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El-Kameesy, S.U.* ; Salama, E.* ; El-Fiki, S.A.* ; Ehab, M.* ; Rühm, W.

Radiological safety assessment inside ancient Egyptian tombs in Saqqara.

Isotopes Environ. Health Stud. 52, 567-576 (2016)
Postprint DOI
Open Access Green
Many archaeological sites in Egypt are unique worldwide, such as ancient tombs and pyramids, because they document fundamental developments in human civilization that took place several thousands of years ago. For this reason, these sites are visited by numerous visitors every year. The present work is devoted to provide a pre-operational radiological baseline needed to quantify occupational radiation exposure at the famous Saqqara region in Cairo, Egypt. A hyperpure Ge detector has been used in the γ-ray spectrometric analysis while the 222Rn concentration was measured using a portable radon monitor RTM 1688-2, SARAD. The mean specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the samples collected from the interior walls of the Saqqara tombs were determined and found to show average values of 16, 8.5 and 45 Bq kg−1, respectively. The concentration of radon was measured inside the tombs Serapeum, South tomb and the Zoser Pyramid (fifth level) and an associated average working level of 0.83 WL was obtained. In order to avoid the health hazards associated with the exposure to radon during the long period of work inside these tombs, proposed solutions are introduced.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Keywords Ancient Egyptian Tombs ; Natural Radioactivity ; Radiation Exposure ; Radioactive Nuclides ; Radon-222 ; Saqqara; Building-materials; Natural Radioactivity; Radon; Exposure; Cement; Dwellings; Cancer; Model
ISSN (print) / ISBN 1025-6016
e-ISSN 1477-2639
Quellenangaben Volume: 52, Issue: 6, Pages: 567-576 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Publishing Place Abingdon
Reviewing status Peer reviewed