Measurement of Radon Gas Concentration in Soil and Water Samples in Salahaddin Governorate-Iraq Using Nuclear Track Detector (CR-39)

Abstract

In the present work, we have measured the Radon gas concentration in environmental samples (soil and water) of selected regions in Salahaddin governorates by using alpha-emitters registrations which are emitted form Radon gas in (CR-39) nuclear track detector. The first part is concerned with the determination of Radon gas concentration in soil samples, results of measurements indicate that the highest value of Radon concentration in soil samples was found in (Takreat) region which was (100.75±11.25 Bq/m³), while the lowest of Radon concentration was found in (Al-Faris) region which was (45.25±15.75 Bq/m³) with an average value of (77.07±12.6 Bq/m³), the present results show that the Radon gas concentrations in soil is below the allowed limit from (ICRP) agency which is (200 Bq/m³). The second part is concerned with the determination of Radon gas concentration in water samples which are from stream channel in this areas, the results of measurements indicate that the highest value of Radon concentration in water samples was found in (Takreat) region which was (0.46±0.11 Bq/L), while the lowest one was found in (Al-Alim) region which was (0.24±0.10 Bq/L), with an average value of (0.333±0.5 Bq/L), the present results show that the Radon gas concentrations in water is below the allowed limit from (ICRP) agency which is (0.5994 Bq/L). In addition to the Radon gas concentrations, we have calculated the Radon exhalation rate in soil samples and the annual effective dose in water samples.

Keywords:  environment (soil and water), Radon gas, solid state nuclear track detectors (CR-39).