Twenty samples of ground water were collected from different wells in Al-Baha region which is located at south-east of Saudi Arabia. Gamma spectrometer based on HPGe crystal was applied to determine activity concentra...Twenty samples of ground water were collected from different wells in Al-Baha region which is located at south-east of Saudi Arabia. Gamma spectrometer based on HPGe crystal was applied to determine activity concentrations in Bq·L-1 of the natural radio nuclides: Radium-226 and Thorium-232 series also Potassium-40. The measured results indicate that the average concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the studied samples were 0.85, 0.43, and 2.84 Bq·L-1, respectively. The average annual estimated effective dose was found to be 0.058 mSv/y which is lower than the annual limit of the dose allowed by WHO Thus, it has no harmful effects on health.展开更多
Measurement of natural radioactivity levels of major and heavy metals concentration was carried out for water samples collected from primary schools in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. The estimations were done for two diff...Measurement of natural radioactivity levels of major and heavy metals concentration was carried out for water samples collected from primary schools in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. The estimations were done for two different age groups, children (students 7 - 12 y) and adults (teachers and workers > 17 y) at the schools. The chemical analysis was performed by an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and a high-resolution HPGe detector was used for the natural radionuclides measurement. The obtained results for the heavy metals (Fe, Cu, and Zn) and major and heavy elements (Na, K, Ca and Mg) concentrations in all water samples did not exceed the limits of WHO, EPA and TSE-266 guidelines for drinking water. Only Pb exceeded the safe limit. Generally, heavy metals and major elements’ concentrations in water samples were found decrease in sequence of Ca > Na > Mg > K > Zn > Pb > Cu > Fe. The radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in all studied samples were below the permissible safe limit value. The total average annual effective doses of (226Ra + 232Th + 40K) radionuclides were 0.259 mSv.y-1 for the children and 0.112 mSv.y-1 for adults, which are below the recommended annual dose level 1.0 mSv.y-1 as reported by WHO (2006). The present drinking waters are high quality waters and safe in terms of natural radioactivity and the results of the HQ values for the individual heavy metals showed that there was no health risk for humans due to consumption of these waters.展开更多
文摘Twenty samples of ground water were collected from different wells in Al-Baha region which is located at south-east of Saudi Arabia. Gamma spectrometer based on HPGe crystal was applied to determine activity concentrations in Bq·L-1 of the natural radio nuclides: Radium-226 and Thorium-232 series also Potassium-40. The measured results indicate that the average concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the studied samples were 0.85, 0.43, and 2.84 Bq·L-1, respectively. The average annual estimated effective dose was found to be 0.058 mSv/y which is lower than the annual limit of the dose allowed by WHO Thus, it has no harmful effects on health.
文摘Measurement of natural radioactivity levels of major and heavy metals concentration was carried out for water samples collected from primary schools in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. The estimations were done for two different age groups, children (students 7 - 12 y) and adults (teachers and workers > 17 y) at the schools. The chemical analysis was performed by an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and a high-resolution HPGe detector was used for the natural radionuclides measurement. The obtained results for the heavy metals (Fe, Cu, and Zn) and major and heavy elements (Na, K, Ca and Mg) concentrations in all water samples did not exceed the limits of WHO, EPA and TSE-266 guidelines for drinking water. Only Pb exceeded the safe limit. Generally, heavy metals and major elements’ concentrations in water samples were found decrease in sequence of Ca > Na > Mg > K > Zn > Pb > Cu > Fe. The radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in all studied samples were below the permissible safe limit value. The total average annual effective doses of (226Ra + 232Th + 40K) radionuclides were 0.259 mSv.y-1 for the children and 0.112 mSv.y-1 for adults, which are below the recommended annual dose level 1.0 mSv.y-1 as reported by WHO (2006). The present drinking waters are high quality waters and safe in terms of natural radioactivity and the results of the HQ values for the individual heavy metals showed that there was no health risk for humans due to consumption of these waters.
