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Specific activities of natural rocks and soils at
quaternary intraplate volcanism north of Sana'a, Yemen

Research Authors
Shaban Harb, Abd El-Hadi El-Kame, Abd El-Bast Abbady, Imran Issa Saleh,
Abdallah Ibrahim Abd El-Mageed
Research Abstract

The level of natural radioactivity in rocks and soil of 32 samples collected from locations at North Sana'a in Yemen was measured.
Concentrations of radionuclides in rocks and soils samples were determined by gamma-ray spectrometer using high purity
germanium (HPGe) detector with specially designed shield. The average radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K were
determined and expressed in Bq/kg. The results showed that these radionuclides were present in concentrations of 21.79 ±
3.1, 19.5 ± 2.6 and 399.3 ± 16 Bq/kg, respectively, for rocks. For soil, the corresponding values were 48.2 ± 4.4, 41.7 ± 4.5
and 939.1 ± 36 Bq/kg, respectively. Also, the radiological hazard of the natural radionuclide content, radium equivalent activity,
total dose rates, external hazard index and gamma activity concentration index of the (rocks/soils) samples in the area under
consideration were calculated. The dose rates at 1 m above the ground from terrestrial sources were 38.39 and 86.89 nGy/h
for rocks and surface soil, respectively, which present no significant health hazards to humans.

Research Department
Research Journal
Journal of Medical Physics
Research Rank
1
Research Vol
Vol. 37, No. 1
Research Year
2012