Radionuclide concentrations analysis of Duhok air atmosphere by gamma spectrometry

Revink A.  Ramadhan; Khairi M-S.  Abdullah

doi:10.15649/2346075X.501

Authors

Revink A. Ramadhan Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq
Khairi M-S. Abdullah Department of Water Resources, College of Engineering, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15649/2346075X.501

Keywords:

Atmospheric radioactivity; Gamma spectroscopy; Air filter; Activity

Abstract

Introduction: Atmospheric air is directly related to human health
and irreplaceable to human life and thus an influential parameter of
environmental science. Radioactive materials in the air may result
in exposure of man every day of our lives by inhalation or ingestion of particulate matter suspended or deposited on vegetation or
products derived from animals, which has been ubiquitous on earth
since its creation. The main goal of this study is to measure the radioactivity concentration of the natural and artificial radionuclides
of the Duhok air. Materials and Methods: Twenty samples of air
filters were collected from different locations of Duhok City and
its surroundings by low volume air samplers pump in the summer/
autumn and winter/spring seasons. Air filter samples were prepared
and analyzed by a well-type thallium-activated sodium iodide NaI(-
TI) detector. Results and Discussion: The average activity concentrations of 214Pb, 214Bi, 212Pb, 228Ac, 40K and 137Cs are
4.98±1.20, 4.54±1.27, 9.76±1.17, 10.72±2.35, 211.91±62.19 and
1.78±0.61 mBq/m3 respectively of the summer/autumn seasons.
Whereas, in the winter/spring seasons are 3.89±1.23, 4.21±1.43,
5.05±1.08, ND, 147.49±46.38 and 1.78±0.69 mBq/m3 respectively. Conclusions: The activity concentrations results confirmed
seasonal variations for all study locations. Activities of all radionuclides, except an anthropogenic radionuclide 137Cs which remains
about the same in both seasons, record higher values in summer/
autumn season. Moreover, all activities are less than the acceptable
lower level. It is clear that the prominent radioelements that affected by atmospheric condition is 40K even though it is less than the
reported lower level of the EPA

Author Biographies

Revink A. Ramadhan, Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq

Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq

Khairi M-S. Abdullah, Department of Water Resources, College of Engineering, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq

Department of Water Resources, College of Engineering, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq

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