EVALUATION OF RADIATION HAZARDS RESULTING FROM NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY ACTIVITIES AROUND AL-WAHDA CEMENT FACTORY IN ABYAN GOVERNORATE, YEMEN

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to measure the level of radioactivity in the soil around Al-Wahda Cement Factory in Abyan Governorate, Yemen, and to evaluate the radiological hazards of radionuclides. Twenty soil samples were collected from various locations in the Abyan Governorate (Izl Bates, Al-Hosn, Al-Rawa, Helmeh) to determine the activity concentrations of background radionuclides such as (Radium-226, Thorium-232, and Potassium-40). The activity concentrations were measured using gamma-ray spectrometry with a high-purity germanium detector (HPGe). The results show the activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra ranged from 15.5 to 27.40 with an average value of 21.92Bqkg^-1. The activity concentrations of ²³²Th ranged from 18.80 to 55.40 with an average value of 33.60Bqkg^-1. Activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K ranged from 248.70 to 660.40 with an average value of 572.40Bqkg^-1. The values of the average activity concentrations for ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th are 21.92Bqkg^-1 and 32.1Bqkg^-1, respectively, these values agree with these radionuclides present in soil worldwide (1.3-52.8) Bqkg^-1 and (0.9-90.3) Bqkg^-1 have been reported by UNSCEAR, 2008, respectively. The average activity of ⁴⁰K concentrations in soil is 572.4Bqkg^-1 it is higher than the world average (412Bqkg^-1) reported by UNSCEAR 2008.Radiological hazard indices were evaluated based on radionuclide activity concentrations. The absorbed dose rates ranged from 34.38 to 66.82 nGy/h, with annual effective doses remaining below internationally recommended limits, indicating no significant radiological risk to cement factory workers or the surrounding environment.