Texture and environmental radioactivity measurements of Safaga sand dunes

The contents of natural radionuclides were measured in sand dunes samples collected from Safaga region in the Red Sea, Egypt by using low level gamma spectrometry. Based on the characteristic spectral peaks, the radionuclides Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 concentrations were determined. Average activity levels for these elements are 28.82, 14.03 and 558.39 Bq kg(-1). These values are lower than the global values reported in UNSCEAR publications. Results are discussed and compared with the levels in sand samples from different countries. Averages of radiation hazard parameters for the Safaga sand dunes samples are lower than the acceptable level 370 Bq kg(-1) for radium equivalent Raeq, 1 for level index I gamma r, the external hazard index Hex <= 1 and 59 (nGy.h(-1)) for absorbed dose rate. These data records the radioactivity background levels in Safaga sand dunes samples.