ASSESSMENTS OF RADIOACTIVITY CONCENTRATION LEVELS FOR NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN SOIL SAMPLES FROM ZLITEN

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the activity concentration of the natural radionuclides ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th, and ²²⁶Ra in Zliten City, Libya, using gamma spectrometry based on a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. Eight samples from different locations in the study area were randomly collected and measured. The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides were found to vary from 168.399 to 678.529 Bq/kg with an average of the measured concentrations for ⁴⁰K, and vary from 21.876 to 228.222 Bq/kg with an average Bq/kg for ²³²Th, and for ²²⁶Ra ranged were vary from 7.672 to 29.069 Bq/kg with an average Bq/kg. the average absorbed dose rate in air 103.60nGh^-1, the average value of radium equivalents was 246.132 Bq.Kg^-1, the average value of the external hazard indices was 0.252 and the average value of the internal hazard indices was 0.709. The results of the present study were discussed and compared with internationally recommended values.