Natural radionuclides and cesium-137 content in Arabian Gulf bottom sediments

The activity concentration of natural radionuclides and137Cs in the bottom sediment samples from the coastal area of Kuwait on the Arabian Gulf have been determined by γ-ray spectrometry with REGe detector. The data for the samples are very similar to those obtained for surface soil samples in Kuwait.1 Two parent-progeny ratios for:23$Th−226Ra and228Ac−208Tl to evaluate the geochemical behavior of the radionuclides have been estimated. The existence of a serious disequilibrium between234Th and226Ra for samples taken from the vicinity of Kuwait islands and the Ras Al-Zoor area was found. The strait between the coast of Kuwait and Bubiyan island is proposed for the future sedimentation rate determinations on the basis of210Pb measurements. No serious contamination by technogenic radionuclides for this region of Arabian Gulf was observed.