Environmental and radio-ecological studies on shallow marine sediments from harbour areas along the Red Sea coast of Egypt for identification of anthropogenic impacts |
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Authors: | Atef El-Taher Hashem A. Madkour |
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Affiliation: | 1. Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit Branch, Assuit, Egypt;2. Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Qassium University, Buraydah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;3. National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Red Sea Branch, Hurghada, Egypt |
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Abstract: | Analysis of marine sediments of the studied localities provides investigators with data to characterise the composition of these sediments allowing for the identification of particular pollution sources. A study of texture, geochemistry, X-ray diffraction and natural radionuclide content of shallow marine sediments from Quseir harbour, Safaga harbour and El-Esh area in the Red Sea coast of Egypt was conducted for the purpose of assessing the possible influence of human activities on the composition of the sediments. The activity concentrations of the naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were measured by using γ-ray spectrometry. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in all areas studied were found to be 71±6, 66±5 and 92±7 Bq kg?1 for 226Ra, 83±5, 71±7 and 162±23 Bq kg?1 for 232Th and 513±10, 493±20 and 681±28 Bq kg?1 for 40K, respectively. The results of the study presented were compared with corresponding results obtained in other coastal and aquatic environments in the Red Sea. |
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Keywords: | Egypt natural radioactivity radioactive nuclides Red Sea shallow marine sediments |
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