الفهرس 
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY BASED ON GERMANIUM DETECTOR (HPGE):Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
This study aims to comprehensively assess the primordial radioactivity levels and the
associated risks due to the manufacturing process of the single super phosphate fertilizers
(SSPF) at Kom-Oshim, Fayoum - Egypt. The factory layout, manufacturing process, and
production were identified and described. The ambient dose rates were monitored at nine spots
in/around the factory premises by two different well-calibrated devices reading in µSv/h.
Thirteen samples from different stages were collected from hot spots including ores inputs,
storage, and products of phosphate fertilizer (PF) factory.
The activity concentrations of radium ( 226 Ra), uranium ( 238 U), thorium ( 232 Th), and potassium
( 40 K) were measured using a gamma-ray spectrometer with a high purity germanium detector.
Also, and radiological hazard indices, absorbed gamma dose rate and the corresponding
annual effective dose rate and were calculated and compared against the international
recommended and permissible limits.
Samples selection, preparation, energy and efficiency calibration, MDA, and calculation of the
HPGe detector were carried out according to the standard approaches.
The activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K in the samples varied from 511 ± 45 to
882 ± 65, 500 ± 60 to 919 ± 45, 3.9 ± 0.4 to 8.1 ± 0.3 and 5.4 ± 0.7 to 210 ± 1.9 Bq/kg.
Radiation indices for these samples were calculated and found to be higher than the world
average values. The ambient dose rates of the factory site were monitored and found to vary
from 0.06 to 0.11 (µSv/h).
The hazards indices were estimated according to the results of the radioactivity measurements
and their levels. It was observed that the calculated values of the air absorbed gamma dose rate
(D), annual effective dose (E), radium equivalent (Ra eq ) activity, external and internal hazard
index (H in - H ex ) are higher than the world average values and maximum international
acceptable limits as reported by UNSCEAR [1]. Based on the results of this study, it can be
concluded that the radioactivity concentrations of phosphate fertilizers provide no excess
exposure to the inhabitants and it is not suitable to use these materials as building materials for
the possible radiation hazard.
The ambient dose rate of the factory is found to be radiologically safe for domestic and
industrial uses. Finally, the results reported in this study constitute a baseline radioactivity map
for major factories in the industry of phosphate fertilizers.Soil samples were characterized by
using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD).
Keywords: HPGe Gamma assay, Risk and hazard impact assessment, single super Phosphate fertilizers industry.