Determination of radiological hazards resulting from natural radiological activity in soil samples in Al Azizia district in Wasit Governorate, Iraq

This work aims to measure the concentrations of radionuclides of natural radioactivity of the three elements (⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, and ²³²Th), were determined in 24 soil samples, collected from Al- Azezia district of Wasit Governorate. They were studied and then evaluated. The standard sources are used for calibration of radiation activity by gamma spectrometer NaI (TI). The radioactivity of natural isotopes ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th has been estimated. The results showed the radio activities of element in this study were within the acceptable standard levels. In addition, the radium equivalent activity, average air volume, annual effective dose rate and external risk index were assessed and found to be among the internationally tolerable values. The radioactivity of nuclides of ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in Al- Azezia district were calculated. The radioactivity of, ²³⁸U ranged from (0. 60±1. 71) to (17. 69 ±4. 70) Bq / kg with an average of (9. 145±3. 20) Bq / kg, while it was for ²³²Th ranged from (14. 55±1. 64) to (42. 386+1. 95) Bq / Kg with an average of (30. 42±2. 31) Bq / Kg and⁴⁰K ranged from (119. 252+2. 06)to(170. 562+2. 74)Bq / kg with an average (146. 438+2. 40) Bq / Kg also, it is found that the average of radiological effects like the radium equivalent (Raeq), the absorbed dose Rate (Dr), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), representative gamma hazard index (Iγ), the effective dose equivalent (AEDE) lifetime the excess cancer risk (ELCR) due to natural radioactivity in soil samples for depth(0-15)cm were (66. 63±5. 37) Bq/Kg and (27. 18±1. 91) nGy/h, (0. 36±0. 01), (0. 69±0. 02), (0. 48±0. 02). (0. 66 ±0. 02) and (0. 30±0. 01) x10⁻³respectively, there for no significant radiological hazard in Al- Azezia district.