Evaluation of the natural and man-made radioactivity levels around the Egyptian nuclear facilities

The monitoring and evaluation of the radioactivity levels around the Egypti an nuclear facilities located at Inshas, near Cairo, namely, two research r eactors, an R&D fuel fabrication laboratory and a fuel fabrication pilot pl ant, were carried out. Soil, water and plant samples were collected from lo cations near and around the facilities and analyzed by using gamma, laser a nd alpha spectrometry. A preoperational radiological map for the new reacto r site was established. The results of the postoperational monitoring aroun d the first reactor show that the 38year operation of this reactor did not increase the radioactivity level around the facility. The observed man-made Cs-137 was found to be (0.3-9.2 Bq/kg) and Pu239+240 0.096-0.158 Bq/kg. Th e observed tritium was found to be in the range 0.6-1.48 Bq/L. The absorbed dose rate and radium equivalent are calculated and presented.