Natural Radioactivity and the Associated Dose from the Terrestrial Ecosystem of Ismailia Canal, Egypt

Twenty-two soil samples were collected from different locations along Ismailia Canal. Natural radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K have been determined for all samples. The average activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were 24, 21 and 323.8 Bq/Kg, respectively. The parameters which are used to assess the radiological hazard from exposure to these soil samples are estimated. The average absorbed dose rate of all measured samples is 37.75 nGy/h, while the average annual effective dose in air outdoors and indoors due to gamma radioactivity are calculated and found to be 46.30 and 185.20 ?Sv/y, respectively. The average values for radium equivalent activities, the external and internal hazard indices, and radiation level index are evaluated and found to be 78.27 Bq/kg, 0.21, 0.28 and 0.58, respectively.