Trace elements and radioactivity measurements in Tunisia

This work is a part of an undergoing activity at the radioanalytical laboratory at the National Center of Nuclear Science and Technology in Tunisia aiming at studying natural and man-made radioactivity and trace elements in environmental and industrial samples in the country. Several samples of environmental concern were analysed for radioactivity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs. The environmental samples included clay soils and beach-sands from the north and the south of the country and the sahara in Tunisia, food products, and water samples and sediments from the Mediterranean sea. Technological products that may pose a radiological risk to the population included construction material such as cement, bricks and gravel, and phosphate products and by products such as phosphogypsum. The analytical methods employed were high-resolution gamma-spectrometry, instrumental neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results from the techniques employed are compared in terms of their accuracy, uncertainty and feasibility of performance in developing countries. The objectives are three fold: 1. To determine the concentrations of radioelement in environmental and industrial samples. 2. To investigate the impact of industrial and human activities on environmental pollution. 3. To compare several analytical techniques in terms of accuracy, uncertainty and feasibility. From the result, we can conclude that exposure to NORM and artificial radiation from the samples analysed does not represent any major to human health