Title: Evaluation of radiological risk of uranium in well water in Nineveh Governorate, northern Iraq

Authors: R.B. Alkhayat; Laith Ahmed Najam; Taha Yaseen Wais; Howaida Mansour

Addresses: Physics Department, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq ' Physics Department, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq ' Physics Department, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq ' Physics Department, Faculty of Women for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract: Gamma spectroscopic technique with NaI(Tl) was used to measure uranium activity in well-water samples collected from the Nineveh Governorate in northern Iraq. The obtained results determined chemical toxic and radiological risks to humans through uranium content, either carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic, during lifetime utilisation by the population in the region. The activity of uranium ranged from 1.09 to 4.86 Bq.L⁻¹. The radiological risks for excess cancer mortality fluctuate between 4.09 × 10⁻⁵ and 1.82 × 10⁻⁴, while those for cancer morbidity risk range from 6.26 × 10⁻⁵ to 2.79 × 10⁻⁴. The measured lifetime average daily dose ranged from 1.20 µg.kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ to 5.37 µg.kg⁻¹ day⁻¹. All samples are clearly below the recommended value (4.53 µg.kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) except sample (W12). The current research may be of imperative significance in radioactive epidemiological evaluation, diagnosis and forecast of uranium infections within the current region.

Keywords: radiological risk; lifetime cancer risk; uranium concentration; healthy water.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2023.135372

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2023 Vol.16 No.3, pp.157 - 168

Received: 02 Feb 2023
Accepted: 20 Jun 2023
Published online: 07 Dec 2023 *

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