Calculation of radioactivity levels for various soil samples of Karbala - Najaf road (Ya- Hussein) / Iraq

Abstract

Ya- Hussein an outer road that links the governorates of Najaf and Karbala / Iraq, the soil on this road is a sandy desert. The study was conducted to calculate the radioactivity and the risk indicators for this soil, because this study is of great importance due to the contribution of many factors to increasing the concentrations of radionuclides as they are transported through the soil then to humans and endanger their lives. We have estimated 226Ra, 232Th and 40K concentrations in the paper, with their radiological risks in 15 soil sample types gathered from road Ya - Hussein / Iraq, investigated by using gamma ray spectrometry detector NaI (Tl). The result showed the soil sampling concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were there an average among 17.386±1.327, 15.889±0.556 and 553.269±4.997 with unit (Bq.kg-1) respectively. Likewise (ℋ in; ℋ ex) hazard indices, total annual effective dose which was below the internationally recommended limits and excess life-time cancer risk (ELCR) were calculated (0.793∗10-3 ) was lower than the worldwide value. All parameters were statistically studied, and the correlation between the parameters studied was calculated, Pearson's correlation and ( P value ) among the variables. The correlation between gamma index (Iγ) and Alpha index (Iα) was strong, positive and direct, where it was statistically significant (p-value < 0.05). The studied area is considered safe and the samples are free from radiation safety threats then the soil does not pose a health risk in this road. Thus this study can be considered as a baseline for future studied on the studied area.