Title: Mapping of background radiation for soil samples in Kufa Districts, Iraq

Authors: Lubna A. Alasadi; Ali Abid Abojassim

Addresses: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Al-Najaf, Kufa, Iraq ' Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Al-Najaf, Kufa, Iraq

Abstract: The study of background radiation is significant for human health. So, the present study was focused on Dose rate (D), Annual Average Effective Dose (AAED) and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) due to the natural background in soil samples at different sites in Kufa districts at Al-Najaf governorate. All measurement was using portable radiation dosimeter type Inspector Exp. made in the USA. GIS technical also was used for mapping of radiation in all results of background. The average values of D, AAED and ELCR were 0.127±0.005 μSv/h, 1.12±0.04 mSv/y and (3.90±0.15) × 10⁻³, respectively. The highest values of D and AAED were 0.203±0.020 μSv/hr, and 1.78 mSv/y in Alshorta districts which were lower than the average of worldwide limits of 0.247 μSv/hr and 2.4 mSv/y, respectively. Therefore, results concluded that the risk of background radiation in soil samples in the present study to human health is minimal.

Keywords: background radiation; dose rate; annual effective dose; cancer risk; radiation dosimeter; Kufa districts.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2021.120147

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2021 Vol.15 No.1, pp.79 - 91

Received: 22 Jul 2021
Accepted: 23 Oct 2021
Published online: 07 Jan 2022 *