Natural radioactivity levels and radiological hazards indices of chemical fertilizers commonly used in Upper Egypt

In order to determine the radiological hazards indices of chemical fertilizers commonly used in Upper Egypt, The concentrations of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in seven types of chemical fertilizers used in Upper Egypt have been measured by gamma spectrometry using NaI (Tl) 3″ × 3″ detector. The ranges of concentration levels of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were 12 ± 0.6–244 ± 12.6, 3 ± 0.2–99 ± 4.9, and 109 ± 5.5–670 ± 34 Bq kg−1, respectively. In the other side, the range values obtained from fertilizer samples under investigation were (33.1–392.3 Bq kg−1), (0.6–2.7), (15.6–177.8 nGy h−1) and (20.1–229.1 μSv y−1) for radium equivalent activity, γ-radiation hazard index Iγr, Dose rate (nGy h−1) and annual effective dose equivalent (AED) in the air to the occupational workers, respectively. The obtained values were compared with available reported data from other countries in literature. Keywords: Radioactivity, Chemical fertilizers, Radiological hazards