Natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in urban soil around non-nuclear industries (Northern Al Jubail), Saudi Arabia: assessment of health risk

The residential areas are located around one of the oldest and largest non-nuclear industrial cities in Saudi Arabia, Arabian Gulf. Therefore, it is important to study the radioactivity levels in the urban soil in order to estimate the potential risk of radiation in environment and for public. The activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232, K-40, and Cs-137 in urban soil around non-nuclear industries were measured using gamma ray spectrometric technique. The mean values of activity concentrations were found to be 7.64 +/- 0.4, 3.76 +/- 0.2, 174 +/- 3.7, and 0.391 +/- 0.03 (Bq/kg) for Ra-226, Th-232, K-40, and Cs-137, respectively. Radium equivalent activity (Ra-eq), gamma absorbed dose rate in air (D), and annual effective dose equivalent (E) for outdoor were calculated. The mean values of these radiological parameters were found to be less than the allowed limits in soil. The obtained results were compared with other studies from Arabian Gulf and other regions of the world. Consequently, the direct gamma radiation exposure from the urban soil in the study area was found to be safe for public. Additionally, the present study is the first in this area which could be used as a baseline for radioactivity levels in soil nearby industrial areas of the Arabian Gulf region.