Assessment of 39K, 232Th, and 238U isotopes in soil samples with ICP-MS in El-Obied, Sudan

Abstract: The main objective of the present study was to determine the concentrations of the radioisotopes potassium-³⁹K, thorium-²³²Th, and uranium-²³⁸U in soil samples collected from selected areas around El-Obeid City, Sudan. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analysis was employed to quantify these isotopes. Soil samples were obtained from five locations surrounding El-Obeid, specifically from two regions in the southern and western parts of the city within North Kordofan State, in areas located away from residential zones. High correlation coefficients between ²³²Th and ²³⁸U indicate that these isotopes likely originate from the same source. Principal component and factor analyses further confirm that ²³²Th and ²³⁸U share common sources in the soil samples collected from various locations around El-Obeid City. In addition, the measured concentrations of ²³⁸U and ³⁹K are in reasonable agreement with values reported in the literature. The concentration of ²³²Th observed in this study is relatively high compared to values reported from other regions worldwide, suggesting possible local geological or anthropogenic influences.

Radioactive elements, Potassium, Thorium, Uranium, ICP_MS spectrometer, Data Analysis, Elobied, Sudan

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