Title: Background radiation in primary schools of Al-Najaf City, Iraq

Authors: Rukia Jabar Dosh; Ali K. Hasan; Ali Abid Abojassim

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

Abstract: In this work, background radiation (absorbed dose rate) was measured in the air of buildings in primary schools in Al-Najaf governorate, Iraq using portable radiation dosimeter (Inspector Exp. USA). Annual average dose (AED) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were calculated in all schools under study. Background radiation results were drawn using a geographic information system (GIS) technique. The results show that, the average values of dose rate (µSv/h) were 0.061±0.009. While, the average values of AED (mSv/y) and ELCR were 0.049±0.007 and 0.188±0.03, respectively. Statistically, the study proved the absence of any significant factor (p-value > 0.05) between dose rate with type of school (baby and girls), and any significant factor (p-value < 0.05) between dose rate with date of establishment of schools. The levels of background radiation were found for all schools in the present study and the Najaf city can be regarded as having normal levels of background radiation which suggests that it does not pose any health hazards or radiological effects for the inhabitants of the study area.

Keywords: background radiation; dose rate; cancer risk; primary schools; GIS technique; Najaf city.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2022.126066

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2022 Vol.15 No.3/4, pp.283 - 301

Received: 26 Apr 2022
Received in revised form: 10 May 2022
Accepted: 21 May 2022
Published online: 10 Oct 2022 *

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