Measurement of Radon Activity in Soil Gas and the Geogenic Radon Potential Mapping Using RAD7 at Al-Tuwaitha Nuclear Site and the Surrounding Areas

Abstract

In this study Soil gas radon ²²²Rn activity was measured in different locations at Al-Tuwaitha Nuclear Site and the surrounding areas using RAD7 (radon detector). Radon activity in the soil gas varied from (866±150 to 16004±521) Bq/m³ near Alaibtihal School and Ishtar \ Al-Ttakhi School respectively. These concentrations values are well below the allowed levels that range from (0.4 to 40) KBq/m³. The annual effective doses related to the inhalation of radon gas and its progeny which were calculated from the Concentration of emanation in air near ground ranged from (0.0082305 to 0.152102) mSv/y. these results are less than the recommended global average dose from the inhalation of radon from all sources, which is 1 mSv/y. The Health risks originating from indoor radon concentration can be attributed to natural factors and is characterized by geogenic radon potential (GRP), The highest values were found in Ishtar \ Al-Ttakhi school which is (16.004) and The lowest values were found Near Alaibtihal school which is (0.288666667), the lowest value according to Neznal was classified as low (GRP < 10) and the highest value was classified as medium (10 < GRP < 35), according to Barnet and Pacherová low GRP causes <230 Bq m^-3 while medium GRP causes 230-460 Bq m^-3 indoor radon concentration. From these different values of GRP a geogenic radon risk map was created, which assists human health risk assessment and risk reduction since it indicates the potential of the source of indoor radon. The results from this study shows that the region has background radioactivity levels within the natural limits.