Assessment of radon gas concentration in river and sediment samples from Diwaniyah and Samawah governorates Southern Iraq

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study measured the radon concentration and the related radiation hazard parameters in sediment and river water samples from Diwaniyah and Samawah governorates in southern Iraq using CR-39 detector. The data were analysed using IBM SPSS and MATLAB programming language. The results show that the average radon concentrations in sediment and water samples were 384.60 Bq m−3 and 477.52 Bq m−3, respectively. These values exceeded some reported local and international values, in addition to the recommended limits of 200 Bq m−3 suggested by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The radiation hazard parameters, including radium specific-activity, radon emanation factor, mass radon exhalation rate, and surface radon exhalation rate, were estimated and their average values were found to be 0.50 Bq kg−1, 1.71, 6.45 × 10−3 Bq kg−1 h−1, and 0.21 Bq m−2 h−1 in sediment samples, and 0.25 Bq kg−1, 2.82, 5.26 × 10−3 Bq kg−1 h−1, and 2.21 Bq m−2 h−1 in water samples, respectively. The results show a strong positive correlation between radon concentration and the other radiation factors. A negative correlation between the emanation factor and all other parameters was observed, suggesting that the increase in the radon emanation reduces the amount of the other parameters. The results of this study represent a database and open the door for additional studies, including assessments of the environmental factors that led to the raised radon concentrations in the areas under study.