Risk assessment of radionuclides in different environmental matrices in the State of Qatar, Arabian Gulf

Environmental radioactivity in Qatar arises from a combination of naturally occurring radionuclides (NORM) and technically enhanced NORM (TENORM) associated with industrial activities. This study presents a comprehensive systematic review with quantitative synthesis of radionuclide concentrations across multiple environmental matrices, including soil, sediment, groundwater, seawater, building materials, and marine biota, extracted from research papers published between 1980 and September 2025. Data synthesis reveals those natural radionuclides such as ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K exhibit moderate spatial variability, influenced primarily by lithology, soil texture, and arid climatic conditions. In contrast, artificial radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr) are detected at trace levels, consistent with global fallout. Radiological risk assessment using indices such as radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose, gonadal dose equivalent, and hazard indices indicates minimal risk for most soils, sediments, and conventional building materials. However, elevated activity concentrations and associated risk metrices are observed in industrial by-products, oil-field residues, and waste materials highlighting localized hazards. Key sources include geological formations, dust storms, hydrocarbon extraction, construction materials, and minor transboundary inputs. Despite the overall low exposure, continuous monitoring, strict management of industrial residues, and regional cooperation are recommended to mitigate potential health and environmental risks. This systematic review with quantitative synthesis provides a robust baseline for future environmental radioactivity research and policy development in arid regions.