## 1 Introduction  
Natural radionuclides can be found in varying amounts in all rock types, depending on their concentration levels in the sources. Moreover, large levels of radionuclides have a harmful impact on public health and the surrounding environment. The principal gamma radiation sources in rocks, soils, and water are terrestrial radionuclides, such as \({}^{238}\)U, \({}^{232}\)Th, and the radioactive isotope \({}^{40}\)K [1, 2]. Gamma radiations from these radioisotopes are one of the most common external sources of population radiation [3, 4]. Radiationcan make the human body vulnerable through a variety of processes, including external and internal exposures [5]. The enormous geochemical diversity of radionuclides in the atmosphere allows them to transit within a wide range of environments and infect much of the environment humans interact with. Natural radionuclides such as the \({}^{232}\)Th and \({}^{238}\)U chains, as well as \({}^{40}\)K, have a half-life duration similar to that of the earth, although they still exist in all areas of the earth and are spread in varying quantities depending on geography and geological configuration [6; 7; 8]. In the most commonly mined ores, the \({}^{238}\)U, \({}^{232}\)Th, and \({}^{40}\)K activity concentrations do not surpass the acceptable global averages of 33, 45, and 412, respectively [9; 10]. The mentioned radionuclides contribute to the background levels. However, because of the large quantities of radioactive materials in urban soil, background levels of radiation are high all over the world. Granites are usefully utilized as building materials that are sources of radiation exposure, particularly if they contain a high proportion of natural or artificial radionuclides [11; 12; 13; 14; 15]. The sediments are derived from the surrounding granites due to weathering and aeration processes [16]. The sediments play an essential role in the surrounding areas; thus, the assessment of radioactive exposure is important for the people living around the investigated area. Based on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the long period exposure to U, Ra, and their decay products causes serious illnesses, such as chronic lung disease, oral necrosis, leukopenia, and anemia [17; 18]. In addition, liver, kidney, bone, lung, and pancreatic malignancies can all be induced by Th exposure [19]. Human activities, such as U mining, result in the release of radionuclides and their subsequent dispersion in the environment [20]. The sediments in the studied area can be utilized in various infrastructures applications. Therefore, the novelty of the present work is evaluating the presence of the radionuclides \({}^{238}\)U, \({}^{232}\)Th, and \({}^{40}\)K and their activity concentrations in the collected sediments samples from the studied area (Wadi Rod Elsayalla area, Southeastern Desert of Egypt, Figure 1). The assessment of radiological hazards was detected with various radioactive parameters, such as radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate (Dair), the annual effective dose (AED), external (Hex), and internal hazard (Hin) indices. Moreover, the annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) and the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were computed.