Measurement of Natural Radionuclide Activity in Soil Samples from Different Regions in Al-Hilla City, Iraq

Abstract

Background:

The active levels of natural radioactivity Potassium-40, Uranium-238, and Thorium-232 were examined and evaluated in various soil samples from Al-Hilla city by analyzing the results of these samples and comparing them to internationally accepted levels.

Materials and Methods:

30 soil samples were collected from different areas in the city of Hilla at a depth of 10–15 cm and examined using a gamma-ray spectrometer.

Results:

The radioactivity rate for U-238 was (9.36±0.144) Bqkg^-1, while it was (16±0.148) Bqkg^-1 for Th-232 and (141.5±0.894) Bqkg^-1 for K-40. The study's findings showed that the average radiation effects, such as Radium equivalent (Ra_eq), the outdoor external dose (D_out), the indoor external dose (D_in), the external hazard index (H_ex), the internal hazard index (H_in), the representative level index (I_γ), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), and the lifetime cancer risks (ELCR), are as follows: (43.13) Bqkg^-1, (20.16) nGyh^-1, (37.67) nGy/h, (0.12), (0.11), (0.32), (0.185) mSvy^-1, and (0.69) x10^-3, respectively.

Conclusions:

The examination of the echelons of naturally occurring radioactivity in the areas in the center of Hilla has produced a wealth of data demonstrating that the measured concentrations of natural radionuclides are within acceptable bounds and represent typical levels of radioactivity.