Radiological Effects of Natural Radioactivity in Soil Samples from Hospitals and Health Centers

Abstract

This study shows the radiation activity of Potassium isotope-40, Thorium-232   and Uranium-238, for 26 soil models to assess the radiation health risks on the environment and obtain a base reading, for the first time, for future studies. The samples used were collected from soil, at the depth of 15 cm, of hospitals and health centers located in the city of Hilla. The Gama spectrometer system and the solid-state detector were used in calculating the radiological effects. The consequences showed that the average concentration of radioactivity for Uranium-238, Thorium-232  and Potassium isotope-40 are (2.537 ± 0.139, 3.733 ± 0.156 and 70.833 ± 0.894) Bq/kg respectively. We found that the average radiological effect of the radium equivalent (Ra_eq) is (13.330±0.417) Bq/kg. The exterior hazard index (H_ex) is (0.036±.0001) and the indoor hazard index (H_in) is (0.043±.0017). The gamma hazard index (I?) is examined to be (0.097±0.003). Also, the outdoor absorbed dose rate D_(out) is (6.442±0.19) nGy/h, whereas the indoor absorbed dose level average D_(in) is (12.178±0.36) nGy/h. Average annual value of the effective dose equivalent (indoor and outdoor) are (.007±.0002, 0.059±.001) mSv/y. The extra lifespan cancer risk (ELCR_(t)) due to natural radioactivity in the models is (0.223±.006) mSv/y. We concluded that the radiation health risk for the various locations in this work is within the limits recommended thru the United Nations Scientific ?ommittee on the ?ffects of atomic roadiation.