Determination Of Naturel Radioactivity And Assessment Of Radiation Hazard Indices In Different Sediment And Soil Samples From Oued Mouilah (hammam Boughrara) In Tlemcen Using A Gamma Spectrometry

The aim of this study is to determine natural radioactivity (238U, 232Th, 40K) levels in soils and sediments collected from different areas of Oued Mouilah. Also other radiological hazard like the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate, excess lifetime cancer risk and the external and internal hazard indices, which resulted from the natural radionuclides in soil were calculated using a gamma spectrometer with a scintillation detector with an efficiency (NI(Tl)) crystal 2×2 well shaped detector (Canberra Inc) The concentration in activity of 238U, 232Th and the 40K, in all the measured samples varied from 0.09 to 1.627 Bq/Kg, 0.168 to 1.75 Bq/Kg and 0.067 to 0.504 Bq/Kg respectively in samples of soil. For samples of sediment the values varied from 0.066 to 9.19 Bq/Kg, 0.09 to 17.7 Bq/Kg, and 0.055 to 0.874 Bq/Kg for 238U, 232Th and 40K respectively. The average activities of natural radionuclides and the level of radium equivalent activity and other hazard indices in this area were found to be lower than the world average. Our results compare fairly well with other published results.