Radon concentration and exhalation rate for granitic rocks, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract The present work deals with radon pollution arising from granitic rocks using an Alpha Guard radon monitor. Forty-four granitic samples were collected from five sites located in the Central part of the Eastern Desert of Egypt. The minimum to maximum concentration of radon for the rocks of Gebel (mountain) El-Missikat MS, El-Gidamy GD, RieEl-Garra RG, El-Aradiya AR, and Kab-Amira KA were 49,597 ± 8773 to 236,029 ± 22,397 Bq m−3, 39,658 ± 8341 to 188,666 ± 20,545 Bq m−3, 39,854 ± 7645 to 91,393 ± 13,429 Bq m−3, 45,951 ± 9488 to 121,935 ± 14,869 Bq m−3, and 33,209 ± 6989 to 251,398 ± 25,759 Bq m−3, respectively. The surface and mass exhalation rates, the emanation coefficient, and annual effective dose (indoors) were calculated for all the studied samples. The average value of radon concentration in the collected samples was higher than the national reference level of 300 Bq m−3 recommended by ICRP corresponding to an annual effective dose of 4 mSv at work and 14 mSv at home. The measured values for the rock samples studied in the five sites surpassed the world average of soil in areas with normal levels of radioactivity. The MS granitic samples showed a potential radiological risk for human beings, therefore, it is important to carry out a detailed monitoring program for dose assessment.