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 238U, 232Th and 40K 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 137Cs. The mean activity concentration of 137Cs 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 137Cs 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 γ-ray emissions from radionuclides in El-Qattamia petrified wood forest region were relatively low.