An assessment of the natural radioactivity distribution and radiation hazard in soil samples from Qatar using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry

We establish baseline measurements for radioactivity concentration in the soil samples collected from the Qatarian peninsula. The work focused on the naturally occurring and technically enhanced levels of radiation associated with U-235,U-8 and Th-232 natural decay chains and the long-lived naturally occurring radionuclide K-40 in 129 soil samples collected across the landscape of the State of Qatar. Three radiological distribution maps showing the activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 were constructed. Two soil samples were found to be elevated to the favour of 226Ra concentration and significantly above the average and global values. Notably, these samples were collected from an area within an oil field (NW Dukhan). The mean values of activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 for the full cohort of samples were found to be 17.2 +/- 1.6, 6.38 +/- 0.26 and 169 +/- 5 Bq/kg, respectively. These values lie within the expected range relative to the world average values in soil samples of 30, 35 and 400 Bq/kg, respectively.