Radionuclide concentrations analysis of Duhok air atmosphere by gamma spectrometry

Abstract

Introduction: Atmospheric air is directly related to human healthand irreplaceable to human life and thus an influential parameter ofenvironmental science. Radioactive materials in the air may resultin exposure of man every day of our lives by inhalation or ingestion of particulate matter suspended or deposited on vegetation orproducts derived from animals, which has been ubiquitous on earthsince its creation. The main goal of this study is to measure the radioactivity concentration of the natural and artificial radionuclidesof the Duhok air. Materials and Methods: Twenty samples of airfilters were collected from different locations of Duhok City andits surroundings by low volume air samplers pump in the summer/autumn and winter/spring seasons. Air filter samples were preparedand analyzed by a well-type thallium-activated sodium iodide NaI(-TI) detector. Results and Discussion: The average activity concentrations of 214Pb, 214Bi, 212Pb, 228Ac, 40K and 137Cs are4.98±1.20, 4.54±1.27, 9.76±1.17, 10.72±2.35, 211.91±62.19 and1.78±0.61 mBq/m3 respectively of the summer/autumn seasons.Whereas, in the winter/spring seasons are 3.89±1.23, 4.21±1.43,5.05±1.08, ND, 147.49±46.38 and 1.78±0.69 mBq/m3 respectively. Conclusions: The activity concentrations results confirmedseasonal variations for all study locations. Activities of all radionuclides, except an anthropogenic radionuclide 137Cs which remainsabout the same in both seasons, record higher values in summer/autumn season. Moreover, all activities are less than the acceptablelower level. It is clear that the prominent radioelements that affected by atmospheric condition is 40K even though it is less than thereported lower level of the EPA