Natural and artificial radioactivity levels in the agricultural soil of lands near the Al-Kasak oil refinery, northern Iraq

Abstract

Using a high-purity germanium detector (HPGe), the natural and artificial radioactivity in soil samples taken from agricultural regions near the Al-Kasak oil refinery were examined. According to estimates, the average specific activities of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs were 20, 15, 283, and 3.6 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively. The specific activities of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs in the soil samples were comparatively lower than the average values of these radionuclides worldwide. The investigation also analyzed several radiological hazard indices. The hazard indices calculated in this study were utilized to assess the potential health risks associated with radiation in the soil. The results indicate that these indices are significantly below their permissible limits. Therefore, the soil in the study area does not pose any excessive radiation exposure to the inhabitants and can be safely used as construction material without presenting an immediate radiological threat to the public.