Assessment of Natural Radioactivity and Radiological Hazards in Dredged Sediments from Damietta Harbor, Egypt

50 sediment samples were taken from three basins 600 m far from the beach in Egypt (Damietta harbour). The samples were thoroughly analyzed to calculate the natural radioactivity levels measured by gamma-ray spectrometry using a NaI (Tl) detector. The of specific activity varied from 10 ± 0.5 to 23 ± 1.1 with an average of 14.1 ± 1.2 Bq kg–1, from 7 ± 0.6 to 59 ± 3 with an average of 18.5 ± 1.3 Bq kg–1, and from 108 ± 5 to 402 ± 23 with an average of 287 ± 15 Bq kg–1 for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, respectively. These levels are lower than the worldwide average values. Hazardous radiation parameters such as radium equivalent, annual dose, and external hazards were estimated and compared to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) recommended levels. The results showed that Damietta harbour sediments are safe in terms of natural radioactivity.