Assessment of the Natural Radioactivity Levels of Soil Samples in IT1 Oil Reservoirs in Kirkuk City, Northeast Iraq

Abstract

In this study, gamma-ray spectrometry with an HPGe detector was used to measure the specific activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in soil samples collected from IT1 oil reservoirs in Kirkuk city, northeast Iraq. The “spectral line Gp” gamma analysis software package was used to analyze the spectral data. ²²⁶Ra specific activity varies from 9  0.34 Bq.kg^-1 to 17  0.47 Bq.kg^-1. ²³²Th specific activity varies from 6.2  0.08 Bq.kg^-1 to 18  0.2 Bq.kg^-1. ⁴⁰K specific activity varies from 25  0.19 Bq.kg^-1 to 118  0.41 Bq.kg^-1. The radiological hazard due to the radiation emitted from natural radionuclides in soil samples was also assessed. The average values of the radium equivalent (Ra_eq), external hazard index (H_ex), internal hazard index (H_in), gamma index (I), absorbed dose rate (D), outdoor (AEDE_out) and indoor (AEDE_in) annual effective dose equivalent were 35.391 Bq.kg^-1, 0.095, 0.128, 0.253, 16.118 nGy.h^-1, 0.0197 mSv.y^-1, and 0.0790 mSv.y^-1, respectively. All values obtained for the activity concentrations for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K and the radiological hazard were lower than the global values. This indicates that no harmful radiation effects are posed to the population who work and live near the study area.