Detection of Heat Resulting from Determining the Concentrations of some Radionuclides for Different Samples of Natural Water in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq

Abstract

The current study included the determination of the Heat Production Rate (HPR) resulting from the decay of radioactive elements ( 238 U, 232 Th, and 40 k) after determining their concentrations using the technique of collecting gamma ray’s spectrum by means of the sodium iodide detector NaI (TI). The importance of determining the heat production rate, because it has a profound effect on the surface of the earth’s crust, especially in the conditions of desertification that have swept the globe in the last two decades. To achieve the objective of the study, 30 samples of natural water were collected. These samples varied between rainwater, dams, groundwater and pure tap water to natural spring water. The results showed that the concentrations of uranium ( 238 U) ranged between 0.161-0.006 ppm and thorium ( 232 Th) concentrations between (0.462-0.110 ppm), in addition to the potassium ( 40 k) concentration between (0.23-0.023%). These values showed radioactivity levels below the safe and standard limits set by the UNSCEAR Committee. While the results showed for the heat production rate values ranged between (0.0223-0.0091), which indicates a low heat production rate that does not affect the temperature of the earth's crust within the limits of the sample sites that this study included. The results of the current study can be used to provide basic data for future epidemiological investigations and monitoring programs. In the areas under study