Measurement of Radioactivity Levels and Assessment of Radiation Hazards for Plants Species Grown at Scrap Yard (B) at Al-Tuwaitha Nuclear Site (Iraq)

Abstract

Samples of flowered grasses, herbs and jungles were collected from scrap yard (B) at Al-Tuwaitha Nuclear Site and analyzed in the laboratory using gamma-ray spectroscopy system. The activity concentrations for radionuclides grown on the studied area were found to be ranged from 1.05 to 5.45 Bq/kg (average 2.86 Bq/kg) for 226Ra, below detection limit (BDL) to 1.4 Bq/kg (average 0.16 Bq/kg) for 232Th, 483.2 to 595.7 Bq/kg (average 528.33 Bq/kg) for 40K, and BDL to 1.15 Bq/kg (average 0.35 Bq/kg) for 235U. No radionuclides of artificial origin (such as 137Cs) were detected in any of the analyzed samples. Gamma absorbed dose rates (D), radium equivalent activities (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), and internal hazard index (Hin) were calculated and found to be considerably lower than their corresponding allowable limits and worldwide average values. Accordingly, it was found that natural radioactivity levels for the investigated plants species grown at the studied area pose no significant radiological threat to human health or the environment.