Assessment of natural radioactivity in fertilizers and phosphate ores in Egypt

Radionuclide concentrations of uranium (238U), thorium (232Th) and potassium (40K) maintained in 10 phosphate ore and 5 fertilizer samples were measured using a high-purity germanium detector. The concentrations of these radionuclides in the phosphate ore samples were relatively high for 226Ra at 871.37 ± 91.90 Bq kg−1 and relatively low for 232Th and 40K at 19.21 ± 2.42 Bq kg−1 and 176.06 ± 17.66 Bq kg−1, respectively. The concentrations of these radionuclides were low in the fertilizer samples. The radiological hazards of the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external (Hex) and internal (Hin) indices and annual effective dose due to the presence of these radionuclides in the investigated samples were calculated. The released radon from the selected samples was measured using the Alpha Guard radon monitor. Subsequently, the radon emanation coefficient and its exhalation rate were calculated.