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Measurement of Natural Radioactivity in Samples of Beach Sands (Rivers and Lakes) in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region

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Radiochemistry Aims and scope

Abstract

Activity concentrations of the 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radionuclides were evaluated in samples of beach sand using high purity germanium (HPGe) detector for 15 locations. Health risks were evaluated from the activity concentration of each sample. The average measured activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K varied from 18.5 ± 2.1 to 42.1 ± 3.6, from 25.2 ± 2.0 to 50.6 ± 4.3, and from 264.2 ± 8.6 to 542.6 ± 11.2 Bq kg–1, respectively, with the average value of 29.2 ± 2.2, 36.4 ± 2.7, and 364.4 ± 9.6 Bq kg–1, respectively. The minimum values of the activity concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra, 40K and of health risks were found in samples of the Askikalak location on the Great Zab River. Elevated activity concentrations of 40K were recorded in the location of Dukan sand samples on the Little Zab River. The maximum activity concentration of 226Ra was found in samples of Rezan locations on the Great Zab River. The results are compared to those obtained by other researchers and given in international reports; they were under the average value reported by UNSCEAR [1]. For each sample, the radium equivalent activity, external and internal hazard indices, and absorbed dose were also evaluated.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank all the people in the locations for their cooperation in collecting the samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, Education College, Salahaddin University, 44001, Erbil, Iraq

    A. H. Ismail

  2. Physics Department, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, Koya, KOY45, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

    Z. A. Hussein

  3. SUE Website Manager, Salahaddin University, 44001, Erbil, Iraq

    D. H. Aladdin

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  1. A. H. Ismail
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  3. D. H. Aladdin
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Correspondence to A. H. Ismail.

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Ismail, A.H., Hussein, Z.A. & Aladdin, D.H. Measurement of Natural Radioactivity in Samples of Beach Sands (Rivers and Lakes) in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Radiochemistry 63, 389–394 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1066362221030176

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