Title: Determination of alpha radioactivity in soil samples collected from University of Kerbala, Iraq

Authors: Abrrar Abbas Ibrahim; Abdalsattar Kareem Hashim; Ali Abid Abojassim

Addresses: College of Health and Medical Technology, University of AL-Zahraa for Women, Karbala, Iraq ' Department of Physics, College of Science, Kerbala University, Kerbala, Iraq ' Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Al-Najf, Kufa, Iraq

Abstract: In this study, alpha particles in 60 soil samples of the University of Kerbala (Freiha-Sites) were determined using a CN-85 detector. The results show that the average values of radon concentrations in air space, radon concentrations ²²²Rn in samples, annual effective dose, radium content, mass exhalation rates, surface exhalation rates and uranium concentrations were 120.82 ± 1.19 Bq/m³, 3769.71 ± 6.67 Bq/m³, 3.02 ± 0.18 mSv/y, 0.093 ± .033 Bq/kg, 0.70 ± 0.09 mBq/kg.h, 30.93 ± 0.62 mBq/m².h and 2.75 ± 0.18 Bq/kg, respectively. It was concluded that as recommended by (ICRP) and (WHO), the average values of alpha particle concentrations in this study were within safe limits and the results showed that these areas are healthy with regard to radon gas in terms of a health threat.

Keywords: alpha particles; soil samples; CN-85; University of Kerbala; Iraq.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2021.120126

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2021 Vol.15 No.1, pp.1 - 15

Received: 14 May 2021
Accepted: 20 Jul 2021
Published online: 07 Jan 2022 *