Natural Radioactivity of Soil Samples in Near of Al-Jibsa Marsh, Iraq

Abstract

     This research investigated the natural radioactivity levels of gamma emitters (Uranium-238, Thourium-232, and Potsium-40) and some radiological hazard indices in soil samples obtained from the vicinity of Al-Jibsa Marsh, located in Najaf Governorate. Experiments were conducted using the NaI(Tl) method. The specific activity values of 238U ranged from 14.548 Bq/kg to 266.016 Bq/kg, with an average of 112.332 Bq/kg. For 232Th, the values ranged between 0.812 Bq/kg to 20.720 Bq/kg, with an average of 7.653 Bq/kg. The specific activity values of 40K ranged from 7.975 Bq/kg to 244.992 Bq/kg, with an average of 82.497 Bq/kg. The activity of 235U varied between 0.670 Bq/kg and 12.259 Bq/kg, with an average of 5.177 Bq/kg. Moreover, the average values of some radiological hazard indices such as (Raeq), (Hext), (AD), (ELCR) were 129.628, 0.350, 60.090 nGy/h, and 1.3267×10-3, respectively. When comparing the results of the current study with the global limit according to UNSCEAR, 2008, it is found that the values of uranium-238 in most of the soil samples were high. Therefore, the soil in this area is unsafe and harmful to the people living near this area.