Page 138 - AJWEP-v22i2

AL-Sudani, et al.

factor of k = 2 was selected for the uncertainty 3.3. Radiological hazard
analysis, corresponding to a confidence level of Tables 5 and 6 show the radiological risk parameters
approximately 95%. obtained from soil samples in the study areas.
The levels of Ra ranged from 44.8 (S ) to 71.3
2
eq
3.2. Comparison of the natural radioactivity results (S ) Bq/kg with an average of 50.2 ± 5.7 Bq/kg in
14
The average activity concentrations of natural Ali Al-Sharqi (Table 5) and from 36.8 (S ) to 84.6
19
radionuclides in soil specimens of the research areas (S ) Bq/kg with an average of 53.2 ± 12.1 Bq/kg in
23
(Ali Al-Sharqi and Kumait) were compared with Kumait (Table 6). All values of Ra were lower than the
eq
identical measurements conducted in the world and worldwide average value of 370 Bq/kg. 1
Iraq, as demonstrated in Table 4. The values of H varied from 0.1 (S ) to 0.3 (S )
2
14
in
The mean concentration of Ra is lower than other with an average of 0.2 ± 0.02 in Ali Al-Sharqi (Table 5)
226
reported values. The average activity of Th is higher and from 0.1 (S , S , S , S , and S ) to 0.3 (S ) with
232
17
19
12
23
11
4
than China (Guangyao), Saudi Arabia (Dammam), and an average of 0.2 ± 0.04 in Kumait (Table 6). Whereas
Kuwait and Iraq (Al-Sadr) but lower than Algeria (Setif), values of H varied from 0.1 (S 1–13 and S 15–23 ) to 0.2 (S
14
ex
Nigeria (southwestern region), Malaysia (Peninsular and S ) with an average of 0.1 ± 0.01 in Ali Al-Sharqi
24
Malaysia), Pakistan (Waziristan), Yemen (Sana’a), (Table 5) and from 0.09 (S ) to 0.2 (S , S , S , S ,
1
2
19
9
5
Iran (Ramsar and Mahallat), Turkey (Samsun), Jordan S , and S ) with an average of 0.1 ± 0.03 in Kumait
22
23
(northern highlands), Iraq (Erbil), Iraq (Wassit), Iraq (Table 6). All these values of H and H were less than
in
ex
(Thi-Qar), and Iraq (Abu Al Khasib). 45-51 Furthermore, the value of global values. 1
the mean activity for K is lower than in these previous The levels of Iγ varied from 0.2 (S 1–13 and S 15–24 ) to
40
studies. 0.3 (S ) with an average of 0.2 ± 0.01 in Ali Al-Sharqi
14
Table 4. Mean activity concentrations of Ra, 232 Th, and K in the present study compared to literature
40
226
values
Country Mean activity concentration (Bq/kg) References
226 Ra 232 Th 40 K
Guangyao, China 26.8 8.87 453.81 Wang and Ye 42
Setif, Algeria 47 33 329 Boukhenfouf and Boucenna 45
Southwestern region, Nigeria 54.5 91.1 286.5 Ajayi 12
Peninsular Malaysia 57 68 427 Almayahi et al. 46
Waziristan, Pakistan 69.5 123.68 453.60 Khan et al. 24
Sana’a, Yemen 48.2 41.7 939.1 Harb et al. 47
Dammam, Saudi Arabia 16.73 10.40 419.78 Al-Ghamdi 43
Kuwait 16.99 12.70 333.20 Bajoga et al. 23
Ramsar and Mahallat, Iran 24.3 25.8 457.7 Kardan et al. 48
Samsun, Turkey 19 22 521 Tufan and Bostancı 49
Jordan 42.5 26.7 291.1 Al-Hamarneh and Awadallah 50
Erbil, Iraq 25.61 20.15 326.64 Hussein 51
Al-Sadr, Iraq 15.35 13.31 351.39 Al-Alawy et al. 44
Wassit, Iraq 19.420 18.487 204.266 Nafee et al. 18
Thi-Qar, Iraq 29.2 22.7 304.6 Najam et al. 19
Abu Al Khasib, Iraq 58.44 19.38 321.76 Mohammed and Ahmed 39
World average 35 30 400 UNSCEAR 1
Ali Al- Sharqi, Iraq 15.1 14.7 180.8 Present study
Kumait, Iraq 13.6 17.2 193.6
Abbreviations: K: Potassium-40; Ra: Radium-226; 232 Th: Thorium-232; UNSCEAR: United nations scientific committee on the effects
226
40
of atomic radiation.

Volume 22 Issue 2 (2025) 132 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025060032