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Mapping of natural radioactivity in soils of Kufa districts, Iraq using GIS technique

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Abstract

This work aims to detect and draw the natural radioactivity levels of uranium-238, thorium- 232, and potassium-40 in soil samples taken from Kufa districts, Najaf governorate, Iraq. The detection system used in the study is NaI(Tl) with a “3 × 3” dimension, while maps are drawn by the geographic information system (GIS). Radiological parameters in all samples of the present study due to a specific activity for 238U, 232Th, and 40K were calculated. The results of the average value with standard error in all samples of the present study for 238U, 232Th, 40K, and 235U were 6.2 ± 0.74, 6.41 ± 0.82, 278.10 ± 19.43, and 0.28 ± 0.03 Bq/kg, respectively. The specific activity of Uranium-238, Thorium-232, potassium-40, and Uranium-235 found in all soil samples were within the safety limit (33 Bq/kg for 238U, 45 Bq/kg for 232Th, and 420 Bq/kg for 40K) reported by UNSCEAR, except three samples have potassium-40 higher than the safety limit. In addition, the results of radiological parameters were all found to be below OECD and UNSCEAR safety limits. Generally, the average of specific soil activity was arranged with potassium-40 > thorium-232 > uranium-238. The results of investigating natural radioactivity and radiological parameters of soil samples from Kufa districts were radiologically safe.

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  1. Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Kufa University, Al-Najaf, Iraq

    Lubna A. Alasadi & Ali Abid Abojassim

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  1. Lubna A. Alasadi
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  2. Ali Abid Abojassim
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Correspondence to Ali Abid Abojassim.

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Alasadi, L.A., Abojassim, A.A. Mapping of natural radioactivity in soils of Kufa districts, Iraq using GIS technique. Environ Earth Sci 81, 279 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10407-8

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