Evaluation of Radioactivity in Soil Sample from Al-Hadbaa Cement Plant in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq

Keywords: Ambient dose, Al-Hadbaa cement plant, 137Cs, Gamma-ray spectroscopy, Nineveh Governorate, Radiological hazard,, Soil samples

Abstract

The fundamental goal of this study is to measure the level of radioactivity in the soil of the area around Al-Hadbaa cement plant, also to evaluate the radiological hazard of radionuclide, gamma-spectroscopy with an HPGe detector with the crystal diameter of 70.6 mm and length of 70 mm has been used to estimate the specific activity of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and artificial radionuclides 137Cs in the fifteen soil samples collected. The results show that the average concentration of specific activity of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs was 11.17 ± 1.69, 13.38 ± 0.72, 158.36 ± 5.35 Bq/kg, and 1.52 ± 0.19 Bq/kg, respectively. The average specific activity of these radionuclides is discovered to be lower than the global average which is 33 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 30 Bq/kg for 232Th, and 400 Bq/kg for 40K. Radiological hazard indices are determined according to the activity concentration of the radionuclides in the area under study. The outcome of the radiological hazard index is within the globally recognized limit proposed by UNSCEAR which is 1000 μSv/y for annual effective dose and 290 × 10-6 for cancer risk, so it is possible to conclude that there are no radiological hazards as a result of radiation exposure to the workers working in the cement plant as well as the organisms living in the region.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Ali I. Yaseen, Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq

Ali I. Yaseen is is a teacher at the Nineveh Education Directorate. He got the B.Sc. degree in Physics. His research interests are in Nuclear Physics, Radiactivity and Radiation Physics.

Laith A. Najam, Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq

Laith A. Najam is a Professor at the Department of Physics, College of Science, Mosul University. He got the B.Sc. degree in Physics, the M.Sc. degree in Nuclear Physics and the Ph.D. degree in Nuclear Physics. His research interests are in Nuclear Physics, Radioactivity and[ Radiation Physics. Prof. Laith serves as an Ediotor for many scientific journals .

References

Abdullah, K.M.S., and Ahmed, M.T., 2012. Environmental and radiological pollution in creek sediment and water from Duhok, Iraq. The Nucleus A Quarterly Scientific Journal of pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, 49(1), pp.49-59.

Ali, K.K., Awadh, S.M., and Al-Auweidy, M.R., 2014. Assessment natural radioactivity of marl as raw material at Kufa Cement Quarry in Najaf Governorate. Iraqi Journal of Science, 55(2), pp.454-462.

Cherie, G.Z., and Deressu, T.T., 2023. Assessment of natural radioactivity levels in soil samples from Dejen district, Ethiopia. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, p.ncad214. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncad214 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncad214

Dina, N.T., Das, S.C., Kabir, M.Z., Rasul, M.G., Deeba, F., Rajib, M., Islam, M.S., Hayder, M. A., and Ali, M.I., 2022. Natural radioactivity and its radiological implications from soils and rocks in Jaintiapur area, North-east Bangladesh. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 331, pp.4457-4468. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08562-0

El-Taher, A., Najam, L.A., Oraibi, A.H., and Isinkaye, M.O., 2017. Effect of cement factory exhaust on radiological contents of surrounding soil samples in Assuit Province, Egypt. Journal of Physical Science, 28, pp. 137-150. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21315/jps2017.28.3.9

Grupen, C., and Rodgers, M., 2016. Radioactivity and Radiation. Springer International Publishing, Germany. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42330-2

Hafızoğlu, N., 2023. Radioactivity transfer factors and distribution of the natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in tea, plant and soil samples from the Black Sea Region in Turkey. The European Physical Journal Plus, 138, p.353. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-03966-7

Hussein, Z.A., 2019. Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazards of soils from Erbil Governorate, Iraq Kurdistan. ARO-The Scientific Journal of Koya University, 7(1), pp.34-39. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14500/aro.10471

Isel, P., Sahin, L., Hafizoglu, E., and Mülayim, A., 2023. Natural and artificial radioactive pollution in sediment and soil samples of the bosphorus, Istanbul, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30, pp.70937-70949. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27455-7

Kafala, S.I., and MacMahon, T.D., 2007. Comparison of neutron activation analysis methods. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 271, pp. 507-516. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-007-0238-6

Kang, T.W., Park, W.P., Han, Y.V., Bong, K.M., and Kim, K., 2020. Natural and artificial radioactivity in volcanic ash Sail, of Jeju Island, republic of Korea, and assessment of The radiation hazards: Importance of soil properties. Journal of Radioanlytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 323, pp. 1113-1124. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07024-9

Kolo, M.T., Amin, Y.M., Khandaker, M.U., and Abdullah, W.H.B., 2017. Radionuclide concentrations and excess lifetime cancer risk due to gamma radioactivity in tailing enriched soil around maiganga coal mine, Northeast Nigeria. International Journal of Radiation Research, 15(1), pp.71-80.

Küçükönder, E., Gümbür, S., Söğütö, Ö., and Doğru, M., 2023. Natural radioactivity in soil samples taken from kahramanmaraş provincial center. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 45, pp.5245-5259. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-023-01577-w

Lee, J., Kim, H., Kye, Y.U., Lee, D.Y., Jo, W.S., Lee, C.G., Kim, J.K., Baek, J.H., and Kang. Y.R., 2023. Activity Concentrations and radiological hazard assessments of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, 137Cs in soil sample obtained from dongham institute of radiological and medical science, Korea. Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 55(7), pp.2388-2394. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2023.03.022

Mahur, A.K., Kumar, R. Sonkawade, R.G. Sengupta, D., and Prasad, R., 2008. Measurement of natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rate from rock samples of Jaduguda uranium mines and its radiological implications. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 266(8), pp.1591–1597. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2008.01.056

Mansour, H., Najam, L.A., and Abd El-Azeem, S.A., 2022. Determination and distribution map for radionuclides in soil samples from different location by gamma spectrometry using software analysis. Atom Indonesia, 48(3), pp.179-184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17146/aij.2022.1194

Marie, Z.M., and Najam, L.A., 2022. Evaluation of natural radioactivity and radiological hazard indicators in soil samples from the environment of Al-Kasik oil refinery in Nineveh Governorate, in Iraq. Journal of Nuclear sciences and Arab Applications. 55(4), pp. 57-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/ajnsa.2022.135253.1573

Najam, L.A., AL-Jomaily, F., and AL-Farha, E., 2011. Natural radioactivity levels of limestone rocks in Northern Iraq using gamma spectroscopy and nuclear track detector. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 289(3), pp.709-715. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1144-5

Örgün, Y., Altinsoy, N., Şahin, S.Y., Güngör, Y., Gültekin, A.H., Karahan, G., and Karacik, Z., 2007. Natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in rocks and beach sands from Ezine region (Çanakkale), Western Anatolia, Turkey. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 65(6), pp.739-747. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2006.06.011

PGT Company., 2002. Nuclear Products Catalog. Princeton Gamma-Tech Company, United States, p.101. Available from: www.Itech-instruments.com

Qureshi, A.A., Jadoon, I.A., Wajid, A.A., Attique, A., Masood, A., Anees, M., Manzoor, S., Waheed, A., and Tubassam, A., 2014. Study of natural radioactivity in Mansehra Granite, Pakistan: Environmental concerns. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 158(4), pp.466-478. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/nct271

Shahroudi, S.M.M., and Poukimani, R., 2022. Emission pattern of NORMS and 137Cs in the sediments of the Gaz River and the Gorgan Bay, North Iran. Iranian Journal of Science, 47, pp.589-599. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-023-01417-7

Smail, J.M., Ahmad, S.T., and Mansour, H.H., 2021. Estimation of the natural radioactivity levels in the soil along the little Zab river, Kurdistan Region in Iraq. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 331, pp.119-128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-08064-5

Taqi, A.H., and Namq, B.F., 2022. Radioactivity distribution in soil samples of the Baba Gurgur dome of Kirkuk oil field in Iraq. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Online, pp.1-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03067319.2022.2077104

Taskin, H., Karavus, M.G.L.D.A., Ay, P., Topuzoglu, A.H.M.E.I.T., Hidiroglu, S.E.Y.H.A.N., and Karahan, G., 2009. Radionuclide concentrations in soil and lifetime cancer risk due to gamma radioactivity in Kirklareli, Turkey. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 100(1), pp.49-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.10.012

Turhan, S., 2022. Radiological assessment of urban Soil Samples in the residents of a central anatolion volcanic province, Turky. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 20, pp.1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2022.2078797

UNSCEAR., 2000. Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation UNSCEAR 2000 Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes.

UNSCEAR, Austria.Wais, T., and Najam, L., 2021. Radiological hazard assessment of radionuclides in sediment samples of Tigris river in Mosul city, Iraq. Arab Journal of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, 55(1), pp.45-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/ajnsa.2021.72644.1464

Wais, T.Y., Ali, F.N.M., Najam, L.A., Mansour, H., and Mostafa, M.Y.A., 2023. Assessment of natural radioactivity and radiological hazards of soil collected from Rabia town in Nineveh Governorate (North Iraq). Physica Scirpta, 98(2023), p.65304. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/acd732

Xinwei, L., and Xiaolan, Z., 2006. Measurement of natural radioactivity in sand samples collected from the Baoji weihe sands park, China. Environmental Geology, 50, pp.977-982. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0266-5

Published
2023-09-25
How to Cite
Yaseen, A. I. and Najam, L. A. (2023) “Evaluation of Radioactivity in Soil Sample from Al-Hadbaa Cement Plant in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq”, ARO-THE SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF KOYA UNIVERSITY, 11(2), pp. 83-88. doi: 10.14500/aro.11283.