Measuring the Rates of Radioactive Contamination and Radiation Doses for Rockwool plant

Abstract

This research aims to assess the radioactivity for the rock wool plant in the province of Baghdad – Al Taji city through conducting radiological survey for the plant which of six part ( crushers , furnaces , machines spinning , materials store and waste site ) in addition assessment of radiation doses to the worker who are near smelting furnaces by using portable detectors to know the level of exposure and the contamination resulting from smelting basalt stone operations which the essential material for making the rock wool, its contain the natural radioactivity series such as U-238 and Th-232 . The results of radiological survey were conducted showed the presence of a significant increase in the rates of radioactive contamination and the dose rates in the area of smelting furnaces ranged between (11.2- 7.81) cps using the FH-40 compared with the rate of natural background 0.75 cps and the rates of radiation doses ranged between (0.65- 0.47) µSv/h using the device RadEye compared with natural background 0.04 µSv/h ,while the reading in another site within normal levels . it also collected soil samples from the smelting furnaces and from basalt stone accumulation site accordance to IAEA standard which were measured by using gamma spectrometry ( which consist of high –purity germanium detector with efficiency of 30% and resolution 2 keV for energy 1.33 MeV of 60Co ) . The results of laboratory tests for the soil elected showed absence of a significant increase in the values of the concentration for the radionuclide which back to the series of U-238 and Th-23 and showed a natural concentrations for isotope of Radium -226 especially in the samples that have been taken from the smelting furnaces ( B1,B2) ranged between (62.23 – 24.1 ) Bq / kg, respectively, that Ra-226 isotope (1600 year half life ) emitting Alpha and Gamma rays and decaying to the Radon gas.Where high concentrations of Radon gas is one of the main reasons causing lung cancer, so it is necessary to use protective equipment needed by workers in these factories.