Concentrations and Radiation Hazard Indices of Naturally Radioactive Materials for Flour Samples in Baghdad Markets

Farah Faris Kaddoori,Wijdan Thamer Fzaa,Ban Sabah Hameed

doi:10.21123/bsj.2021.18.3.0649

Farah Faris Kaddoori, Wijdan Thamer Fzaa + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.21123/bsj.2021.18.3.0649

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Abstract

In the present work, Uranium (238U), Thorium (232Th) and Potassium (40K) specific activity concentration in (Bq/kg) was measured in five different types for wheat flours that are available in the Iraqi markets. The gamma spectrometry method with an NaI (Tl) detector has been used for radiometric measurements. Calculations of radium equivalent activity, annual effective dose equivalent, external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), representing gamma index and gamma dose rate in all flour samples were 17.98132 Bq/kg, 0.0100334, 0.04502, 0.04857, 0.06872, 0.125883 and 8.181244 respectively. It is found that the average of specific activity concentration of wheat flour samples for 238U, 232Th and 40K are 7.4564 Bq / kg, 6.27962 Bq / kg and 20.0658 Bq / kg respectively. This study proves that the natural radioactivity and radiation hazard indices were lower than the safe. Measurements of hazard indices show that the concentrations of these isotopes in all samples are within the allowable limits internationally. The Radium Equivalent Activity, Annual Effective Dose Equivalent, External hazard index (Hex), Internal hazard index (Hin), represented Gamma Index and Gamma Dose Rate are also calculated. All data were measured at the March of 2019.

Highlights

Because of geographical and geological conditions, the natural radionuclide concentrations in environmental samples can be significantly various
It is appropriate to compose a national baseline of radioactivity exposure from various type wheat flour samples available in Iraq markets
The specific activity concentration is the relationship between the mass of the material and its radiation efficiency in Bq/Kg, which is the number of anomalies that occur per second in radionuclide, it is given by Eq 1(13, 14): S.A=C= A / M

Summary

Introduction

Because of geographical and geological conditions, the natural radionuclide concentrations in environmental samples can be significantly various. Some instances of natural radioisotopes are potassium isotopes 40K, uranium (238U and glycolysis chain), and thorium (232Th and glycolysis series). These radionuclides are generally available in air, soil, and water in diverse magnitudes, in addition to their long- lasting period (for about 1010 years) [1- 3]. By means of the soil and phosphate utilizers, natural radioactive elements transfer through the food chain to humans. In order to avoid consumer vulnerability to radiation, it was substantial to measure the radioactivity of some food samples in order to identify the anticipated radiation doses. It is appropriate to compose a national baseline of radioactivity exposure from various type wheat flour samples available in Iraq markets. It was remarked that the modified concentration of 40K activity in foods was substantially of a superior activity to the modified concentrations of 226Ra and 232Th in all the samples [10-12]

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