Investigation of Radioactivity Levels and Radiation Hazards in Soil Samples Collected from Different Sites in Tafila Governorate, Jordan

Authors

  • Ahmad M. Al-Qararah
  • Abdallah H. Almahasneh
  • Derar Altarawneh
  • Alaa Jaffal

Abstract

Natural and artificial radioactivity levels in surface soil samples collected from
various sites in Tafila governorate in Jordan, have been determined using gamma-ray
spectrometry. The average concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs were 23.6 ±
3.1, 23.3 ± 0.7, 16.7 ± 1.0, 234.1 ± 9.85 and 5.4 ± 0.3 Bq kg-1, respectively. The activity
ratio between 238U and 226Ra for all samples was close to unity. The average values of
radium equivalent activity, gamma-absorbed dose rate in air, annual effective dose
equivalent, external hazard index, internal hazard index and excess lifetime cancer risk
were 65.2 Bq kg-1, 30.6 nGy h-1, 37.6 µSv y-1, 0.18, 0.24 and 1.39×10-4, respectively. These
values for the collected samples do not exceed the permissible limits. Therefore, the studied
area does not pose any significant radiation hazard to the public. Furthermore, it has been
found that the activity concentration of 137Cs radionuclide is within the values of
recommended safe levels.

Keywords: Soil samples, Natural radioactivity, Artificial radioactivity, Gamma-ray
spectrometry, Radiation hazard assessment

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Published

2025-04-24

How to Cite

Al-Qararah, A. M., Almahasneh, A. H., Altarawneh, D., & Jaffal, A. (2025). Investigation of Radioactivity Levels and Radiation Hazards in Soil Samples Collected from Different Sites in Tafila Governorate, Jordan. Jordan Journal of Physics, 12(2). Retrieved from https://jjp.yu.edu.jo/index.php/jjp/article/view/795

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2019)

Section

Articles