Evaluation of Radon Concentrations in The Soil of Kirkuk City

Abstract

In the present study , the radon activity concentration in soil gas was measured at 22 different location in Kirkuk City ,NE Iraq using electric Radon meter (Rad-7) for three different depths .The results show that the emanation rate of radon gas varied from location to another ,depending on the geological formation .It was found that the highest concentration of radon is 146 Bq/m3 in location (sample S16) and the lowest concentration of radon is 0 Bq/m3 in location (sample S20 & S22 ) for depth 20 cm , for depth 40cm the highest concentration is 3330 Bq/m3 in location (sample S5) and the lowest is 16.8 Bq/m3 in location (sample S20) and for depth 60 cm the highest concentration is 12005 Bq/m3 in location (sample S8) and the lowest is 42.3Bq/m3 in location (sample S12). Annual effective dose (AED) due to inhalation was estimated from the measured radon concentration is found to be ranged from (0) to ( 0.11409552 mSv.y-1) with an average value of (0.01586594091 mSv.y-1). The AED due to inhalation were found to be within the safe limit recommended by WHO of 0.1mSv.y-1 and or far below from the reference levels proposed by ICRP of 1mSv.y-1, which revealed that the radon concentration and the associated annual effective dose does not pose any kind of health hazard to the population and tourists in the study area.