Alpha Emitters in Water Samples for Some Marshes in Dhi-Qar Governorate, Iraq

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IJEP 42(3): 294-301 : Vol. 42 Issue. 3 (March 2022)

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Awsam Abdulsattar Marzaali1*, Mohammed A. Al-Shareefi1 and Ali Abid Abojassim2

1. University of Babylon, College of Science, Department of Physics, Babylon, Iraq
2. University of Kufa, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, Al-Najaf, Iraq

Abstract

Radon (222Rn), radium (226Ra) and uranium (238U) concentration have been measured using solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) (TASTRAK CR-39 plastic) technique together with evaluation of the risk of average internal effective dose (AED) with lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of 222Rn and 226Ra in water samples collected from various places of marshes in Dhi-Qar governorate. The average values of 222Rn, 226Ra and 238U in water samples were found to be 288.92±34.10 Bq/m3, 0.46±0.05 Bq/L and 0.61±0.07 ppm, respectively. The average values of AED (mSv/y) due to ingestion of 222Rn and 226Ra in samples under study were found to be 0.019±0.002 and 0.094±0.01, respectively. The average of total AED and lifetime cancer risk were 0.11±0.01 mSv/y and (4.3±0.05)×10-4, respectively. The average value of 222Rn and 226Ra were found to be within the global average limitations (0.4 Bq/L) and (1 Bq/L) recommended by WHO, while the average of 238U concentrations was higher than that of global average limitations (0.566 ppm) recommended by EPA. Most results of AED due to 222Rn and 226Ra concentrations in samples under study were compared with the worldwide median value recommended by WHO. But, lifetime cancer risk in all samples of the present study were higher than the safety limit for  healthy drinking water. So, drinking from the water of marshes in the Dhi-Qar governorate, Iraq which is contaminated with alpha emitters, like 222Rn, 226Ra and 238U may lead to a considerable variation in the internal effective dose.

Keywords

Alpha emitters, SSNTD, Water and marshes in Dhi-Qar

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