Environmental risk assessment of naturally radioactive beryl-bearing rocks, Sinai and Eastern Desert, Egypt

Beryl mineralization represents one of the most significant gemstones. The radioactive concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in beryl-bearing rocks in South Sinai, Central and South Eastern Desert, Egypt were measured using a portable RS230 gamma spectrometer. 238U (40 ± 14), 232Th (51 ± 19), and 40K (1176 ± 277 Bq/kg) are recorded for Ghazala, 54 ± 16, 36 ± 12, and 921 ± 243 Bq/kg for Sedri, 39 ± 15, 27 ± 12, and 842 ± 356 Bq/kg for Igla, 69 ± 16, 34 ± 3, and 1572 ± 83 Bq/kg for Homrit-Akarem, 89 ± 21, 130 ± 16, and 1439 ± 175 Bq/kg for Homrit-Mikpid, and 35 ± 13, 21 ± 12, and 940 ± 645 Bq/kg for Zabara-Um Addebaa. Radiological risk assessment parameters (e.g., annual effective dose, radium equivalent activity) were estimated to deduce the radiation effects on human organs. The obtained results are within acceptable limits.