Search

The present study aims to measure background radiation of natural radioactivity (Dose rate, Annual Effective Dose, and Effective Long Cancer Risk) in thirty locations at different hospitals and government institutions in Karbala governorate. The results using the dosimeter are shown that the average value of (D), (AAED), and (ELCR) due to background radiation in the soil at 50 cm and 100 cm are 0.01 ± 0.008µSv/h, 0.089 ± 0.073 mSv/y, 0.036,0.017 ± 0.005µSv/h,0.152 ± 0.048 mSv/y and 0.061 respectively. The minimum and maximum values of the Dose rate at 50 cm are (0.005, 0.01µSv/h and 0.016,0.01µSv/h), while at 100 cm are (0.004 0.01µSv/h and 0.13 0.01µSv/h) respectively. The minimum and maximum values of AAED at 50 cm are (0.044 mSv/y and 0.14 mSv/y), while at 100 cm are (0.035 mSv/y and 1.139 mSv/y) respectively. The minimum and maximum values of ELCR at 50 cm are (0.018 and 0.056), and at the same time, at 100 cm are (0.014 and 0.445) respectively. All results are drawn by using a statistical program named SPSS version 26.0 and the GIS system. Therefore, the radiological hazard index and background radiation levels in most soil samples in the study region of Karbala, Iraq, do not threaten human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health hazard related to the long-term exposure to high levels of radioactive gas radon is well known. Since the soil constitutes the main source, the characterization of soil gas radon in an environment, based on superficial geology, is a useful tool for determining areas more susceptible to high levels. Main objective of this study is the first preliminary characterization of the level and distribution of radon (²²²Rn) concentrations in soil-gas in the city of Najaf (Al-Najaf Governorate, Iraq) and the preliminary assessment of the possible radiological risk for the population. So, 60 soil samples, spatially distributed, from the area of Najaf city, Iraq, were analyzed by means of Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD), commercially known as CR-39. Also, Radium and Uranium concentrations, annual effective dose, mass exhalation rate, surface exhalation rate, and excess lifetime cancer risk related to exposure to radon gas were calculated. The results show that the average values are comparable to the global average ones and under the international safer thresholds. Also, the distribution of the results was mapped by using the GIS (ArcGIS 10.7.1.) technique in order to put the basis for a more extensive study aimed at the geogenic mapping of the area and characterization of the natural radioactive content in other environmental matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study measured the dose rate to the background radiation of soil samples collected from all Najaf districts at Al-Najaf governorate, Iraq using portable radiation dosimeter type Inspector Exp. made in the USA. Also, annual average effective dose (AAED) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were determined as well as all results were drawn by the GIS(ArcGIS 10.7.1.) technique. The results show that the average values with stander error for dose rate (µSv/h), AAED (mSv/y), and ELCR×10−3 were 0.121±0.004, 1.06±0.03, and 3.73±0.12, respectively. The background radiation from soil samples was determined for each district indicate that the Najaf city can be regarded as having normal levels of background radiation which suggests that it does not pose any health hazards or radiological effects for the inhabitant of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]