Assessment of secular equilibrium and determination of natural and artificial radionuclide concentrations in the zone surrounding the site of the first nuclear reactor in Jordan

High-resolution gamma-spectrometry and ICP-MS measurements were utilized to confirm the validity of secular equilibrium among the identified natural radioactive progeny of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th series. The measurements of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K concentrations, in the soil within 2 km range around the first nuclear reactor in Jordan, were close to the worldwide average levels. Among artificial radionuclides, only ¹³⁷Cs was detected but with very low traces. The dose rate and radiological hazard parameters were found to be close to worldwide average values and below the recommended limits. Our results indicate that secular equilibrium is unperturbed within and around the uncontaminated reactor site. (author)