Health physicsPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2024-11-14DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001894
Lisa D Eckhardt
{"title":"Cosmic Radiation Exposure: A Review of Recent Research on the Incidence and Prevention of Cancer in Aircrews.","authors":"Lisa D Eckhardt","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001894","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001894","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>The author provides a literature review examining the clinical risks of cosmic radiation exposure and incidence of cancer in aircrews including pilots, flight attendants, and flight engineers or navigators. The review focuses on ionizing radiation exposure in aircrews as an occupational working group. The author will discuss the types of cancer associated with cosmic ionizing radiation exposure and the prevalence of certain cancer types noted in this population. Monitoring of ionizing radiation of aircrews in the United States is not required in 2024, which makes assessing exposure a challenge. The author also discusses associated risk factors and prevention strategies in aircrews. United States aircrews are an occupational group with known elevated exposure to ionizing radiation from natural cosmic sources, which has been linked to health risks, particularly for cancer. This occupational group is not monitored in 2024 and would benefit from occupational exams for medical surveillance and hazard awareness.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":"128 4","pages":"291-297"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health physicsPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2024-11-20DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001895
Kenneth R Foster, David Maxson, Peter M Zollman
{"title":"Waveforms of 4G and 5G Radiofrequency Signals: Are Differences Relevant to Biology or Health?","authors":"Kenneth R Foster, David Maxson, Peter M Zollman","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001895","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001895","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>This Note briefly reviews, at a level that is intended to be accessible to non-specialists, the similarities and differences between waveforms of 4G Long-Term Evolution (4G LTE) and 5G New Radio (5G NR) transmitted by cellular base stations, as a resource for health physicists and others who are engaged in public communication about cellular telephone technologies. Despite the difference in levels of controversy presently existing between 4G LTE (introduced in 2008) and 5G NR (introduced in 2019), the differences in waveform as represented by the baseband waveform are minimal, although 5G NR offers system designers a much wider choice of parameters. Transmitted radiofrequency signals in both technologies appear noise-like, in a frequency range that is narrowly contained in the assigned channel. It is concluded that the modulation differences between 4G LTE and 5G NR are unlikely to have any biological relevance, but the greater range of accessible frequencies in 5G NR suggests the need for further health research, particularly in the 5G FR2 millimeter-wave band.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":"128 4","pages":"332-336"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health physicsPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2024-11-08DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001891
Christine Karbiwnyk, Philip Stafford, Elon Malkin, Kelly Garnick, Thomas A Scott, Cong Wei
{"title":"Ionizing Radiation Dose to the Skin Assessed after Rapid Detection of 232 Th in Consumer Products.","authors":"Christine Karbiwnyk, Philip Stafford, Elon Malkin, Kelly Garnick, Thomas A Scott, Cong Wei","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001891","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001891","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>After some consumer products indicated elevated levels of 232 Th progeny by gamma-ray spectrometry, a microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) procedure was implemented for the direct assay of 232 Th content to ensure compliance with Federal regulations and guidelines. Levels of 232 Th were determined by ICP-MS based on standard calibration using a 205 Tl internal standard. The method had a method detection limit (MDL) of 0.15 Bq g -1 and a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 0.65 Bq g -1 for 232 Th, making it a suitable confirmatory method following gamma-ray spectrometry. The 232 Th activity concentration calculated from the ICP-MS results ranged from 2.0-3.4 Bq g -1 for the kinesiology tape samples and 20 Bq g -1 for the silicone ion bracelet. The VARSKIN+1.0 software program was used to calculate the shallow dose equivalent of ionizing radiation from 232 Th and its progeny from the ICP-MS results. The skin dose to the consumer wearing the kinesiology tape ranged from 0.48-1.6 mSv y -1 . The skin dose to the consumer with constant wear of the silicone ion bracelet was estimated to be 17 mSv y -1 . Although 232 Th may be determined indirectly by assay of high abundance gamma rays produced by its progeny, the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) requires the direct assay of 232 Th for confirmatory analysis. We found this ICP-MS method to be a rapid 232 Th confirmatory technique compared to a chemical separation followed by alpha spectrometry procedure.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"279-285"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142604381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health physicsPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-01-15DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001907
Stepan Ozerov, Nathan Boyle, Catalin Harabagiu, David DiPrete, Tad Whiteside, Alan Boone, William Noll, Rusi P Taleyarkhan
{"title":"Ultra-low to Moderate Radiation Level Neutron Dosimetry Measurements with H*10-TMFD vs. ROSPEC, Eberline, and Ludlum Detector Systems.","authors":"Stepan Ozerov, Nathan Boyle, Catalin Harabagiu, David DiPrete, Tad Whiteside, Alan Boone, William Noll, Rusi P Taleyarkhan","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001907","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001907","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>H*10 neutron dosimetry (unlike gamma dosimetry), requires consideration of neutron energy spectra due to the 20× variation of the weight factor over the thermal-to-fast energy range, as well as the neutron radiation field dose rates ranging from cosmic, ~.01 μSv h -1 levels to commonly encountered ~10-200 μSv h -1 in nuclear laboratories/processing plants, and upwards of 10 4 Sv h -1 in nuclear reactor environments. This paper discusses the outcome of the comparison of spectrum-weighted neutron dosimetry covering thermal-to-fast energy using the novel H*-TMFD spectroscopy-enabled sensor system in comparison with measurements using state-of-the-art neutron dosimetry systems at SRNS-Rotating Spectrometer (ROSPEC), and non-spectroscopic Eberline ASP2E (\"Eberline\") and Ludlum 42-49B (\"Ludlum\") survey instrumentation. The H*-TMFD was validated for gamma blindness using a 2.48×10 10 Bq 137 Cs source. The background dose rate in Savannah River Nuclear Solutions' (SRNS) low-scatter facility with all neutron sources withdrawn was estimated at 0.005 μSv h -1 . From moderately high radiation field tests conducted with the high intensity (1.4 × 10 9 n s -1 ) 252 Cf source and a total data collection time of ~0.15 h, the predicted dose rates from Eberline (non-spectroscopic), Ludlum (non-spectroscopic), and spectroscopic H*-TMFD instruments were found to be: ~170 μSv h -1 , ~200 μSv h - , and ~ 120 μSv h -1 , respectively. The equivalent spectroscopic (SRNS measured) H*10 dose rate from ROSPEC value is 130 μSv h -1 , within 10% of H*10-TMFD measurement. Tests conducted for ultra-low intensity radiation field used a ~ 1.6 × 10 3 n s -1 252 Cf bare neutron source for which over a collection time of ~18 h, the Eberline meter measured an instantaneous dose/count rate of 0 μSv h -1 and a pulse-integrated dose rate of 0.034 μSv h -1 at ~1 m. In contrast, the H*-TMFD panel located 0.22 m in direct line of sight of the 252 Cf source spectroscopically measured ~0.4 μSv h -1 (within +/- 5%) over 1.8 h collection live time-with which spectrum matched perfectly to that of a bare 252 Cf source. The H*TMFD predicted value of ~0.4 μSv h -1 was cross-checked and found to be within 10% of LLNL's published value of ~0.37 μSv h -1 (intensity/distance corrected via 1/r 2 law of 25.5 μSv h -1 at 1 m for a 1 μg 252 Cf source); as well as from use of ICRP 74 conversion coefficients and MCNP code simulations. As expected, for a bare 252 Cf source, H*TMFD measured epithermal neutron energy-related dose rates are well below 1% of the total dose rates. For ~0.01 μSv h -1 neutron radiation fields, ROSPEC measurements for H*10 dose rates are estimated to take 7+ d, vs. under 2 h with the H*TMFD. The feasibility of using a single CTMFD in survey mode for H*10 dose rate (nSv h - to μSv h -1 ) measurements within 2-3 min is demonstrated.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"298-319"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143058814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health physicsPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2024-09-27DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001893
Anna Brusa, Fabrizio Campi, Claudia Cavatorta, Alessandro Antonio Porta, Sofia Viganò
{"title":"Lutetium-177 Therapy in Italy: Environmental Impact Assessment in Anticipation of Its Widespread Use in Prostate Cancer Treatment.","authors":"Anna Brusa, Fabrizio Campi, Claudia Cavatorta, Alessandro Antonio Porta, Sofia Viganò","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001893","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001893","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>This article addresses the evolving state of lutetium-177 radiopharmaceutical therapies in Italy, focusing on the importance of the definition of patient management practices regarding the approved treatments based on [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE for neuroendocrine tumors and [ 177 Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Italian medical facilities are facing new challenges with the increase in the demand for such therapies while transitioning from restrictive hospitalization requirements to more flexible outpatient options. Therefore, four management strategies are described here, varying from immediate discharge after the administration to 24-h hospitalization, and their environmental and radiation safety implications are evaluated through simple models aimed at assessing the effective doses on the local population and wastewater purification plant workers. Results show that, while higher effective doses may be caused by an immediate discharge-based modality, they remain within acceptable limits, particularly when dealing with a smaller number of patients. Prolonged hospitalizations guarantee superior radiation safety levels but might not be sustainable with the expected increase in patient volumes in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"286-290"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142345586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health physicsPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2024-05-27DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001839
Chandler J Burgos, Daniel E Read, Thomas R Grier, Maruf Khan, Marc G Weisskopf, Kathryn M Taylor, Aaron J Specht
{"title":"Dosimetry Testing for a New In Vivo X-ray Fluorescence Measurement System.","authors":"Chandler J Burgos, Daniel E Read, Thomas R Grier, Maruf Khan, Marc G Weisskopf, Kathryn M Taylor, Aaron J Specht","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001839","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001839","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Lead exposure poses severe health risks to individuals, impacting cognitive function, growth, learning, and behavior. Current lead detection methods, primarily blood testing and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) of bone, have limitations. This study introduces a novel in vivo XRF measurement system using K-shell energies of lead, addressing limitations of previous methods. The study aimed to characterize beam directionality, subject radiation dose, and operator occupational exposure. Using a high-energy x-ray tube and room-temperature detectors, various parameters were assessed with bone and tissue phantoms. Dose measurements were taken by altering voltage, current, and shielding. Scatter and spatial measurements highlighted increased scatter with bone and tissue presence, emphasizing the safest positions for bystanders and operators. Results exhibited expected dose rate changes with varying parameters, showcasing the impact of bone and tissue on scatter radiation. The system's total body effective dose (with an 8-mm molybdenum shielding indicating minimal risk compared to established public dose limits) for an adult was 1.94 μSv; for a child aged 10 y, it was 3.28 μSv. This system demonstrates promising capabilities for lead exposure monitoring, offering negligible occupational exposure and minimal risk to individuals being scanned. Its safety and efficacy position it as a valuable tool in assessing lead exposure, potentially improving preventive measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":"128 4","pages":"273-278"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11864586/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health physicsPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2024-05-06DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001832
Lauren Zammerilla Westcott, Gerald O Ogola, Chet R Rees
{"title":"Protecting Our Own: A Method for Reducing Breast Radiation Exposure in Healthcare Workers.","authors":"Lauren Zammerilla Westcott, Gerald O Ogola, Chet R Rees","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001832","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001832","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Standard lead aprons do not protect the female breast adequately from radiation exposure, which has been associated with breast cancer in healthcare workers. A novel lead shield was designed to reduce radiation to the breast, axilla, and thyroid (BAT). A procedure room was simulated with an anthropomorphic phantom representing the operator. Dosimeters were positioned on the outer quadrant of each breast, the chest, the thyroid, and deep inside of a phantom acrylic female torso with neck and head. Standard lead vest plus a thyroid shield was used as control and compared to standard lead vest plus BAT shield. Three operator and two image receptor positions were tested. The reductions in radiation exposure were calculated. The standard vest plus BAT shield provided significant reductions in radiation exposure for all anatomic locations compared to control. When averaging all operator positions, the BAT provided reductions of 91% (p < 0.0001) for near breast. Reductions for far breast, chest, thyroid, and deep tissues were 76% (p = 0.016), 94% (p < 0.0001), 52% (p = 0.026), and 60% (p = 0.004). With operator 90° to the table using a cross-table lateral beam, the BAT provided a 97.7% reduction in radiation to the near breast and significant reduction in radiation to the chest, thyroid, and deep tissues. The BAT shield reduces radiation exposure to the breast, chest, thyroid and deep hematopoietic tissues. Such shields could benefit healthcare workers to reduce the risk of breast cancer and other radiation-associated cancers.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"267-272"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140860039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health physicsPub Date : 2025-03-31DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001970
Peter Medley, Matthew Wiggins, Michelle Thomas, Sarah Mullins, Pierre Bouchereau-de Pury
{"title":"Natural Radioactivity in Drinking Water Sourced from Groundwater in Central and Northern Queensland.","authors":"Peter Medley, Matthew Wiggins, Michelle Thomas, Sarah Mullins, Pierre Bouchereau-de Pury","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001970","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001970","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Determination of 210Pb, 210Po, 234U, and 238U activity concentrations in groundwater sources used for drinking water can improve confidence in ingestion dose assessments used for comparison with radiological governance guidelines, such as the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Such results can provide additional guidance information for detailed assessments where water supplies exhibit high relative concentrations of natural radioactivity. Measurements of these radionuclides, as well as the more commonly measured gross alpha and beta, 226Ra, and 228Ra activity concentrations, were undertaken for 21 water supplies in regional Queensland, Australia. Groundwater was the primary or only source for these water supplies. Dose assessment using the measured values based on the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines assumed water consumption, and estimates of actual consumption rates in the Australian population were undertaken for different age groups. The validity of assumptions underpinning screening assessments based on gross alpha and gross beta activity results and measurement of 226Ra and 228Ra were shown to be valid. The adolescent age group (14-18 y) was identified as a potential critical group for dose assessment where activity concentrations of 226Ra and 228Ra were elevated. Other radionuclides, 210Pb, 210Po, 234U, and 238U were shown to be significant contributors to overall committed effective dose in several water supplies; however, total doses in those supplies were well below the operational dose value of 0.3 mSv from the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Improved detection limits for 228Ra could improve accuracy of dose assessments from drinking water.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143752402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Radon-induced Background in X and Gamma Radiation Measurements Using Ionization Chambers.","authors":"Dobromir Pressyanov, Viola Zajonchovska, Dimitar Dimitrov","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001977","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001977","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Ionization chambers with non-sealed volumes find widespread use in monitoring x and gamma radiation. However, the accuracy of results can be compromised by the presence of 222Rn in the air. To investigate this influence, two ionization chambers, each with a 600 cm3 volume and walls constructed of air-equivalent plastic, were exposed to controlled 222Rn concentrations. Following exposure, chamber readings (expressed in units of exposure rate and air-kerma rate) were monitored for 11 d. Two components of the signal attributed to 222Rn and its progeny were identified. The first component, which dominates within the first day after exposure, arises from radon diffusion within the volume through gaps in wall joints. The second component results from radon absorption in the plastic construction materials of the chamber, persisting detectably for over 10 d post-exposure. The background induced by airborne 222Rn can be significant. Concentrations near the reference level in many European countries (300 Bq m-3) can generate signal equivalent to air kerma rate of about 1.34 μGy h-1. This could potentially lead to erroneous radiation protection decisions in radiological departments. Addressing this background can be challenging, as contributions from 222Rn concentrations in previous hours and days impact correction. It is advisable to store such chambers in locations with low 222Rn concentrations and to use construction materials for ionization chambers with low radon absorption ability.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143752403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health physicsPub Date : 2025-03-26DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001959
Ali Yahya Salman, Shaymaa Awad Kadhim, Hussain M Hussain, Fadhil I Sharrad
{"title":"Assessing the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk from Water in the Euphrates River, Najaf, Iraq.","authors":"Ali Yahya Salman, Shaymaa Awad Kadhim, Hussain M Hussain, Fadhil I Sharrad","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001959","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001959","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Water is the basic element for the continuation of human life for all inhabitants, animals and plants on Earth, and water cannot be dispensed with as it is a basis of life. This study focuses on measuring radiation to assess activity levels of some radionuclides in the waters of the Euphrates River, which is the main tributary of drinking water in Najaf, Iraq, and determining whether it is safe for health in terms of radiation. The concentrations of three gamma-emitting nuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) were measured in a section of the Euphrates River using gamma-ray spectroscopy using a 3\" × 3\" sodium iodide scintillation detector doped with thallium and connected to software version MAESTRO-32. Twenty-nine water samples were collected at regular intervals along the Euphrates River within the administrative boundaries of Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf Governorate. The Al-Mishkab branch results showed activity concentration levels of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K that are 3.182 ± 1.514, 1.572 ± 0.509, and 26.715 ± 17.082 Bq L-1, respectively. For Al-Qadesia branch, the activity concentrations are equal to 3.190 ± 1.350, 2.190 ± 1.082, and 37.135 ± 29.464 Bq L-1, respectively, which is within the maximum acceptable concentration levels recommended by the World Health Organization. The annual effective ingestion dose (EID) due to the specific activities of the three nuclides is equal to 0.311 ± 0.103 and 0.357 ± 0.144 mSv y-1 for the Al-Mishkab branch and the Al-Qadesia branch, respectively. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) values are 1.197 ± 0.395 and 1.373 ± 0.553 × 10-3 for the Al-Mishkab and Al-Qadesia branches, respectively. Therefore, the study concluded that radiation levels in the river water are a significant risk to public health because the concentrations of the studied nuclides are higher than what is globally permitted according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143709717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}