Assessment of Radioactivity Levels for the Fuel Fabrication Facility at Al-tuwaitha Nuclear Site (Iraq)

Altaf Abdul Majeed Al-Rahmani

doi:10.11648/j.rst.20170303.11

Abstract

The activity concentrations of twenty soil samples collected from contaminated locations of Fuel Fabrication Facility (FFF) at Al- Tuwaitha nuclear site, Iraq, were determined by using spectroscopy with a high purity germanium detector. The range of activity concentrations of 238U (234mPa), 235U, 232Th (228Ac), and 40K in the soil from the studied areas varies from (177.74±60) to (375777.5±6895) Bqkg-1, (7.4±0.5) to (20954±407.5) Bqkg-1, (7.06±0.22) to (20.45±0.33) Bqkg1 and from (47.5±5.3) to (402.2±15.5) Bq kg-1 respectively. The isotopic mass and activity ratio of 235U/238U were calculated to identify kind of uranium, depleted or natural. To assess the radio logical risk for this site, RESRAD program was used to calculate total dose from all pathways (external, inhalation and soil ingestion) of exposure, the value of total dose was 2mSv/yr. Laboratory results indicated that the FFF was contaminated with 234mPa and 235U nuclides in excess of the IAEA limits for exemption from regulatory control, and indicating that the decommissioning operations for the FFF must be subjected to regulatory control and safety surveillance to ensure adequate protection of the operators, public and the environment.

Highlights

The use of radioactive materials has made significant impact in various areas and lead to changes in human practices [1]
Al-Tuwaitha nuclear site considered as unique case, most of its facilities suffer substantial physical damage during the Gulf Wars and have been subjected to subsequent looting
The main objectives of this study are to assess the radioactive contamination in the soil Fuel Fabrication Facility at AlTuwaitha site, Iraq, the exposure and dose from the contaminated area, and the risk assessment

Summary

Introduction

The use of radioactive materials has made significant impact in various areas and lead to changes in human practices [1]. It recognized widely became that there is a large number of sites in different countries of the world that have become contaminated by radiation as a result of the activities of the nuclear fuel cycle; nuclear weapons programs; the use of radioisotopes in medicine, research and industry; accidents; and so on. A number of sites in Iraq have some degree of radiological contamination and require decommissioning and remediation in order to ensure radiological safety. Many of these sites in Iraq are located at the nuclear research center at A1-Tuwaitha. There are a number of sites in Iraq which have been used for nuclear activities and which contain potentially significant amounts of radioactive material. Many of these sites suffered substantial heavy damage during the Gulf Wars and several have been subject to looting of materials and equipment as a consequence of the challenging security

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion