Radiation Hazard from Natural Radioactivity in the Marine Sediment of Jeddah Coast, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Marine sediment samples were collected along the Jeddah coast, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, in order to assess radiation hazards and the exposure to human and marine living organisms. Using collaborative techniques, grain size, mineralogical characteristics, and natural radioactivity were investigated. To examine the influence of sediment characteristics over the distribution of the measured radionuclides, resulting data were statistically processed by using multivariate analyses. ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K levels were specified to be 19.50, 9.38, and 403.31 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively. Radionuclides distributions were affected by sediment mud content, organic matter, and heavy minerals index. The calculated radiation risk parameters are within the safe range and lower than the global average. Natural radiation from these marine sediments is normal and poses no significant radiological risk to the public or marine living organisms. The natural radioactivity of the marine sediment in this Jeddah coastline will have to be monitored on a regular basis to avoid overexposure to the residents.