Natural Radioactivity in Soil Samples in Nineveh Province and the Associated Radiation Hazards

Abstract

The natural radioactivity due to presence of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K in soil of Nineveh zone, Nineveh province, Iraq were measured by using gamma-ray spectrometry based on high-purity germanium detector. The specific activity of soil samples ranged from 16.21 to 38.83 Bq/kg with an average of value of 32.52±6.48 Bq/kg, 8.53 to 28.37 Bq/kg with an average of 20.30±5.36 Bq/kg, 236.03 to 613.11 Bq/kg with an average of 378.93± 123.29Bq/kg, and 2.18 to 17.92 Bq/kg with an average of 8.17± 5.55 Bq/kg for 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K and 137 Cs respectively. The study also examine some radiation hazard indices such as Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), Absorbed gamma dose rate (D), External hazard index (Hex), Internal hazard index (Hin) and gamma index (Iγ). These calculated hazard indices to estimate the potential radiological health risk in soil. The radium equivalent activity average (Raeq) was less than the permitted value (370 Bq/kg). The average absorbed dose rate value also less than the permissible limit of 55 nGy/h. The external hazard index, internal hazard index and gamma index of soil samples were less than unity.