Integrating multivariate statistics and natural radioactivity for radiation hazard assessment in Abu-Tartur phosphate mine, Egypt

Abstract

Natural radionuclides in sediments and ecosystems, influenced by local geology, can pose significant environmental and human health risks. This study provides a comprehensive radiological assessment of the Abu-Tartur phosphate mine in Egypt, integrating multivariate statistical analysis to elucidate the relationships between radioactivity and radiological parameters. Twenty phosphate deposit samples, categorized as non-oxidized (black rock) and oxidized (yellow rock), were analyzed using gamma-ray spectrometry to determine the activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K. The average activity concentrations were found to be 99.5 ± 4.92, 38.1 ± 1.93, and 28.5 ± 1.47 Bq kg −1 for black rocks, and 125 ± 6.18, 47 ± 2.3, and 26 ± 1.37 Bq kg −1 for yellow rocks, respectively. Notably, the 226 Ra and 232 Th activity concentrations in the phosphate samples are 2.5–3 and 1.3–1.6 times higher than the worldwide average, respectively. The mean absorbed dose rates in the black and yellow rock samples were 67.25 and 94.9 nGy h −1 , respectively, both exceeding the global average of 57 nGy h −1 . The calculated excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for both oxidized and non-oxidized samples surpassed the permissible world norm of 0.290 × 10 −3 . Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed a strong positive correlation between 226 Ra and 232 Th with radiation hazard indices, while 40 K showed a negative correlation. These findings indicate a significant cancer risk associated with the ambient geology of the Abu-Tartur mining region and underscore the need for stringent radiation protection measures.