235U, 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs activity concentrations in marine sediments along the northern coast of Oman Sea using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry.
The natural radioactivity levels in sediment samples of the northern coast of Oman Sea, covering the coastal strip from Hormoz canyon to Goatr seaport, as the first time has been determined. The results of measurements will serve as background reference level for Oman Sea coastlines. Sediments from 36 coastal and near shore locations were collected for analysis. Analysis on the collected samples were carried out to determine (235)U, (238)U, (232)Th, (40)K and (137)Cs using two high purity germanium detectors with 38.5% and 55% relative efficiencies. The concentration of (235)U, (238)U, (232)Th, (40)K and (137)Cs in sediment samples ranged between 1.01 and 2.87 Bq/kg, 11.83 and 22.68 Bq/kg, 10.7 and 25.02 Bq/kg, 222.89 and 535.07 Bq/kg and 0.14 and 2.8 Bq/kg, respectively. The radium equivalent activity was well below the defined limit of 370 Bq/kg. The external hazard indices were found to be less than 1, indicating a low dose.
Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Zare
Mojtaba
M
Mostajaboddavati
Mahdi
M
Kamali
Mohammad Reza
MR
Abdi
Mohammad Seddigh
MS
Mortazavi
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D009850:Oman; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014878:Water Pollution, Radioactive / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium; D013910:Thorium