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


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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
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.
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Type of Study: Original Research | Subject: Radiation Biology

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