Assessment of uranium-235 distribution in soil samples from Anbar province, Western Iraq

Abstract

Uranium is a radioactive element that can pose a risk to human health if ingested or inhaled. Exposure to high levels of uranium can increase the risk of cancer. Measuring uranium concentration in soil can help identify areas where there may be a risk of exposure to high levels of uranium and take appropriate measures to protect public health. In this study, uranium concentration in soil samples collected from Anbar province in Iraq was measured using CR-39 detectors irradiated with an Am-Be neutron source. The results showed that the highest concentration of uranium-specific activity (12.029 ± 0.0016 Bq kg−1) was found in Al Fallujah district, while the lowest concentration (0.531 ± 0.0007 Bq kg−1) was found in Al Sagra district. Interestingly, the data suggest that uranium concentrations increase as we move southeast towards Baghdad, where the city’s climate is reportedly polluted. Despite this, the average uranium-specific activity level in Anbar (7.668 Bq kg−1) is relatively low, and it falls below the global average of 35 Bq kg−1 recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. This study concludes that there is no evidence of uranium pollution in Anbar. Although uranium concentrations are considered low, low levels of uranium concentration in soil can have important implications for environmental risk, resource exploration, agricultural productivity, and geological research.