Radon Concentration in the Work Atmosphere of Cement Plants in the Sulaymaniyah Area, Iraq

Adil M. Hussein; Kamal O. Abdullah; Kharman A. Faraj; Dara F. Hamamin

doi:10.14500/aro.10329

Adil M. Hussein Advanced Nuclear Laboratory, Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6655-7077
Kamal O. Abdullah Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1738-0938
Kharman A. Faraj Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7705-3026
Dara F. Hamamin Department of Geology, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7073-8965

Keywords: Annual effective dose, cement plants, CR-39 detector, Radon concentration

Abstract

This work reports the radon concentration level in the work environment of cement plants (CPs) located in the Sulaymaniyah city-North of Iraq. This survey for the radon concentration is performed in 24 sectors of three different CPs including Tasluja, Mass, and Bazian. The measurements were recorded using solid state nuclear track detector (CR-39 NTDs). The radon effective dose μSv/hr correlated weakly with the gamma effective dose μSv/hr to enhance the radon concentration measuring. The detector was fixed in different places of the plants such Crusher, Correction stores, Raw Mill (Grinding Mill), Preheater (Tower), Clinker, and Cement Storage. The arithmetic mean (AM) value of radon concentration (Ca) was found to be 98 ± 9, 101 ± 10, and 125 ± 10 Bq m⁻³ and the arithmetic mean value of annual effective dose (E) of radon was 0.767, 0.753, and 0.962 mSv y⁻¹ for Tasluja, Mass, and Bazian CPs, respectively. The maximum values of about 222 ± 20 Bq m⁻³ and 1.402 mSv y⁻¹, respectively, in sector III (Grinding) at Bazian CP. The achieved results reveal that the maximum value of radon concentration in all sectors of the CPs is below the international standard value (300 Bq m−3) of both the World Health Organization and International Commission on Radiological Protection.

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Author Biographies

Kamal O. Abdullah, Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region

Dr.Kamal Omer Abdullah is assistant Prof. in Nuclear Radiation at the department of Physics-College of Science-University of Sulaimani. He awarded BSc. in Physics 1986 at the University of Salahaddin-Erbil, MSc. in Nuclear Physics 2001 at the University of Baghdad and awarded a PhD in Nuclear Radiation 2013 at the University of Sulaimani, he has about 11 published papers.

Kharman A. Faraj, Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region

Dr.Kharman Akram Faraj is assistant Prof. in Radiobiology at the department of Physics-College of Science-University of Sulaimani. She awarded BSc. in Physics 1986 at the University of Mosl, MSc. in Biophysics 1993 at the University of Salahaddin and awarded PhD in Radiobiology 2009 at the University of Baghdad collaboration with Nuclear Research Center in Belgium. She is also a teaching member at the Zhianawa cancer center, she has more than 10 published articles.

Dara F. Hamamin, Department of Geology, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region

Dr. Dara Faeq Hamamin is Lecturer in Hydrogeology and GIS at the department of Geology-College of Science-University of Sulaimani. He awarded B.Sc. in Geology (1995) at the University of Salahaddin, M.Sc. in Hydrogeology (2004) at the University of Khartoum, Sudan, and Ph.D in Hydrogeology (2011) at the University of Sulaimani. Currently, He teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate modules in water resources, environmental management and GIS applications in different sectors. He has more than 7 published articles in local and international journals.

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