[Home ] [Archive]    
:: Main :: About :: Current Issue :: Archive :: Search :: Submit :: Contact ::
Main Menu
Home::
IJRR Information::
About the Journal
Editorial Board
Keywords
For Authors::
Aims and Scope
Call for Papers
Submission Instructions
For Reviewers::
Referee page
Subscription::
Subscription Form
News & Events::
Journal News
Web Mail::
::
Search in website

Advanced Search
..
Receive site information
Enter your Email in the following box to receive the site news and information.
..
ISSN
Hard Copy 2322-3243
Online 2345-4229
..
Online Submission
Now you can send your articles to IJRR office using the article submission system.
..

AWT IMAGE

AWT IMAGE
Volume 23, Issue 3 (8-2025)                   Int J Radiat Res 2025, 23(3): 683-690 | Back to browse issues page

XML Print

Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Ismail Alsudani Z. Radioactive Levels and Radiological Hazards in Ali Al-Gharbi City Soil. Int J Radiat Res 2025; 23 (3) :683-690
URL: http://ijrr.com/article-1-6640-en.html
Radioactive Levels and Radiological Hazards in Ali Al-Gharbi City Soil
Z.A. Ismail Alsudani
Department of Physics, College of Science, Misan University, Misan, Iraq , Zahraa A. Ismail Alsudani
Abstract:   (188 Views)
Background: The city of Ali Al-Gharbi in Misan province, Iraq, is known for its agricultural activities, raising concerns about potential soil contamination due to industrial activities, waste disposal, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Understanding soil radioactivity levels is essential for assessing health risks to the environment and the local population. Materials and Methods: A High-Purity Germanium detector was employed to assess the radioactivity of both artificial and natural radionuclides within the soil obtained from twenty-three localities in Ali Al-Gharbi city, Misan. The soil was prepared, dried, and analyzed in the lab. Radiological hazard indices (RHI): annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (D), gamma index (Iγ), external and internal hazard indices (Hex & Hin), excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR), and outdoor annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), were computed using established formulas. Statistical analysis provided insights into the radiological risks in the region. Results:  226Ra,232Th, 40K, and 137Cs were found to be 32.676±3.684 Bq/kg, 18.150±1.562 Bq/kg, 377.376±15.266 Bq/kg, and 1.906±0.422 Bq/kg, respectively. Radiological hazard parameters, including excess ELCR, Iγ, D, Raeq, (Hex & Hin), AGDE, and AEDEout were found to be 87.091±17.476 Bq/kg, 0.235±0.047, 0.323±0.073, 0.323±0.062, 41.543±8.107 nGy/h, 50.948±9.943 µSv/y, 293.587±56.174 µSv/y, and 1.783±0.348 ×10-4, respectively. The findings showed that the 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs were below the recommended value by the UNSCEAR. Conclusions: Moreover, all estimated radiation hazard parameters from natural radionuclides were below the recommended limits, suggesting no health risk from radioactivity in the study area.
Keywords: Radioactivity, gamma spectrometry, soil, radiological hazard, Ali Al- Gharbi.
Full-Text [PDF 1094 kb]   (49 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Original Research | Subject: Radiation Biology
References
1. UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation) (2000) Sources, Effects and Risks of Ionizing Radiation. Report to the General Assembly, with Annexes, New York, NY: United Nations, USA.
2. Dizman S, Görür FK, Keser R, Görür O (2019) The assessment of radioactivity and radiological hazards in soils of Bolu province, Turkey. Environ Forensics, 20 (3): 211-218. [DOI:10.1080/15275922.2019.1629129]
3. Kabir KA, Islam SMA and Rahman MM (2009) Distribution of radionuclides in surface soil and bottom sediment in the district of Jessore, Bangladesh and evaluation of radiation hazard. J Bangladesh Acad Sci, 33(1): 117-130. [DOI:10.3329/jbas.v33i1.2956]
4. Iqbal M, Tufail M, and Mirza S (2000) Measurement of natural radioactivity in marble found in Pakistan using a NaI (Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer. J Environ Radioact, 51 (2): 255-265. https://doi.org /10.1016/S0265-931X(00)00077-1 [DOI:10.1016/S0265-931X(00)00077-1]
5. Al-Jundia J, Al-Bataina BA, Abu-Rukah Y, and Shehadeh H M (2003) Natural radioactivity concentrations in soil samples along the Amman Aqaba Highway, Jordan. Radiat Meas, 36: 555-560. -https://doi: 10.1016/S1350-4487(03)00202-6 [DOI:10.1016/S1350-4487(03)00202-6]
6. Ajayi OS (2009) Measurement of activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th for assessment of radiation hazards from soils of the southwestern region of Nigeria. Radiat Environ Bioph, 48: 323-332. https://doi: 10.1007/s00411-009-0225-0 [DOI:10.1007/s00411-009-0225-0]
7. Attia TE, Shendi EH, Shehata MA (2015) Assessment of natural and artificial radioactivity levels and radiation hazards and their relation to heavy metals in the industrial area of Port Said city, Egypt. Environ Sci Pollut R, 22(4): 3082-3097. https://doi:10.1007/s11356-014-3453z [DOI:10.1007/s11356-014-3453-z]
8. El Samad O, Baydoun R, Nsouli B, Darwish T (2013) Determination of natural and artificial radioactivity in soil in North Lebanon province. J Environ Radioactiv, 125: 36-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.02.010 [DOI:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.02.010]
9. Hussein ZA (2019) Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazards of soils from Erbil governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan. ARO- Scient J Koya University, 7(1): 34-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.14500/aro.10471 [DOI:10.14500/aro.10471]
10. Jassam HA and Awadh SM (2021) Natural radioactivity in soil and bitumen in Al-Marj spring and Abu-Jir village, Anbar, western Iraq. Iraqi Geol J, 54 (2E): 12-23. https://doi: 10.46717/igj.54.2E.2Ms-2021-11-18 [DOI:10.46717/igj.54.2E.2Ms-2021-11-18]
11. Kardan MR, Fathabdi N, Attarilar A, Esmaeili-Gheshlaghi MT, Karimi M, Najaf A, Hosseini SS (2017) A national survey of natural radionuclides in soils and terrestrial radiation exposure in Iran. J Environ Radioactiv, 178-179: 168-176. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.08.010 [DOI:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.08.010]
12. Mohammed NA and Ebrahiem SA (2020) Radioactivity levels of 238U, 234Th, 40K and 137C in the soil surface of selected regions from Baghdad governorate. Int J Nucl Energ Sci Tech, 14(1): 15-27. [DOI:10.1504/IJNEST.2020.108794]
13. Najam LA, Mansour HL, Tawfiq NF, Karim MS (2016) Measurement of radioactivity in soil samples for selected regions in Thi-Qar governorate-Iraq. J Radiat Nucl Appl, 1(1): 25-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.18576/jrna/010104 [DOI:10.18576/jrna/010104]
14. Rashed-Nizam QM, Tafader MK, Zafar M, Rahman MM, Bhuian AKMSI, et al. (2016) Radiological risk analysis of sediment from Kutubdia island, Bangladesh due to natural and anthropogenic Radio nuclides. Int J Radiat Res, 14(4): 373-377. https://doi: 10.18869/acadpub.ijrr.14.4.373 [DOI:10.18869/acadpub.ijrr.14.4.373]
15. Suresh S, Rangaswamy DR, Sannappa J, Dongre S, Srinivasa E, Ra jesh S (2022) Estimation of natural radioactivity and assessment of radiation hazard indices in soil samples of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, India. J Radioanal Nucl Ch, 331(6): 1869-1879. https://doi:10.1007/s10967-021-08145-5 [DOI:10.1007/s10967-021-08145-5]
16. Taqi AH, Shaker AM, Battawy AA (2018) Natural radioactivity assessment in soil samples from Kirkuk city of Iraq using HPGe detector. Int J Radiat Res, 16(4): 455-463. https://doi: 10.18869/acadpub.ijrr.16.4.455
17. Thabayneh KM, and Jazzar MM (2012) Natural radioactivity levels and estimation of radiation exposure in environmental soil samples from Tulkarem Province-Palestine. Open J Soil Sci, 2(1): 7-16. https://doi: 10.4236/ojss.2012.21002 [DOI:10.4236/ojss.2012.21002]
18. Almayahi BA, Hakeem JI, Saheb L (2018) The impact of low-level exposure to radiation in natural ecosystems of Najaf and Dhi Qar cities, Iraq. Iran J Med Phys, 15: 1-5. https://doi: 10.22038/ijmp.2017.24540.1245.
19. Mohammed HK, Zyughir LS, Jaafar AA, Almayahi BA (2016) Biological effects of background radiation and their risk of humans. Maghrebian J Pure Appl Sci, 2(2): 2-2.
20. Albazoni H and Almayahi BA (2022) Determination of radon gas and lead ion concentrations in building materials using biosensors. Int J Radiat Res, 20(1): 245-248. [DOI:10.52547/ijrr.20.1.38]
21. Obayes KH (2024) Natural gamma emitters in soil samples of Governmental departments of Al-Nasiriya city, Iraq. Int J Radiat Res, 22(1): 219-222. [DOI:10.61186/ijrr.22.1.219]
22. Shnishil DA and Reson NS (2022) Applications of population fertility measures and their geographical distribution in Maysan Governorate. J College Educat, 3(46): 245-256. https://doi: 10.31185/eduj.Vol3.Iss46.2115 [DOI:10.31185/eduj.Vol3.Iss46.2115]
23. CSO (Central Statistical Organization) (2019), Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation, Misan governorate Statistics Directorate, population estimates by environment, gender, and administrative unit, Republic of Iraq (unpublished data).
24. CSO (Central Statistical Organization) (2022-2023), Ministry of Planning, Central Statistics Department, Research and Publishing Department, Republic of Iraq (unpublished data for the year 2023).
25. AL-Ubaidi KHM, Mahmoud RR, Al-Saudany ZA (2015) Radioactivity measurement of 238U, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs in soil of AL-Amara city - Missan governorate-Iraq. J Chem Bio Phys Sci, 5(3): 3360-3367.
26. CMI (Czech Metrology Institute) (2016). Production of Radioactive Standards, Regional Branch Prague, Radiová 1136/3, 102 00 Praha 10, Ionizing Radiation Building, Radiová 1288/1a, Czech Republic.
27. Jebur JH, Al-Sudani ZAI, Fleifil S Sh (2019) Measure the rate of radi ation activity in soil sample from the depth of Sindbad land in Bas rah governorate. IOP Conference Series: Mater Sci Eng, 571: 012120. https://doi: 10.1088/1757-899x/571/1/012120 [DOI:10.1088/1757-899X/571/1/012120]
28. Kadhim NF, Baqir YA, Najam LA (2020) Radiation hazard of chemi cal fertilizers used in growing agriculture crops in Iraq. J Radiat and Nucl Appl, 5(2): 127-134. http://dx.doi.org/10.18576/jrna/050207 [DOI:10.18576/jrna/050207]
29. Yadav M, Rawat M, Dangwal A, Prasad M, Gusain GS, Ramola RC (2014) Levels and effects of natural radionuclides in soil samples of Garhwal Himalaya. J Radioanal Nucl Ch, 2(302): 869-873. https://doi :10.1007/s10967-014-3277-9 [DOI:10.1007/s10967-014-3277-9]
30. Mostafa MYA, Kadhim NF, Ammer H, Baqir Y (2021) The plant transfer factor of natural radionuclides and the soil radiation hazard of some crops. Envir Monit Assess, 193(6): 320-331. http:// doi: 10.1007/s10661-021-09061-7 [DOI:10.1007/s10661-021-09061-7]
31. Kebede BZ, and Gebeyehu T (2021) Evaluation of natural radioactive elements and hazardous indexes using high pure germanium gamma ray spectroscopy in Sekota, Waghimra, Zone, Ethiopia. Am J Phys Appl, 9(2): 48-52. http://doi: 10.11648/j.ajpa.20210902.14 [DOI:10.11648/j.ajpa.20210902.14]
32. Kurnaz A, Küçükömeroğlu B, Keser R, Okumusoglu NT, Korkmaz F, Karahan G, Çevik U (2007) Determination of radioactivity levels and hazards of soil and sediment samples in Fırtına Valley (Rize, Turkey). Appl Radiat Isotopes, 65(11): 1281-1289. https://doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2007.06.001 [DOI:10.1016/j.apradiso.2007.06.001]
33. Ugbede FO, Okoye O N N, Akpolile AF, Oladele BB (2021) Baseline radioactivity in the soil of Evangel take‑off campus, Evangel university, Nigeria, and its associated health risks. Chem Africa, 4(2): 703-713. https://doi: 10.1007/s42250-021-00254-8 [DOI:10.1007/s42250-021-00254-8]
34. Almayahi BA, Tajuddin AA, Jaafar MS (2012) Radiation hazard indices of soil and water samples in Northern Malaysian Peninsula. Appl Radiat Isotopes, 70: 2652-2660. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2012.07.021 [DOI:10.1016/j.apradiso.2012.07.021]
35. Rahman SU, Matiullah, Malik F, Rafique M, Anwar J, Ziafat M, Jabbar A (2011) Measurement of naturally occurring/fallout radioactive elements and assessment of annual effective dose in soil samples collected from four districts of the Punjab Province, Pakistan. J Radioanal Nucl Ch, 287 (2): 647-655. https://doi: 10.1007/s10967-010-0819-7 [DOI:10.1007/s10967-010-0819-7]
36. Ahmed MM, Das SK, Haydar MA, Bhuiyan M MH, Ali MI, Paul D (2014) Study of natural radioactivity and radiological hazard of sand, sediment, and soil samples from Inani beach, Cox's bazar, Bangladesh. J Nucl Particle Phys, 4(2): 69-78. https:// doi: 10.5923/j.jnpp.20140402.04
37. Dabayneh KM, Mashal LA, Hasan FI (2008) Radioactivity concentra tion in soil samples in the southern part of the west bank, Palestine. Radiat Prot Dosim, 131( 2): 265-271. https:// doi:10.1093/rpd/ncn161 [DOI:10.1093/rpd/ncn161]
38. Harb SR, El-Kamel A, Abbady A, Saleh II, Abd El-Mageed AI (2012) Specific activities of natural rocks and soils at quaternary intraplate volcanism north of Sana'a, Yemen. J Med Phys, 37(1): 54-60. https://doi:10.4103/0971-6203.92721 [DOI:10.4103/0971-6203.92721]
39. Faghihi R, Mehdizadeh S, Sina S (2011) Natural and artificial radioactivity distribution in soil of Fars province, Iran. Radiat Prot Dosim, 145(1): 66-74. https:// doi:10.1093/rpd/ncq367 [DOI:10.1093/rpd/ncq367]
40. Bajoga AD, Al-Dabbous AN, Abdullahi AS, Alazemi NA, Bachama, YD, Alaswad SO (2019) Evaluation of elemental concentrations of uranium, thorium and potassium in top soils from Kuwait. Nucl Eng Technol, 51 (6): 1638-1649. [DOI:10.1016/j.net.2019.04.021]
41. Nasir T, Al-Sulaiti H, Regan PH (2012) Assessment of radioactivity in some soil samples of Qatar by gamma-ray spectroscopy. Pakistan J Sci Ind R, 55(3): 128-134. https://doi: 10.52763/PJSIR.PHYS.SCI.55.3.2012.128.134 10.52763/PJSIR.PHYS.SCI.55.3.2012.128.134 []
42. Smail JM, Ahmad ST, Mansour HH (2021) Estimation of the natural radioactivity levels in the soil along the Little Zab River, Kurdistan Region in Iraq. J Radioanal Nucl Ch, 331(1): 119-128. [DOI:10.1007/s10967-021-08064-5]
43. Essa BH, Siyah MA, Al-Mashhadani AH (2021) Study the radioactive concentration for soil samples contaminated with depleted urani um in Al- Nahrawan site at Baghdad governorate using high purity germanium detector. IOP Conference Series: J Phys, 2114: 012011. https://doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/2114/1/012011 [DOI:10.1088/1742-6596/2114/1/012011]
44. Hasan NM, Alsaedi JK, Alnasri SK, Abdulhasan AA (2021) Determi nation of the natural radioactivity levels at selected regions in Al-Najaf Governorate. Al-Nahrain J Scie, 24(2): 33-40. https:// doi: 10.22401/ANJS.24.2.06 [DOI:10.22401/ANJS.24.2.06]
45. Mahur AK, Gupta M, Varshney R, Sonkawade RG, Verma KD, Pra sad R (2013) Radon exhalation and gamma radioactivity levels in soil and radiation hazard assessment in the surrounding area of National Thermal Power Corporation, Dadri (U.P.), India. Radiat Meas, 50: 130-135. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2012.09.008 [DOI:10.1016/j.radmeas.2012.09.008]
46. Khan IU, Qin Z, Xie T, Bin Z, Li H, Sun W, Lewis E (2020) Evaluation of health hazards from radionuclides in soil and rocks of North Waziristan, Pakistan. Int J Radiat Res,18(2): 243-253. https:// doi: 10.18869/acadpub.ijrr.18.2.243
47. Asgharizadeh F, Ghannadi M, Samani AB, Meftahi M, Shalibayk M, Sahafipour SA, Gooya ES (2013) Natural radioactivity in surface soil samples from dwelling areas in Tehran city, Iran. Radiat Prot Dosim, 156 (3): 376-382. [DOI:10.1093/rpd/nct067]
48. Al-Hamarneh IF and Awadallah MI (2009) Soil radioactivity levels and radiation hazard assessment in the highlands of northern Jordan. Radiat Meas, 44: 102-110. [DOI:10.1016/j.radmeas.2008.11.005]
49. Najam LA, Younis SA, Kithah FH (2015) Natural radioactivity in soil samples in Nineveh province and the associated radiation hazards. Int J Phys, 3(3): 126-132. https://doi:10.12691/ijp-3-3-6
50. Mohammed RS and Ahmed RS (2017) Estimation of excess lifetime cancer risk and radiation hazard indices in southern Iraq. Environ Earth Sci, 76(7): 303-312. https://doi: 10.1007/s12665-017-6616-7 [DOI:10.1007/s12665-017-6616-7]
51. Ferdous J, Rahman MM, Rahman R, Hasan S, Ferdous N (2015) Radioactivity distributions in soils from Habiganj district, Bangladesh and their radiological implications. Malaysian J Soil Scie, 19: 59-71.
52. Al-Ghamdi AH (2019) Health risk assessment of natural background radiation in the soil of Eastern province, Saudi Arabia. J Ra-diat Res Appl Sci, 12(1): 219-225. [DOI:10.1080/16878507.2019.1637045]
53. Mustafa MIM, Yazici NA, Mangur PHA (2016) The investigation of terrestrial radioactivity in soil samples around Pshdar region in Ira-qi-Kurdistan. ZANCO J Pure Appl Sci, 28(6):13-20. http://doi.org/10.21271/ZJPAS.28.6.3 [DOI:10.21271/ZJPAS.28.6.3]
54. Al-Alawy IT, Taher WI, Mzher OA (2023) Soil radioactivity levels, radiation hazard assessment and cancer risk in Al-Sadr city, Baghdad Governorate, Iraq. Int J Radiat Res, 21(2): 293-298. https:// doi: 10.52547/ijrr.21.2.16
55. Najam LA, Karim MS, Hameed TK (2017) Evaluation of natural radioactivity of soil samples from different regions of Wassit governorate. Pollut, 3(1): 47-53. https://doi: 10.7508/pj.2017.01.006
Add your comments about this article : Your username or Email:
CAPTCHA
Send email to the article author

Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
International Journal of Radiation Research
Persian site map - English site map - Created in 0.05 seconds with 50 queries by YEKTAWEB 4722