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Abstract The present work is the first systematic and large scale study on radioactive materials and heavy metals in surface soil, water and sediment along Jalu area in Libya. Radionuclides have been an essential component of the Earth since its inception. Earth is still being heated by the decay of long-lived natural radionuclides, for example. Uranium, thorium, and potassium occurring in nature as a compound of oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, phosphates, sulphate, vanadate and silicates (Akhtar, et al., 2005). Use of natural or synthetic radionuclides requires an understanding of their environmental behavior. This knowledge is required for their effective applications as on-site tracking tools and for assessing risks to human health. Gamma rays emitted by naturally occurring isotopes, called terrestrial backlight, represent the main external source of radiation in the human body. Natural environmental radioactivity and associated external exposure due to gamma rays depend primarily on the geological, geographical and soil conditions of each region of the world (Mamaney and Khater, 2004). The emergence of nuclear science has led to the proliferation of nuclear applications, and increased levels of environmental radioactivity. Furthermore, oil industries, mining activities and intensive navigation activities are non-nuclear sources of pollution that can have serious impacts on the marine environment and coastal ecosystems. (Varshosaz et al., 2006). Exposure to radiation and heavy metal contamination around the oil industry has attracted widespread global attent |