Indoor Radon Concentration in Dwellings of Baghdad City and In Dora Refinery Using Rad-7 Detector

Abstract

Indoor radon gas (²²²Rn) has been recognized as one of the health hazards for human. Rn-222 is the most important source of natural radiation and is responsible for approximately half of the received dose from all sources. Most of this dose is from inhalation of the Rn-222 progeny, especially in closed atmospheres. Air radon comes mainly from soil and construction materials. Radon concentration was measured in two room of   9 dwellings from various regions of Baghdad city and in Dora Refinery, electronic detector of radon Rad-7 was used which is an active measurement method. The results show that Radon concentrations of the dwellings were varied from (0) Bq m^-3 to (82.6) Bq m^-3 with an average activity value of (22.75) Bq m^-3.  The results show that radon concentration was high in sample B4 and low in samples B2,B5, B6 ,B8, .and for Dora Refinery the high concentration was (71.3 ) Bq m^-3 in sample D11 and low was (0) Bq m^-3 in samples D1,D2,D4,D5,D6,D7 and D8 an average activity value 19.2 Bq m^-3 . the annual effective dose ranged between ( 0-3.3) mSv/y, with a mean value 0.4 mSv/y for Baghdad city and ranged between (0-2.8) mSv/y with a mean value 0.4 mSv/y for Dora Refinery . These results are lower than the value 1 mSv/y recommended by ICRP report.

Keywords: Radon, RAD-7, Baghdad city, Dora Refinery, Annual effective dose.