Abstract:
In this research study x-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique
was used to evaluate the soil polluted with heavy metals and activity
concentrations of the natural radioactive elements of 238U, 232Th,
and 40K. Different soil samples surface and subsurface (0–5 cm in
depth) from various locations were collected to cover the study area
in (Nyala city- Sudan). The concentrations of fifteen heavy metals
(Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb , Co, Fe, Zr , Y, Rb, V, Ga , Sr ,Nb and Ba ) were
determined beside the values including 238U, 232Th and 40K activity
concentration. Their average concentrations were calculated in ppm
weight that were found to be for 238U =3.16125, 232Th= 9.50971
and 40K =2.1180 respectively. The elemental concentrations were
compared with the normal values and other studies in different
locations from the world. Measurement of heavy metals in study area
is within acceptable levels and doesn’t possess any biological risks.
This implies that the soil samples studied are free from artificial
radionuclides, and all obtained values indicate that the area under
investigation has a normal level of natural background. The
correlation between elements indicates that no pollution exists inside
the investigated area. The results indicated that all the samples
analyzed are free in general from the toxicity compounds. The study
could be used as data base line for the major and minor trace
elements of study area that has not been investigated before. The
results of this study could be used as data baseline for preparing a
radiological map of the study area, especially at the chosen sites.
