Gamma Radiation Measurements of Naturally Occurring Radioactive in Igneous Rocks and Its Radiological Complications

Abstract

The concentrations of natural radioactivity were measured in igneous rock samples collected from Albaha region in the south west of Saudi Arabia. A high purity germanium (HPGe) detector was used for analysis. The average activity concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were 35, 31.52 and 843.63 Bq kg−1, respectively. The average absorbed dose rate was 70.86 nGy⋅h−1 with a corresponding average annual effective dose 0.09 mSv⋅y−1. The average radium equivalent activity value was 145.84 Bq⋅kg−1, lower than the international limit 370 Bq⋅kg−1. The external and internal indices average values were 0.39 and 0.49, respectively. The average results obtained in this study are lower than the average national and world recommended values, therefore, there is no health risk to the populace of the area. This study provides a baseline map of background radioactivity levels in the Saudi environment and will be used as reference information to assess any changes in the level background due to geological processes.