Assessment of the Activity Concentrations of Radium-226 and Thorium-232 in soil from the AbouShiba Area, Gharyan City

Abstract

This study aims to determine the activity concentrations of radium-226 (Ra²²⁶) and thorium-232(Th²³²) radionuclides in soil samples collected from various locations in  the Abu-Shiba area, located northwest of Gharyan city. The study area is characterized by vast agricultural lands, including large farms with a high density of olive trees, alongside varied mountainous topography at differing distances from the cultivated areas. which are typically utilized for agricultural activities during the spring season.

Ten soil samples were systematically collected from different locations, prepared, and dried in Marinelli beakers prior to gamma spectrometric analysis. Measurements were performed using a counting system equipped with a High-purity Germanium (HPGe) detector, primary and secondary amplifiers, a multichannel analyzer, and a computerized system for data acquisition,  processing, and  determination of radioactivity concentrations.

The results revealed  spatial variation  in the activity concentrations of Ra²²⁶  and Th²³²  across the study area; Ra²²⁶  activity concentration ranged from 12 Bq/kg to 35.8 Bq/kg, whereas Th²³² concentrations ranged from 9.4 Bq/kg to 27.5 Bq/kg, with close spatial distribution trends observed for both radionuclides.

This  variation is  attributed to differences in the geological composition and mineral content of the soil. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the measured   activity concentration  fell within the internationally accepted reference limits established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)