Measurement of Radon Concentrations and Surface Exhalation Rates using CR-39 detector in Soil Samples of Al-Diwaniyah Governorate, Iraq

Introduction: Natural radioactivity in the soil is considered a major indicator of radiological contamination. Primordial radionuclides are the main source of natural radioactivity. Natural radioactivity transfers radionuclides into the environment and poses radiation hazards to people s health. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the radon concentration and surface exhalation rate in soil samples collected from different locations of industrial, agricultural, and residential of Al-Diwaniyah governorate, southern Iraq. Material and Methods: In the present study, five different depths of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm were taken from each location. The radon concentration and exhalation rate were measured using CR-39 detectors (Pershore Moulding Ltd, UK). The CR-39 detectors were left inside plastic cans with soil samples. The tracks of nuclear particles were recorded using an optical microscope. Results: Results of the present study showed that the radon concentrations in soil samples ranged from 163.58 to 689.89 Bq/m3 with a mean value of 350.64 Bq/m3, while surface exhalation rate was found to be ranged from 0.015 Bq/m2.h to 0.063 Bq/m2.h with an average value of 0.031 Bq/m2.h. The obtained results demonstrated that the radon concentration and exhalation rate decreased with increased depth of soil. Conclusion: Based on the current findings, it was found that radon concentrations in all the examined soil samples were within the acceptable value of 600 Bq/m3, according to the International Commission on Radiological Protection and International Atomic Energy Agency. However, the sample S13 from AL-Hamad village with a mean value of 642.51±22.95 Bq/m3 was an exception.

کلیدواژه ها:

Radon Alpha Particles Exhalation Soil CR ، 39