Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards for Tigris River Basin

Abstract

    Activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra (of ²³⁸U series), (²³²Th) and (⁴⁰K) in some soil samples along Tigris River basin were determined and evaluated. The measurements were carried out using high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The mean activity concentrations in soil samples were 18.2, 16.4 and 375 Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K, respectively. The absorbed dose rates (D), mean annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), external and internal hazard indices (H_ex and H_in) were evaluated to be 34.2 nGy/h, 0.042 mSv/y, 71 Bq/kg, 0.19 and 0.24, respectively, well within the relevant permissible limits of 59nGy/h for D, 1 mSv/y for AEDE, 370 Bq/kg for Ra_eq, and 1 for H_ex and H_in. Accordingly, it is concluded that the natural radioactivity levels for Tigris River basin in Baghdad city satisfy safety radiation dose limit for.