Ali Khaled, Abbady Abd El-Baset, Abu-Taleb Ahmed, Harb Shaban
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.
Environ Geochem Health. 2025 Aug 3;47(9):354. doi: 10.1007/s10653-025-02657-9.
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, represents a critical environmental factor linked to natural hazards through its contribution to radiation exposure in both indoor and outdoor environments. Therefore, it is essential to conduct an in-depth assessment of its dynamics in regions like Nasser Lake, Egypt. Radon activity concentrations were measured using the ionization chamber AlphaGUARD PQ2000PRO, while gamma spectrometry was employed to determine radium content in sediment samples. The results show significant variations in radon activity concentrations across the lake, ranging from 9.59 ± 0.37 Bq/m (lowest) to 66.24 ± 2.56 Bq/m (highest). A positive correlation was observed between radium content and radon activity concentrations. Radium content ranged from 10.37 ± 0.40 to 71.65 ± 2.77 Bq/kg. Radon exhalation rates for mass and area showed variability. The mass exhalation rates (× 10⁻) ranged from 1.18 ± 0.05 to 8.13 ± 0.31 Bq/kg h. The area exhalation rates (× 10⁻) ranged from 20.82 ± 0.81 to 143.84 ± 5.56 Bq/m h. The emanation coefficient (× 10⁻) varied between 22.16 ± 0.86 and 214.98 ± 8.32, with an average value of 80.6 ± 3.12. These findings suggest a direct relationship between radium content and radon exhalation, emphasizing the role of sediment composition in radon release. The annual effective dose values, reflecting potential radiation exposure to residents and fishermen, ranged from 0.24 to 1.67 mSv/year, with an average of 0.57 mSv/year. These results fall mostly within the internationally accepted safety thresholds; however, certain locations near the High Dam showed elevated levels, indicating the need for continued monitoring in these areas. This study highlights the need for continuous environmental monitoring and risk mitigation strategies to reduce radon exposure. The findings enhance the understanding of radon dynamics in sediment-rich environments and support risk-informed decision-making frameworks related to environmental health and natural hazard mitigation.
氡是一种天然存在的放射性气体，通过其在室内和室外环境中对辐射暴露的影响，成为与自然灾害相关的关键环境因素。因此，对埃及纳赛尔湖等地区的氡动态进行深入评估至关重要。使用电离室AlphaGUARD PQ2000PRO测量氡活度浓度，同时采用伽马能谱法测定沉积物样品中的镭含量。结果表明，整个湖泊的氡活度浓度存在显著差异，范围从9.59±0.37贝克勒尔每立方米（最低）到66.24±2.56贝克勒尔每立方米（最高）。观察到镭含量与氡活度浓度之间存在正相关。镭含量范围为10.37±0.40至71.65±2.77贝克勒尔每千克。质量和面积的氡析出率存在变化。质量析出率（×10⁻）范围为1.18±0.05至8.13±0.31贝克勒尔每千克小时。面积析出率（×10⁻）范围为20.82±0.81至143.84±5.56贝克勒尔每平方米小时。发射系数（×10⁻）在22.16±0.86和214.98±8.32之间变化，平均值为80.6±3.12。这些发现表明镭含量与氡析出之间存在直接关系，强调了沉积物成分在氡释放中的作用。反映居民和渔民潜在辐射暴露的年有效剂量值范围为0.24至1.67毫希沃特/年，平均为0.57毫希沃特/年。这些结果大多落在国际认可的安全阈值范围内；然而，靠近大坝的某些地点显示出较高水平，表明需要对这些地区持续进行监测。这项研究强调了持续进行环境监测和风险缓解策略以减少氡暴露的必要性。这些发现增进了对富含沉积物环境中氡动态的理解，并支持与环境卫生和自然灾害缓解相关的基于风险的决策框架。
