210Pb and 210Po concentration levels in tobacco products and resulting radiation dose for Egyptian smokers.

The activity concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po in the most popular cigarettes and moassel tobacco brands consumed in Egypt were determined by the spontaneous deposition method using alpha spectrometry. It turned out that the activity concentration of 210Po was higher than that of 210Pb in all tobacco brands. Higher activity concentrations for both 210Pb and 210Po were found in cigarette than in moassel tobacco. The average activity concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po in cigarette tobacco were 11.79 ± 1.67 and 15.00 ± 1.83 mBq cig-1, respectively, whereas in moassel tobacco the values were 7.08 ± 1.91 and 9.12 ± 1.12 mBq g-1, respectively. The daily activities inhaled in the lung of a smoker and the inhalation effective doses due to cigarette and shisha smoking were calculated. The results revealed that the total 210Pb and 210Po daily activities inhaled and the total annual inhalation effective doses due to shisha smoking were two times greater than the corresponding values due to cigarette smoking. Also, the results indicated that the annual effective doses from inhalation of 210Pb and 210Po due to smoking 20 cigarettes per day are 14 and 16 times greater than the annual ingestion doses from the diet, respectively. In contrast, the annual effective doses from inhalation of 210Pb and 210Po due to shisha smoking (27 g moassel tobacco per day) are 26 and 33 times greater than the annual ingestion doses from the diet, respectively.

Oral and dermal exposure to natural radionuclides and heavy metals in water and sediments of Nile River, Qena, southern Egypt.

This study assessed the levels of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) and heavy metals (Hg, Fe, Cr, As, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb) in surface water and sediment samples from the Nile River in Qena Governorate, southern Egypt, using a gamma-ray spectrometer, 3" NaI (Tl) scintillation detector coupled with 1024 multi-channel analyzer, and an atomic absorption spectrometer. In surface water and sediments, the average activity concentrations of natural radionuclides were 40K (4.73 Bq L-1; 395.76 Bq kg-1) > 226Ra (0.41 Bq L-1; 18.14 Bq kg-1) > 232Th (0.30 Bq L-1; 17.98 Bq kg-1). The average heavy metal concentrations in surface water in µg L-1 were Fe (121.0) > Zn (33.80) > Cr (28.0) > Cu (8.62) > Pb (8.35) > As (1.19) > Hg (0.81) > Cd (0.12). In Nile sediments the concentrations in mg kg-1 were Fe (1670.0) > Zn (207.0) > Cr (29.40) > Cu (16.20) > Pb (4.32) > Hg (0.41) > Cd (0.31) > As (0.14). The heavy metal evaluation index (HMEI) calculations for water samples revealed that 31% of the samples were suitable for domestic use, while 69% were not. The geo-accumulation index, enrichment factor, and ecological risk factor for sediments were estimated, showing extreme enrichment for Hg and Zn with high ecological risk for Hg. Health risks for adults were evaluated due to oral and dermal exposure to Nile surface water and sediments from the study area, indicating minimal radiological risks and potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from the metals.

ASSESSMENT OF NORM LEVELS AND RADIOLOGICAL HAZARDS FROM PETROLEUM EXTRACTION IN THE ONSHORE OIL FIELDS, EGYPT.

Forty-nine different samples (crude oil, surface soil, produced water and sludge) from onshore oil fields in the Western Desert of Egypt were assessed for naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) levels using HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were 25 ± 1.3, 26 ± 1.0 and 21 ± 1.5; 9.8 ± 0.50, 11 ± 0.40 and 94 ± 6.9; 130 ± 6.6, 91 ± 3.4 and 41 ± 3.0; and 180 ± 16, 70 ± 6.9 and 1300 ± 110 Bq kg-1 for crude oil, surface soil, produced water and sludge, respectively. The obtained NORM levels are much below the International Atomic Energy Agency NORM clearance levels. Radiological parameters (radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate and annual effective dose) were calculated and compared with the international acceptable limits. The annual effective doses are below 1 and 20 mSv, the ICRP safety limits for the public and workers, respectively. Consequently, insignificant radiological hazards could present for the workers and surrounding environment from petroleum extraction activities in the studied area.