Radiation Hazards of Alpha Particles Transferred from Soil to Vegetables in Some Areas of Karbala

Abstract

Abstract The specific activity of 222Rn-radon concentration, 226Ra-radium concentration, and 238U-uranium concentration were measured for 20 vegetable and soil samples collected from agricultural areas of Karbala Governorate, using a nuclear track detector. The average values of 222Rn in airspace above soil and vegetable samples were 122.807, and 48.833 Bq/m3 respectively, while the average value of 222Rn in samples were 2004.959, 797.248 Bq.m−3, respectively. The value of 226Ra in soil and vegetable samples varied from 0.094 to 0.474 mBq.kg−1 with a mean-value of 0.185±0.079 mBq/kg and 0.599 to 1.593 mBq/kg1 with a mean value of (1.205± 0.255) mBq.kg−1, respectively. The results of 238U varies from 0.121 to 0.613 ppm with a mean value of 0.240±0.103 ppm and 0.048 to 0.126ppm with an average-value of 0.095±0.02ppm respectively. The average-value of surface exhalation rate, mass exhalation rate, effective annual dose, excess lifetime cancer risk, annual-average internal dosage, excess life time cancer in soil and vegetable samples was 34.607 mBq.m−2.d−1, 1.495mBq.kg−1.d−1, 3.244 mSv.y−1, 0.012×10−3, and 13.761mBq/m2.d, 0.594 mBq/kg.d, 4.574 nSv.y−1, 17.625×10−6, respectively. The values of transfer factor for 222Rn, 226Ra, and 238U were 0.4268, 0.4269, and 0.427, respectively. The concentrations of alpha particles used in this investigated is safer for human health and is within the internationally permitted range.