Assessment the Natural Radioactivity of Radionuclides (226Ra,232Th,40K, and137Cs) in Wheat Grain

Abstract

This paper investigates the activity concentration of radionuclides (226Ra,232Th,40K, and137Cs) in the wheat grain samples using a high-purity germanium detector. Thirty-six wheat grain samples were collected from different locations of Koya City, Iraqi Kurdistan region. Average activity concentrations of 226 Ra,232Th, and40K in wheat grain are found to be 0.407 ± 0.097 Bq.kg-1, 0.36 ± 0.14 Bq.kg-1, and 109.25 ± 2.214 Bq.kg-1 for226Ra, 232 Th, and40K, respectively. The measured activity concentrations for the radionuclides are compared with the reported data from other countries. In addition, the fallout radionuclide of 137Cs has no detection of in the wheat grain samples. The radium equivalent activity Raeq, internal and external hazard indices Hin and Hex, and annual gonadal dose equivalent are calculated for the measured samples. The total ingestion dose is 113.19 µSv.y-1, which is below the world average value of 290 µSv.y-1.