BIOMONITORS FOR THE DISCOVERY OF U AND TH IN G. QATTAR AREA, NORTH EASTERN DESERT, EGYPT.

Document Type : Research and Reference

Authors

1 institute of African Research and Studies, Cairo

2 Nuclear Materials Authority, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Some plants in a particular locality containing radioactive materials can be used as a guide for the discovery of uranium, thorium, radium and other trace elements and they can indicate pollution in other localities. Gebel Qatter is one of the most important localities from the radioactive point of view. Plants in Gebel Qattar are condensed in the course of rainwater that is coming from top of mountain. In the present study, five types of are recognized such as: Zilla spinosa, Zygophyllum coccineum, Fagonia boveana, Aerva javanica and Moringa peregrina. These plants are collected from four studied sectors: Qattar I (QI), Qattar II (QII), Qattar V (QV) and Wadi El Abde.
From the distribution of U and Th in the soil samples of the four localities studied, it was found that QI, QII and QV contain the highest concentrations of U relative to Wadi El Abde. Among the plant samples, it was found that Fagonia boveana, Aerva javanica and Moringa peregrine plants have the highest ability to absorb and concentrate the radioactive elements U and Th and two trace elements Mo and Pb. Thus, these plants are significant for exploration of radioactive elements in the studied area and can be used as biomonitors for the discovery of the radioactive and trace elements U, Th, Mo and Pb in other locations if they are available.

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