Radioactivity and Geotechnical Studies of New Mansoura City, Egypt

Abstract

New Mansoura is a part of eastern north of Nile Delta which located on the coast of Mediterranean Sea, 50 soil samples were taken from 50 boreholes 10 m deep. Interpreting the obtained results divided soil profile in two main types loose to medium dense, poorly graded, fine to medium-grained sand followed by high plasticity silt with sand. The main geotechnical hazards in New Mansoura is soil aggression from intrusion of sea water. Radioactively New Mansoura is safe, naturally occurring radionuclides 238U, 232Th, 226Ra and 40K in sediments were measured using Sodium Iodide Detector. The concentrations of 238U ranging from ULD to 37.05 with average 20.501 Bq Kg-1, 232Th ranging from 8.12 to 28.42 with average 18.216 Bq Kg,-1 226Ra ranging from 11.10 to 77.70 with average 36.853 Bq Kg,-1 while 40K ranging from 435.07 to 544.62 with average 469.85 Bq Kg,-1 The activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, 226Ra are within the acceptable limit as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, 1989) except the concentration of 40 K is higher than the acceptable limit.