Investigating the Level of Radon 222Rn and Radium 226Ra in Soil Samples Taken From Al-Amarah in the South of Iraq

Abstract

Radon (222Rn) is created in the soil by radioactive decay of Radium (226Ra) and then emitted from the ground into the atmosphere (exhalation), environmental assessments of radon gas (222Rn) are keys to the assessment of air pollution. The major objective of the current study was to examine the (222Rn) exhalation rates and the (226Ra) concentrations in the soil samples. Thirty soil samples have been collected from ten streets in the region. The (222Rn) exhalation rate and concentrations of (226Ra) in soil samples were calculated using “Can Technique”. The measurements have shown that the surface and mass exhalation rate were varied from 3.9∓0.3 to 18.3∓0.3 μBq.kg−1.s −1, with a mean value of 7.8∓0.3 μBq.kg−1.s−1, and 12.9∓0.5 to 60.7∓1 μBq.m−2.s−1, with a mean value of 25.5∓0.9 μBq.m−2.s−1, respectively. In addition, the results showed that the values for 226Ra concentrations ranged from 1.8∓0.04 to 8.7∓0.1 Bq.kg−1, with a mean value of 3.7∓0.1 Bq.kg−1. Overall, the indications showed that the levels of (226Ra) in soil samples are less than the hazardous levels of human health 370 Bq.kg−1.