتى 0.26 ميلي سيفرت بالنسبة للمتوسط الحسابي، حيث تعتبر هذه القيمة ضئيلة و آمنة و في حدود المسموح بها عالميا. لهذا، تعتبر منطقة الواحات البحرية بالصحراء الغربية بمصر آمنة ، و لا تمثل أي خطورة على السكان من الناحية الإشعاعية، مع تعرض كامل الجسم للإشعاع الخارجي المستمر.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed A. El-Sadek & Ahmed A. Ammar

  2. Faculty of Science, El Mansoura University, El Mansoura, Egypt

    Mohamed A. Omran & Hatem M. Abu Elkheer

Authors
  1. Mohamed A. El-Sadek
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  2. Ahmed A. Ammar
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  3. Mohamed A. Omran
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  4. Hatem M. Abu Elkheer
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Correspondence to Mohamed A. El-Sadek.

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El-Sadek, M.A., Ammar, A.A., Omran, M.A. et al. Airborne γ-ray spectrometric characteristics of lithological units and environmental issues in the Bahariya Oases area in the northern part of western desert, Egypt. Arab J Geosci 4, 1151–1161 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-010-0170-x

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