Natural Radioactivity for some Types of Date in Al-Qasim Subdistrict, Babylon Governorate

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to assess some radiological hazard risk parameters such as the annual effective dose (AED), Fatal Cancer Risk (FCR), Hereditary Cancer Risk (HCR), radium equivalent (Raeq), and Internal hazard index (Hin) due to specific activity of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in some samples of date in Al-Qasim subdistrict, Babylon governorate. The specific activity was measured using gamma-ray spectroscopy with NaI(Tl) doctor. The average values of the specific activity in unit Bq/kg for 238U, 232Th, and 40K were 10.83 ±1.22, 4.94 ±0.80, and 341.36 ±15.25, respectively. While, the average values of total AED, FCR×10-3, HCR×10-3, Raeq, and Hin were 0.210±0.018 mSv/y, 0.737±0.064, 0.198±0.008, 44.18±3.10 Bq/kg, and 0.148±0.011, respectively. The results show that, all values of 238U, 232Th, and 40K were lower than the global limit according to UNSCEAR 2008 (33 Bq/kg, 45 Bq/kg, and 420 Bq/kg), except two samples have 40K higher than global limit. these because increasing used chemical fertilizers by peasants. Also, it is found that all values of the radiological hazard risk parameters in the present study were lower than global limit according to UNSCEAR, ICRP, OECD, etc. So, it was concluded that the date samples in the present study does not cause any danger to the human health when its consumption.