Gamma activity in Bu’Aitha soil, south Baghdad

Abstract

The concentration of chosen natural radionuclide at three depths of the soil in four locations at Bu’Aitha soil, south Baghdad has been assessed through utilizing NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometry, showing mean values of 7.35 Bq kg−1, 2.89 Bq kg−1 and 204.54 Bq kg−1 for 235U, 232Th and 40K, respectively. These values are considered un-harmful for the environment and humans as they are within the world median limits. Hazard indices radium equivalent activity in Bq kg−1, annual equivalent dose in Sv y−1, external and internal hazard index, representative gamma index, dose rate in nGy h−1 and annual effective dose equivalent (outdoor and indoor) in mSv y−1 were calculated. The computed indices should have no adversary effect on human health and environment as they were below or within the world’s average values.