Horizontal Distribution of Natural Radionuclides and Cs-137 in Sediment Along Dixcove Beach
The presence of radionuclides in environmental media, including sediment, is critical in assessing potential health risks due to external gamma radiation. This study investigates the spatial distribution of natural (Ra-226, Th-232, K-40) and artificial (Cs-137) radionuclides in sediment along the Di...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/3/452 |
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| Summary: | The presence of radionuclides in environmental media, including sediment, is critical in assessing potential health risks due to external gamma radiation. This study investigates the spatial distribution of natural (Ra-226, Th-232, K-40) and artificial (Cs-137) radionuclides in sediment along the Dixcove coastline, Ghana, using High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectroscopy. The activity concentrations of Ra-226 ranged from ~14 to ~23 Bq/kg, Th-232 from ~3 to ~10 Bq/kg, and K-40 from ~44 to ~93 Bq/kg, with Cs-137 levels between 0.2 and 1.3 Bq/kg. The highest concentrations of Ra-226 and K-40 were found On-shore, suggesting terrestrial influence, while Th-232 displayed a more uniform distribution. Radiological risk assessments, including radium equivalent activity (Raeq), annual effective dose (AED), and gamma index (Iγ), confirmed that all measured values were below international safety thresholds, indicating no significant health risk. However, the variability in Cs-137 distribution suggests the need for continued monitoring to assess potential long-term contamination trends. A significant discrepancy was observed when comparing Cs-137 values from this study (maximum 1.3 Bq/kg) with previously reported data (~110 Bq/kg), raising concerns about methodological differences or environmental changes, which require further investigation. To address the observed discrepancies between this study and previous investigations, future research should incorporate in situ measurement techniques for a more comprehensive assessment of Cs-137 distribution. |
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| ISSN: | 2077-1312 |