DHAHIR MOHAMMED DHAHIR, AZHAR SALMAN ALI AND ALI ABID ABOJASSIM
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq
*(e-mail : ali.alhameedawi@uokufa.edu.iq; Mobile : 0964 7801103720)
(Received : May 16, 2019; Accepted : July 18, 2019)
ABSTRACT
In this study, the levels of natural radioactivity were measured in 11 selected samples of custard collected from the Iraqi market from different international sources. This study was conducted using high efficiency sodium Iodide doped Thalium NaI(Tl) detection system (3″×3″), to measure the specific activity of nuclei of uranium-238, thorium-232 and potassium-40. It was found that the radioactivity of uranium 238U ranged from 4.94±0.86 to 26.74±2.14 Bq/kg, with an average of 14.31±1.91 Bq/kg, 232Th from 1.05±0.25 to 14.34±1.41 Bq/kg, with an average of 5.76±1.28 Bq/kg and for K40 which ranged from 14.04±1.62 to 263.22±7.14 Bq/kg with an average of 116.39±24.25 Bq/kg. The radium equivalent was also calculated and found to be ranged from 10.87 to 63.62 Bq/kg with an average of 31.51±4.47 Bq/kg. The internal hazard index ranged from 0.043 to 0.244 with average of 0.124±0.016. The analysis and scheduling of the studied samples were analyzed and compared to the global average and permissible limits as recommended by international scientific agencies, and by comparing results with global values (238U=35 Bq/kg, 232Th = 45 Bq/kg and 40K = 420 Bq/kg). According to the UNSCEAR, it was found that the radiation levels of the models studied in the domestic market for most samples fell within the normal limits of the permissible limits and did not pose a radiological hazard in human consumption.
Key words :Radioactivity, gamma spectroscopy, Iraqi markets, custard, food