Mapping of Natural Radioactivity in Soil Samples of Akashat Area in Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq

Globally, natural radioactivity in the soil of industrial areas with high background radiation is a concern for the surrounding population. Therefore, it is essential to establish a database for these areas and conduct periodic radiation surveys. In this study, natural gamma emitters such as 238U, 232Th, and 40K were measured in soil samples from the Akashat industrial area at Al-Anbar Governorate, Iraq. It was measured using gamma-ray spectroscopy with a NaI(Tl) detector “3 × 3” that was produced by the CANBERRA company, model: 802. Moreover, ten radiological hazard parameters, which include: Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), the representative level index (Iγr), Alpha index (Iα), absorbed dose rate (Dr), Annual Gonadal Equivalent Dose (AGDE), Annual effective dose equivalent (AEDEoutdoor), and Excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR), were calculated. Also, the GIS technique was used for mapping some important results under study. The results of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in unit Bq/kg were 36.67–718.84, 2.13–51.68, and 54.25–492.18, respectively. The average value of Raeq, Hex, Hin, Iγr, Iα, Dr, AGDE, AEDEoutdoor, and ELCR, in the present study, was 426.99 Bq/kg, 1.15, 2.12, 2.91, 1.80, 829.52 µR/h, 197.30 nGy/h, 1334.42 mSv/y, 0.242 mSv/y, and 0.847 × 10–3, respectively. The results show that the radiological hazard parameters exceeded the acceptable levels as indicated by UNSCEAR, OECD, and ICRP. So, the area of study is not safe because it contains a high background of natural radiation.