Sediment Natural Radioactivity and Heavy Metals Assessment from the Beaches of Ras-Gharib, Red Sea, Egypt

Natural U-238, Th-232 and K-40 activity in sediment samples from beaches along Ras-Gharib coast on the Red Sea, Egypt has been estimated. Eighteen sediment samples from 3 beaches were collected and measured with NaI (Ti) gamma spectrometry. The average specific activities are 28 +/- 1.9, 24 +/- 2.8, and 382 +/- 21.4 Bqkg(-1) for U-238,Th-232 and K-40, respectively. These values are less than the worldwide average of 33, 45, and 412 Bq kg(-1) recommended by UNSCEAR reports. Absorbed dose rate the annual effective dose are calculated 34 nGyh(-1) and 42 mu Svy(-1) respectively. Eight heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Cu, Ph and Cd) have been measured and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). in some samples, the concentration for the investigated heavy metals exceeds the permissible limits recommended by the Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines. This indicated that the degree of metals pollution is caused by anthropogenic activities (Terrigenous sediments transported to the marine environment by some wadis in the General Beach area, oil spills as a result of exploration and extraction in General Company of Petroleum) and/or by natural impacts.