Distribution of natural radionuclides and assessment of the associated hazards in the environment of Marsa Alam-Shalateen area, Red Sea coast, Egypt

For soil cover, the average activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 of the carbonaceous soil samples were 18.45, 16.78, and 334.35 Bq kg−1, respectively. While for the siliceous soil samples, they were 10.24, 8.68 and 234.47 Bq kg−1, respectively. For shore sediment samples having calcareous nature, the average concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 were 10.76, 9.86 and 304.74 Bq Kg−1. There are no risks for people health based on the calculated radiological hazard indices. However, people could be affected by radiation in one site (Marsa Alam-Shelateen Road km 33), where the representative level index (1.052 Bq kg−1) and absorbed gamma dose rate (66.5 nGy h−1) exceed the maximum permissible limits.