Radioactivity in the groundwater of a high background radiation area.

Natural radioactivity was measured in groundwater samples collected from 37 wells scattered in an inhabited area of high natural background radiation, in a purpose of radiation protection. The study area is adjacent to Aja heights of granitic composition in Hail province, Saudi Arabia. Initial screening for gross α and gross ß activities showed levels exceeded the national regulation limits set out for gross α and gross ß activities in drinking water. The gross α activity ranged from 0.17 to 5.41 Bq L(-)(1) with an average value of 2.15 Bq L(-)(1), whereas gross ß activity ranged from 0.48 to 5.16 Bq L(-)(1), with an average value of 2.60 Bq L(-)(1). The detail analyses indicated that the groundwater of this province is contaminated with uranium and radium ((226)Ra and (228)Ra). The average activity concentrations of (238)U, (234)U, (226)Ra and (228)Ra were 0.40, 0.77, 0.29 and 0.46 Bq L(-)(1), respectively. The higher uranium content was found in the samples of granitic aquifers, whereas the higher radium content was found in the samples of sandstone aquifers. Based on the obtained results, mechanism of leaching of the predominant radionuclides has been discussed in detail.

Assessment of the global fallout of plutonium isotopes and americium-241 in the soil of the central region of Saudi Arabia.

A radiochemical technique for determination of plutonium isotopes and 241Am in soil samples is tested against IAEA-standard reference materials to determine its accuracy and precision for reliable results. The technique is then used in the investigation of topsoil samples, collected from the natural environment of the central region of Saudi Arabia, to assess the effect of fallout accumulation of these radionuclides in the region. Plutonium and americium were sequentially separated from all other components of the sample by anion-exchange chromatography and co-precipitated with Nd3+ as fluorides. The precipitates were mounted on membrane filters and measured using a high-resolution alpha-spectrometer. The results of the analysis of the reference materials showed satisfactory sensitivity and precision of the technique. The results of the analyzed soil samples show activity levels ranging from < LLD to 0.089 and from

Evaluation of the contribution of smoking to total blood polonium-210 in Saudi population.

A preliminary study of 210Po concentrations in the blood of some smokers and nonsmokers is presented in order to evaluate the contribution of smoking to total blood 210Po in Saudi population. Blood samples were collected from 30 volunteers and analyzed by high resolution alpha-spectrometry using a radiochemical technique. The technique is based on the separation of polonium from other components of the sample by wet ashing with an HNO3/H2O2 oxidizing mixture and spontaneous deposition on a silver disc under the relevant conditions for alpha-particle counting. The results indicated that a significant fraction (about 30%) of blood 210Po is related to smoking.

Ion exchange behaviour of hydrous tin oxide: Kinetics of anion exchange.

The kinetic behaviour of Cl(-), Br(-) and SCN(-) exchanges on hydrous tin oxide have been investigated under conditions of particle diffusion and the limited bath technique. Values for the diffusion coefficients, energy of activation and entropy of activation have been calculated. The data obtained have been compared with those reported for other organic and inorganic exchangers.

Studies on extraction of thorium from nitrate solutions with quaternary ammonium halides.

Thorium can be quantitatively extracted with 0.1 M Hyamine 1622 in dichloroethane from 0.25M nitric acid/2M sodium nitrate and stripped from the organic phase with 0.1M sulphuric acid. The equilibration takes 20 min. Thorium can thus be separated from a large number of elements which are usually associated with it in monazite and in fission products of nuclear fuel.

Studies on extraction of indium by tributyl phosphate from thiocyanate solutions.

Indium can be quantitatively separated from a large number of elements which are usually associated with it, by extraction with 15% tributyl phosphate solution in kerosene from hydrochloric acid (pH 1)/0.5M potassium thiocyanate medium and stripping with 6M nitric acid. The equilibration takes 20 min.