Mustansiriyah Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences

Natural Radioactivity Mapping in Soil Samples of Salah al-Din and Anbar Regions – Iraq Using GIS Technique

Emad Hameed Ahmed* Mahmood Salim Karim2, Fouad Kadam Mashi3

Department of Physics, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University

Keywords: Concentrations of radioactive elements, nuclear facility, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Interpolation Technique (IDW

Abstract

This study aims to identify and depict natural radiation levels (uranium-238, thorium-232, and potassium-40) in soil samples obtained from the Iraqi governorates of Salah al-Din and Anbar. The (HPGe) detector was used in the detection system of the investigation, and maps were created using a geographic information system (GIS). Some radiological characteristics were computed based on particular activity measurements for 238U, 232Th, and 40 K. Specific activity averages are 20.422 Bq/kg for 238U, 23.008.6 Bq/kg for 232Th, and 178.726 Bq/kg for 40K. Furthermore, the radium equivalent (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (Dg), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), representative gamma hazard index (Iᵧ), and total annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) are estimated to be 67.085 Bq/kg, 30.784nGy/h, 0.181, 0.236, 0.243 and 0.083 mSv/y respectively. The specific activity of Uranium-238, Thourium-232, and Poasium-40 identified in all soil samples was under the UNSCEAR safety level. For the study region, GIS mapping for natural radioactivity and several radiological criteria were generated effectively. Finally, the Natural radioactivity and radiation properties of soil samples from Salah al-Din and Anbar were harmless.