Characterization of super(137)Cs in Riyadh Saudi Arabia Soil Samples

The current study was conducted primarily to investigate and estimate super(137)Cs activity concentrations and the external dose rate due to fallout radionuclide super(137)Cs. Soil samples were collected from different 25 locations at Riyadh Province and analyzed using low level gamma -spectrometry equipped with HPGe-detector. super(137)Cs activity concentrations and calculated dose rate were found in the range of 0.8 - 3.1 Bq.kg super(-1) and 0.05 to 0.8 nSv.h super(-1) with an average value of 1.70 plus or minus 0.7 Bq.kg super(-1) and 0.11 plus or minus 0.05 nSv.h super(-1) respectively. The measured super(137)Cs activity concentration range was compared with the reported ranges in the literature from some of the other locations in the world. Results obtained in this study show that super(137)Cs concentration is of a lower level in the investigated area. However, the range of super(137)Cs concentrations observed in this study is significantly high relative to similar data reported from Libya. The average value of estimated external effective dose rate is found far below the dose rate limit of of 1.0 mSv.y super(-1) for members of the general public recom-mended by ICRP as well as the external gamma radiation dose of 0.48 mSv.y super(-1) received per head from the natural sources of radiation assessed by (UNSCEAR, 2000). It is concluded that super(137)Cs soil contamination does not pose radia-tion hazards to the population in the investigated areas.