Natural radioactivity and its associated radiological hazards at Seila area, south eastern desert, Egypt

Natural radioactivity in two sites at seila area, south eastern desert of Egypt is measured. Nearly fifty locations distributed on the two sites were chosen to determine the natural radioactivity content in the stream sediments at these locations with a portable RS-230 gamma-ray spectrometer (1,024 channels). This study presents specific activities (A) of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K radionuclides, radium equivalent activities (Ra_eq), external and internal hazard indices (H_ext, H_int), external and internal level indices (I_γ, I_α), activity utilization index (I), exposure rate (ER) and other important parameters. Finally, the effective dose rate delivered to the particular organs (lungs, ovaries, bone marrow, testes and whole body) from air dose indoor and outdoor are estimated.