Distribution of radionuclides in soil samples from a petrified wood forest in El-Qattamia, Cairo, Egypt.

The concentrations and distribution of radionuclides in a petrified wood forest in El-Qattamia have been determined using high-resolution gamma spectrometry to evaluate the environmental radioactivity. The mean activity concentrations of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K were 65.26+/-12.99, 23.66+/-0.95 and 146.33+/-1.50 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Data of the soil samples show evidence of possible deposition and accumulation of (137)Cs. The mean activity concentration of (137)Cs in the soil samples was 4.37+/-0.16 Bq kg(-1) with a range of 0.00-35.70 Bq kg(-1). The measured activity concentration range of (137)Cs was compared with reported ranges in the literature from some of the other locations in the world. The radium-equivalent, dose rate in air and annual effective dose rate were evaluated. The mean activity concentrations of the gamma-ray emissions from radionuclides in El-Qattamia petrified wood forest region were relatively low.