Risk Assessment for AL-Nahrawn Site that Contaminated with Depleted Uranium in Baghdad

Subject Areas : Journal of Chemical Health Risks

Murtdha Adhab Siyah ¹ , Asia H. Al-Mashhadani ² , Basim H. Essa ³

1 - Radioactive Waste Management's Department, Radioactive Waste Directorate, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq
2 - Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
3 - Radioactive Waste Management's Department, Radioactive Waste Directorate, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq|Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

Received: 2021-04-05 Accepted : 2021-07-12 Published : 2021-09-01

Keywords: Risk Assessment, AL-Nahrwan, Resrad, Depleted uranium,

Abstract :

Activity concentrations of (238U series), (226Ra), (232Th) and (40K) in some soil samples in AL-Nahrawan site 52 soil samples were determined and evaluated. The measurements were carried out using high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The mean activity concentrations in soil samples were (76019.61, 16.634, 11.693 and 147.55) Bq Kg-1 for 238U ,226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The concentration of 238U more than of accepted limited of clearance level according to IAEA and that mean AL-Nahrawan site is radioactive contaminated site. The risk assessment that calculated for AL-Nahrawan site appear the most of dose that calculated from different pathways such as ingestion ,inhalation ,drinking water and meat is coming from external dose and most of it from 238U than another radio nuclides such as (226R, 232Thand 40K). The total dose for the contaminated area that calculated by RESRAD code (7.2) dose from all nuclides all pathways summed in AL-Nahrawan is (1.46 mSv / year) and that more the accepted limit for dose limit exposure to public (1 mSv/A) according the IAEA and that mean the public have limit use and action for this site. The high purity germanium analysis appears AL-Nahrawan site contaminated with Du depended on the ratio between 235U and 238U radio nuclides. The cancer risk from all nuclides calculated by RESRD code for AL-Nahrawan site is (2.2) ×10-3This value is above the global average of 0.29×10 −3 and 1.16×10 −3 reported by UNSCEAR.

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