Assessing the Radiological Risks Associated with Natural Radioactivity in Igneous Rocks of Gharyan City

The purpose of this study is to assess the radiological hazards associated with natural radioactivity in the igne-ous rocks of Gharyan City, Libya. The research aims to assess the levels of primordial radionuclides, particularly uranium (U²³⁸), thorium (Th²³²), and potassium (K⁴⁰), and their potential health impacts using a High-Purity Germanium HPGe detector. Five selected sites in Gharyan were used to collect samples and prepare for analysis. The results showed activity concentrations of U²³⁸ ranging from 15.87 to 25.98 Bq/kg, Th²³² from 10.48 to 37.76 Bq/kg, and K⁴⁰ from 139.87 to 165.23 with an average of 155.59 Bq/kg. All concentrations were within permis-sible limits. Key radiological parameters such as radium equivalent activity, external hazard index, absorbed dose rate, and annual effective dose were calculated. The findings indicate that the radiological parameters are below safety limits set by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UN-SCEAR). In conclusion, the study contributes valuable data to the global database on radionuclide concentrations in igneous rocks and raises awareness of the potential health risks of natural radioactivity.