An investigation of activity concentration of 238U, 232Th, 137Cs and 40K radionuclides in drinking water resources in Iraqi Kurdistan region-Erbil

Abstract EN

The radionuclide concentrations in the drinking water from two categories of water resources, i.e., underground water (spring and well waters) and surface water from Erbil-governorate(Kurdistan region-Iraq), were estimated by using well calibrated NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometry.

Drinking water samples were collected during the dry seasons, from July to November 2015.

The activity concentration due to 238U, 232Th, 137Cs and 40K radionuclides in 25 drinking water samples were measured.

The average activity concentration were found to be ranged from (ND to 2.95) Bq/l for 238U, (0.06 to 0.24) Bq/l for 232Th, (0.01 to 0.14) Bq/l for 137Cs, and (0.29 to 2.32) Bq/l for 40K respectively.

The average annual effect dose for different age groups were calculated and was found to be lower than the ICRP safe limit which is 1 mSv/y.

The morbidity and mortality risk level were also calculated and the average values were low compared to the acceptable limit of 1.0x10-3