Natural Radioactivity and Radon Exhalation in the Sediment River Used in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraq, Dwellings

Adil M. Hussein

doi:10.14500/aro.10381

Adil M. Hussein Advance Nuclear Laboratory, Physics Department, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region- Iraq http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6655-7077

Keywords: Building Materials, Gamma-Specific Activity, Gamma/Radon Radiological Parameters, Radon Mass Exhalation, Sediment River (Sand and Pebble)

Abstract

The samples, sand and pebble (Sediment River), were collected from their selling places in Sulaymaniyah city, Iraq. Sand and pebble emanate each of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and radon naturally. The radon concentration in the air (C_o) and gamma-specific activity (A_s) of the samples were measured using passive detectors (CR-39) and gamma spectrum analyzer (3 × 3 NaI (Tl) connected to digital spectrum analyzer), respectively. The mean value of the Co ± deviation of the investigated samples was 176.5 ± 6.9 Bq/mᵌ, which is lower than the worldwide value of 300 Bq m− ᵌ reported by the IAEA. However, an anomaly in Co value was found in Tanjaro (Sand) sample. The mean value radon mass exhalation rate (E_M) was 10.9 ± 0.5 μB_q/k_g/h. The second part of the measuring is the gamma-specific activities (A_s) of each ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K. The As values were ranged (4.3 ± 0.2–22.6 ± 0.2), (1.9 ± 0.1–4.2 ± 0.1), and (39.8 ± 0.2–86.0 ± 0.4) B_q/k_g , respectively. The mean calculated value of radium equivalent (Ra_eq) was 20.2±0.2 B_q/k_g. The annual effective dose rate of gamma (H_ann) was 0.13 mS_v/y. Fortunately, the H_ann value of the samples is lower than the world average value of 0.48 mS_v/y.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Adil M. Hussein, Advance Nuclear Laboratory, Physics Department, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region- Iraq

Dr. Adil Mohammed Hussein is a lecturer in Theoretical Nuclear Physics and He had experience in Environmental Radioactivity at the department of Physics-College of Science-University of Sulaimani. He achieved BSc.degree in Physics 1993 at the University of Salahaddin-Erbil, MSc. in Practical Nuclear Physics 2005 at the University of Mosul and awarded a PhD in Nuclear Structure Theory 2013 at the University of Sulaimani, he has about 7 published papers.

References

Adeeb, O.J., Ali, H.A., and Wan, M.S., 2017. Assessment of natural radionuclide’s in sediments of Darbandikhan Lake water resources at Kurdistan Region-Northeastern of Iraq. ZANCO Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 29 (2), pp.43-52.

Ajay, M.K., 2015. Measurement of radon exhalation rate in sand samples from Gopalpur and Rushikulya beach Orissa, Eastern India. Physics Procedia, 80, pp.140-143.

Ali, A.A., Lubna, A.A., Ahmed, R.S., Faeq, A.A., and Afnan, A.H., 2015. Assessment of annual effective dose for natural radioactivity of gamma emitters in biscuit samples in Iraq. Journal of Food Protection, 78(9), pp.1766-1769.

Alsaedi, A.K., Almayahi, B.A., and Alasadi, A.H., 2013. Cement 222Rn and 226Ra concentration measurements in selected samples from different companies. Asian Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 2(4), pp.95-100.

Al-Sharkawy, A., Hiekal, M.T., Sherif, M.I., Badran, H.M., 2012. Environmental assessment of gamma-radiation levels in stream sediments around Sharm El-Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 112, pp.76-82.

Andrew, J.K., Nathaniel, R.W., Ori, L., and Avner, V., 2014. Radium and barium removal through blending hydraulic fracturing fluids with acid mine drainage. Environmental Science and Technology, 48(2), pp.1334-1342. Azam, A., Naqvi, A.H., and Srivastava, D.S., 1995.

Radium concentration and radon exhalation measurements using LR115 Type II plastic track detectors. Nuclear Geophysics, 9(6), pp.653-657.

Banman, A., Hervat, D.J., Lokobauer, N., 1982. Natural Radiation Environment. Willy R. Ltd, New Delhi. Barillon, R., Klein, D., and Chambandet, A.D.C., 1993. Comparison of the effectiveness of three radon detectors (LR-115, CR-39 and Si. Diode pin) placed in cylindrical device, theory and experimental techniques, nuclear track. Radiation Measurement, 22(4), pp.281-282.

Baykara, O., Sule, K., and Mahmut, D., 2011. Assessments of natural radioactivity and radiological hazards in construction materials used in Elazig, Turkey. Radiation Measurements, 46, pp.153-158.

Beretka, J., and Mathew, P.J., 1985. Natural radioactivity of Australian building materials, industrial wastes and byproducts. Health Physics, 48, pp.87-95.

Brill, A.B., David, V.B., Kevin, D., Stanley, J.G., Bennett, G., Ken, K., H, R., Edward, B.S., and Edward, W.W., 1994. Concerning environmental radon (levels, mitigation, strategies, dosimetry, effects, guidelines). Nuclear Medicine, 35(2), pp.85-94.

Caridi, F., Marguccio, S., Belvedere, A., and Belmusto, G., 2015. Measurements of gamma radioactivity in river sediment samples of the Mediterranean, Central Basin. American Journal of Condensed Matter Physics, 5(3), pp.61-68.

Cetin, E., Yuksel, O., and Altinsoyn N., 2012. Natural radioactivity levels of granites used in Turkey. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 151(2), pp.299-305.

Darwish, D.A.E., Abul-Nasr, K.T.M., and ElKhayatt, A.M., 2015. The assessment of natural radioactivity and its associated radiological hazards and dose parameters in granite samples from South Sinai, Egypt. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 8, pp.17-25.

El-Taher, A., 2012. Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazards for building materials used in Qassim area, Saudi Arabia. Romanian Journal of Physics, 57(3-4), pp.726-735.

European Commission (EC).,1999. Radiological Protection Principles Concerning the Natural Radioactivity of Building Materials. Radiation Protection Report (112), Directorate General Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection, European Commission.

Gulflink, O.M., 2008. Principal decay scheme of the uranium series. Hazards for building materials used in Qassim area. Romanian Journal of Physics, 57(3-4), pp.726-735.

Imme, G.R., Catalano, G., and Mangano, D.M., 2014. Radon exhalation measurements for environmental and geophysics study. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 95, pp.349-351.

Kamal, H.K., Hemin, K., Mushir, M.B., and Khaled, H., 2011. Significance of angular unconformities between Cretaceous and tertiary strata in the northwestern segment of the Zagros fold–thrust belt, Kurdistan Region, NE Iraq. Geological Magazine, 148(5-6), pp.925-939.

Kamal, K.A., Salih, M.A., and Muhanned, R.A., 2014. Assessment natural radioactivity of marl as raw material at Kufa cement quarry in Najaf Governorate. Iraqi Journal of Science, 55(2A), pp.454-462.

Kamal, O., 2013. Natural Radioactivity Measurements of Soil and Water in Sulaimani Governorates. Doctoral dissertation, PhD Dissertation, University of Sulaimani, Iraq.

Khan, A.J., Rajendra, P., and Tyagi, R.K., 1992. Measurement radon exhalation rate from some building materials. International Journal of Radiation Applications and Instrumentation Part D, 20(4), pp.609-610.

Kovler, K., 2006. Radon exhalation of hardening concrete: Monitoring cement hydration and prediction of radon concentration in construction site. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 86, pp.354-366.

Laith, A.N., Firas, M.A., and Enas, M.A., 2011. Natural radioactivity levels of limestone rocks in northern Iraq using gamma spectroscopy and nuclear track detector. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 289, pp.709-715.

Lookman, M.M.G., Ayser, M.A., 2016. Suspended Sediment concentration and stream discharge relationship during storm events in tributaries of smaquli stream, Erbil, Iraq. Iraqi Journal of Science, 57(3A), pp.1748-1758.

Mansoor, H.H., Khdar, S.P., Abdulla, H.Y., Muhamad, N.Q., Othman, M.M., and Qader, S., 2005. Measurement of indoor radon levels in Arbil by using solid state nuclear track detectors. Radiation Public Health Fact Sheet on Radon-Health and Human Services., 2011. Available from: http:// www.massgroupholding.com/English/unit_real. aspx?cor=3&title=Cement

Nguyen, D.C., Edward, C., and Łukasz, P., 2005. Factors controlling measurements of the radon mass exhalation rate. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 82, pp.363-369.

Nisha, M., Amit, K., Sushil, K., and Chauhan, R.P., 2016. Measurement of indoor radon - Thoron in air and exhalation from soil in the environment of western Haryana, India. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 171(2), pp.248-253.

Poschl, M., 2007. Radionuclides Concentration in Food and the Environment. Taylor and Francis Group, USA.

Predrag, U., Igorˇ, C., Aleksandar, K., Ivana, V., Mirjana, U.S., Duˇ, D., and Zora, S.Z., 2010. Internal exposure of building materials exhaling 222Rn and 220Rn as compared to external exposure due to their natural radioactivity content. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 68, pp.201-206.

Ramasamy, V., Paramasivam, K., Suresh, G., and Jose, M.T., 2014. Role of sediment characteristics on natural radiation level of the Vaigai river sediment, Tamilnadu, India. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 127, pp.64-74.

Ramasamy, V., Suresh, G., Meenakshisundaram, V., and Ponnusamy, V., 2011. Horizontal and vertical characterization of radionuclides and minerals in river sediments. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 69, pp.184-195.

Rebwar, H., Nadhir, A., Salahalddin, S.A., Ammar, A.A., Twana, A., and Sven, K., 2016. Dukan dam reservoir bed sediment, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Engineering, 8, pp.582-596.

Salih, N.M., Ahmed, I.K., Ghafoor, A.M.R., and Zana, H.A., 2014. Bioaccumulation, enrichment and translocation factors of some heavy metals in Typha angustifolia and Phragmites australis Species growing ALONG Qalyasan stream in Sulaimani City/IKR. Journal of Zankoy Sulaimani- Part A, 16(4), pp.93-109.

Sharma, D.K., Ajay, K., Mukesh, K., and Surinder, S., (2003) Study of uranium, radium and radon exhalation rate in soil samples from some areas of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India is using solid-state nuclear track detectors. Radiation Measurements, 36, pp.363-366.

Turhan, S., 2008. Assessment of the natural radioactivity and radiological hazards in Turkish cement and its raw materials. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 99(2), pp.404-441. Turhan, S., and Varinliog, ˘l.A., 2012. Radioactivity measurement of primordial radionuclides in and dose evaluation from the marble and glazed tiles used as covering building materials in Turkey. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 151 (3), pp.546-555.

United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR)., 1993. Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. Report to the General Assembly, Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, United Nations, New York.

UNSCEAR., 2008. Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation, Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, Session, 63 (46), United Nations, New York.

UNSCEAR-annexb., 2000. Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes, Vol. 2, United Nations, New York.

Zakariya, A.H., 2017. Measurement of radon exhalation rate and radium activity from building material samples used in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. ZANCO Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 29(4), pp.154-160.

Zakariya, A.H., Mohamad, S.J., Asaad, H.I., and Ammar, A.B., 2013. Radon exhalation rate from building materials using passive technique nuclear track detectors. International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 4(7), pp.1276-1281.