Measurement of Radon-222 Concentrations in Selected Soil Samples in Al-Mothafeen Area (Kerbala, Iraq) by Using the CN-85 Detector

In this work, alpha emitters in the twenty soil samples in Al-Mothafeen sites were measured using the CN-85 detectors. The results show that the average values of radon concentration in the air space of the tube and in the sample were 163.15±3.37 Bq/m3 and 5090.54±155.3 Bq/m3, respectively, while the results of annual effective dose were varied from 10.2±0.3 mSv/y to 2.1±0.1 mSv/y with a mean value of 4.1±0.2 mSv/y, radium content were varied from 0.3±0.06 Bq/kg-1 to 0.06±0.02 Bq/kg with a mean value of 0.12±0.03 Bq/kg, and uranium contractions were varied from 9.29±0.33 Bq/kg to 1.90±0.15 Bq/kg with an average of 3.72±0.21 Bq/kg. Also, the average values of mass and surface exhalation rates were 0.95±8.64 mBq/kg.h and 44.59±0.79 mBq/m2.h, respectively. The results were within the normal limits of radiation, according to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)

Effective dose (ingestion and inhalation) due to radon from tap water samples in children at primary schools in Najaf city, Iraq

This study focuses on the evolution of radon concentrations in tap water samples of primary schools in Najaf city using a RAD-7 detector. Annual effective doses in children were calculated. A Geographic Information System technique was used for the mapping of radon concentrations, annual effective dose (AED) for ingestion, and inhalation. It was found that the average value of AED due to radon ingestion was 0.236 ± 0.020 μSv/year, while that due to radon ingestion was 0.015 ± 0.0001 nSv/year. Moreover, the range in value of the total AED in μSv/year was 0.015–1.171, with an average value of 0.236 ± 0.020. Radon concentrations in most samples of water comply with the world-wide limits that are approved by WHO and ICRP which state that safe limits (0.5 and 0.4 Bq/L), respectively. Furthermore, all results of the total AED due to radon ingestion and inhalation assessment from radon concentrations in tap water samples collected from the primary schools in Najaf city when used as drinking water were within the global limitations of the WHO. One may conclude that from the results of the AED in children (7–12 years), there is no danger of radon concentrations in the case of human consumption. HIGHLIGHTS Tests the radon concentrations in school tap water.; Examines annual effective dose for ingestion and inhalation in children.; Maps of radon concentrations using GIS technology.

Natural radioactivity and radiological effects in soil samples of the main electrical stations at Babylon Governorate

The natural radionuclides namely 238U, 232Th and 40K for soil samples collected from locations of Alexandria and Musayyib electrical stations were measured. In addition, the radiological effects were calculated for all samples chosen in this study. The technique used in this study was gamma-ray spectrometry to estimate the natural radioactivity of twenty samples at the study area of the above-mentioned electrical stations. The results show that the specific activity of Alexandria samples of 238U were varied as 13.3 - 17.2 Bq/kg with an average of 15.4 ± 0.5 Bq/kg, 232Th were varied as 5.0 - 9.6 Bq/kg with an average of 6.2 ± 0.4 Bq/kg, and 40K were varied as 244.3 - 330.5 Bq/kg with an average of 293.0 ± 8.4 Bq/kg. But in Musayyib, the results of 238U, 232Th and 40K were varied as 10.0 - 18.7 Bq/kg with an average of 13.9 ± 0.9 Bq/kg, as 4.8 - 7.4 Bq/kg with an average of 6.0 ± 0.3 Bq/kg and as 207.5 - 294.2 Bq/kg with an average of 269.5 ± 8.6 Bq/kg, respectively. Also, it is found that the average of radiological effects like the radium equivalent (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate (Dr), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), representative gamma hazard index (Iγ), the total annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) and the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) due to natural radioactivity in soil samples of Alexandria stations were 46.82 ± 2.10 Bq/kg, 23.27 ± 0.673 nGy/h, 0.126 ± 0.005, 0.167 ± 0.004, 0.359 ± 0.01, 0.142 ± 0.005 mSv/y and 0.499 ± 0.018 ⋅ 10-3, respectively, while for Musayyib were 43.29 ± 2.51 Bq/kg, 21.52 ± 0.719 nGy/h, 0.116 ± 0.004, 0.154 ± 0.006, 0.332 ± 0.011, 0.132 ± 0.005 mSv/y and 0.462 ± 0.019 ⋅ 10-3, respectively. When comparing the results in the study area with the world mean values specified by the UNSCEAR, OECD and ICRP, it can be concluded that no health risk may threaten the workers in the center of these locations due to these radionuclides in the soil of the study area

The impact of Gamma Ray on DNA molecule

The aim of this review is to provide an overview concerning the effect of one type of ionization radiation (e.g. gamma ray) on DNA considering three axes. The first one considers defining gamma ray, sources of gamma ray and interaction of gamma ray with matters. The second axis focuses on the DNA in term of , while the third one clarify the health effects of the gamma ray with different doses on DNA of human cells. Focusing on the DAN molecule in this review because its importance in two sides. First, the DNA of the human cell is responsible of the function of the specific type of that cell of a given organ. Second, it is responsible of the transferring the gigantic information across new generations. </p

Natural radioactivity levels in some vegetables and fruits commonly used in Najaf Governorate, Iraq

Radioactivity in Food may be contaminated with radioactive materials due to the natural and a nuclear emergency. The vegetables and fruits will become radioactive by deposit of radioactive materials falling on that from the air or through rain water. The aims of the present work were to measure the specific activity and annual effective dose as a result of the intake of vegetables and fruits collected from local market in Najaf governorate. Natural radioactivity was measured in samples using gamma ray spectrometer in this study. The results show that the average specific activities in vegetables samples for 238U, 232Th and 40K were 5.21, 4.76, and 186.15 Bq kg-1, respectively, the average specific activities for 232Th, 40K in fruit samples were 2.53, 211.64 Bq kg-1, while the total average annual effective dose in vegetables samples for adults, children (10 years old) and infants is estimated to be 0.117, 0.122, and 0.179 mSv, respectively, while the total average annual effective dose in fruit samples for adults, children (10 years old) and infants is estimated to be 0.141, 0.295, and 0.388 mSv, respectively. The values found for specific activity and the annual effective dose in all samples in this study were lower than worldwide median values for all groups according to UNSCEAR (2000) and ICRP (1996) respectively; therefore, these values are found to be safe

Dose assessment for radon and thoron concentrations in iraqi thermostone bricks

This research aims to measure radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) concentrations for selected thermostone bricks samples produced in Iraq. 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations were measured using the active method (RAD7 detector). Also, the inhalation dose for the year was calculated using the 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations. The results of this study indicated that the range of radon concentration values was between 8.00 Bq/m3 to 66.50 Bq/m3; its mean value was 28.22±3.89 Bq/m3. At the same time, the values of thoron concentrations ranged from 27.10 Bq/m3 to 129.00 Bq/m3, with a mean value of 55.46±7.15 Bq/m3. Also, the mean dose value associated with radon and thoron was 0.71±0.098 mSv/y and 0.31±0.039 mSv/y, respectively. According to preliminary research, the concentration of thoron in the current study was higher than that of radon except for two samples. In general, the values of doses from Iraqi thermostone brick samples were within the action level recommended by ICRP, 1993. Therefore, all samples in the present study didn't significantly affect the dose

238 U, 232 Th and 40 K in wheat flour samples of Iraq markets

Introduction. Wheat flour is a nutritious type of food that is widely consumed by various age groups in Iraq. This study investigates the presence of long-lived gamma emitters in different type of wheat flour in Iraqi market. Materials and methods. Uranium (238 U), Thorium (232 Th) and Potassium (40 K) specific activity in (Bq/kg) were measured in (12) different types of wheat flours that are available in Iraqi markets. The gamma spectrometry method with a NaI(Tl) detector has been used for radiometric measurements. Also in this study we have calculated the internal hazard index, radium equivalent and absorbed dose rate in all samples. Results and discussion. It is found that the specific activity in wheat flour samples were varied from (1.086±0.0866) Bq/kg to (12.532±2.026) Bq/kg with an average (6.6025) Bq/kg for 238 U, For 232 Th From (0.126±0.066) Bq/kg to (4.298±0.388) Bq/kg with an average (1.9465)Bq/kg and for 40 K from (41.842±5.875) Bq/kg to (264.729±3.843) Bq/kg with an average (133.097) Bq/kg. Also, it is found that the radium equivalent and the internal hazard index in wheat flour samples ranged from (3.4031) Bq/kg to (35.1523) Bq/kg with an average (19.6346) Bq/kg and from (0.0091) to (0.1219) with an average (0.0708) respectively. Conclusion. This study prove that the natural radioactivity and radiation hazard indices were lower than the safe