Distribution of radionuclides in soil samples from a petrified wood forest in El-Qattamia, Cairo, Egypt

The concentrations and distribution of radionuclides in a petrified wood forest in El-Qattamia have been determined using high-resolution gamma spectrometry to evaluate the environmental radioactivity. The mean activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 were 65.26 +/- 12.99, 23.66 +/- 0.95 and 146.33 +/- 1.50 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Data of the soil samples show evidence of possible deposition and accumulation of Cs-137. The mean activity concentration of (CS)-C-137 in the soil samples was 4.37 +/- 0.16 Bq kg(-1) with a range of 0,00-35.70 Bq kg(-1). The measured activity concentration range of (CS)-C-137 was compared with reported ranges in the literature from some of the other locations in the world. The radium-equivalent, dose rate in air and annual effective dose rate were evaluated. The mean activity concentrations of the gamma-ray emissions from radionuclides in El-Qattamia petrified wood forest region were relatively low. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.