Study of Heavy Metalsandsome Radioactive Elementsfrom Soil Samples, Nyala Area -Sudan

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.