Study of Radionuclides and Assessment of Radioactive Risks for Environmental Particulate Matters in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia

The current research study the comprehensive health and environmental hazard levels of Particulate matter originating from natural radionuclides sources collected from different Qassim region locations, Saudi Arabia. The main goal is to determine the activity concentration for Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 using a Sodium Iodide detector. Radiological parameters were calculated through the Radium equivalent, Gamma level index, absorbed dose, annual effective dose, and lifetime risk. The average activity concentration for Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 is 35 +/- 0.06, 32.6 +/- 0.4, and 294.99 +/- 1.31 Bq/kg. Ra(eq) ranges from 38.3 to 143.1 with an average of 104.37 Bq/kg, absorbed dose ranges from 18 to 66.49 with an average of 48.18 nGy/h, and annual effective dose ranges from 22.09 to 81.58 with an average of 59.11 mu Sv/y. The relative contribution was 26%, 33%, and 41% for K-40, Ra-226, and Th-232 respectively. The obtained results do not cause apprehensions from the radiation population compatible with permissible public limits. These results consider as a database to predict the growth of radiological dangers. It helps the investigators follow the future pollution changes due to Scientific progress in using radioactive materials.