Jahfer Majeed Smail

The aim of this review is to establish baseline data of anthropogenic and environmental radioactivity levels in soils of the Kurdistan region before potential radiological releases from regional nuclear incidents in 2025. This review collects and analyses previous research and measurements of man-made radionuclides, such as 137Cs and naturally occurring radionuclides, such as 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K from a variety of locations in the study area. The data analysis indicates that the average activity concentrations of the detected radionuclides are typically lower than the global average levels as reported by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. The findings provide an accurate framework for assessing the safety of the environment and identifying possible future changes in soil radioactivity.

Assessing the release of radionuclides into the environment is important for protecting public health, predominantly when radioactive pollution enters the food chain. The uptake of radionuclides by plants from the soil is usually described by the transfer factor. The present study investigated soil-radish transfer factors and associated radiation risks for radionuclides ²²⁶ Ra, ²³² Th, ⁴⁰ K, and ¹³⁷ Cs in radishes grown along the Little Zab River in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector to measure radionuclide activity concentrations. The average activity concentrations of ²²⁶ Ra, ²³² Th, ⁴⁰ K, and ¹³⁷ Cs radionuclides in the soil samples are (15.1 ± 5.1) Bq kg ⁻¹ , (6.2 ± 1.4) Bq kg ⁻¹ , (296.8 ± 43.9) Bq kg ⁻¹ , and (7.3 ± 3.72) Bq kg ⁻¹ , respectively. Also, the average activity concentrations of ²²⁶ Ra, ²³² Th, ⁴⁰ K, and ¹³⁷ Cs radionuclides in the radish samples are (1.03 ± 0.06) Bq kg ⁻¹ , (0.21 ± 0.03) Bq kg ⁻¹ , (1,238.5 ± 284.9) Bq kg ⁻¹ , and (0.14 ± 0.02) Bq kg ⁻¹ , respectively. The highest observed TFs in radish samples were (0.27 ± 0.08) for ²²⁶ Ra, (0.09 ± 0.02) for ²³² Th, (6.38 ± 0.30) for ⁴⁰ K, and (0.15 ± 0.05) for ¹³⁷ Cs. The annual effective dose ingested was less than the global average value of the annual ingestion effective dose of 290 μSv y ⁻¹ by UNSCEAR (2000).

This study is an attempt to determine natural radioactivity levels in soils collected from the mountains surrounding the Koya District in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq. A portable radioisotope identifier was used for gamma-ray detection from the sampling points to avoid random sample collection. Surface soil samples were taken based on the level of gamma ray detection from the sample locations. A high-resolution detector was used to measure radionuclide content of the samples. The obtained results ranged from 11.49 to 90.32 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²²⁶Ra, 18.15 to 106.8 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²³²Th, and 51.59 to 817.9 Bq kg⁻¹ for ⁴⁰ K. Additionally, the radiation hazard parameters were calculated. The average values of absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were found to be higher than the permissible limits. The distribution of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰ K in the soils of the study area was visually depicted by spatial distribution maps. In addition, the correlation between radionuclides and radiological risk metrics was investigated using a multivariate statistical approach. The results showed that the soils of the Bawajy and Bnabawe mountains present a moderate radiation risk due to moderately high levels of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰ K.

Natural radioactivity is receiving a lot of attention worldwide due to its essential role in human health. Sugar is a generic term for sweet, soluble carbohydrates, many of which find their way into food. Therefore, measuring natural radioactivity is critical as it has a direct impact on human safety. This research analyzed natural radionuclide activity levels in 22 samples of commonly consumed sugar from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. High-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors are used in gamma-ray spectrometers. Measurements in this study showed that ²²⁶Ra activity concentrations ranged from below minimum detectable activity (BMDA) to 5.16 ± 2.55 Bq kg^-1 with an average value of 0.80 ± 0.15 Bq kg^-1. In contrast, ²³²Th radionuclide activity concentrations ranged from BMDA to 3.11 ± 1.67 Bq kg^-1 with an average value of 0.51 ± 0.10 Bq kg^-1. Also, the activity concentration of ⁴⁰K ranged from BMDA to 30.71 ± 10.77 Bq kg^-1 with a mean of 6.44 ± 2.54 Bq kg^-1. Based on these results, a radiation risk index associated with sugar intake was calculated. It was verified that the radiation exposure due to sugar consumption in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was below the permissible level of 290 μSv y^-1, and did not pose a radiation risk to public health.

The present work comprises the measurement of activity concentrations of three radionuclides, ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra, and ⁴⁰K in 33 species of vegetables commonly used in Koya district, the Iraqi Kurdistan region. The analysis of the samples was performed with high purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry. Among the analyzed samples, mushrooms presented the highest activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra (3.34 ± 1.18 Bq·kg⁻¹), ²²⁸Ra (1.24 ± 0.5 Bq·kg⁻¹), and ⁴⁰K (1481.93 ± 14.46 Bq·kg⁻¹) while legumes had the lowest levels of these radionuclides. The estimated annual effective dose from the consumption of these vegetables was computed to be 97.216 µSv·y⁻¹ and this is much lower than the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) global reference level of 290 µSv·y⁻¹. Therefore, it can be concluded that the radiological risk from the consumption of vegetables in this area is very low thus giving a reassurance to the people on the safety implication on the radiological health hazards.

This review synthesises studies from various countries that have assessed the concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in rice. Rice is a primary diet source for over 50 % of the global people, particularly in Asia. Thus, the estimation of the annual effective dose due to the ingestion of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in rice has become an important area of study in food safety and human health risk assessment. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in rice were found by gamma spectroscopy using sodium iodide scintillation (NaI (Tl)) and high purity germanium (HPGe) detectors. Even if the activity concentration of ⁴⁰K in Thailand rice is higher than 400 Bq kg^-1, the other present rice investigations demonstrate that the activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K are smaller than the world limit values of 35, 30, and 400 Bq kg^-1, respectively. Although the people of the Asia continent consume the highest rate of rice, the highest ingestion annual effective dose due to these radionuclides through consuming rice was found in Africa. It was found that the highest ingestion annual effective doses of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K from eating rice were 645.49 μSv y^-1 in Thailand, which is greater than the average value of 290 μSv y^-1 worldwide. For public health officials, researchers, and legislators who are worried about radioactive exposure from food sources, this review is an invaluable resource.

Molecular sieves are used in various industries, especially petroleum and gas processing plants, as catalysts. These materials are in contact with crude oil products. After several operational years, these materials’ activities were reduced to a nonfeasible level called spent molecular sieve. Tens of tons are disposed of annually from oil and gas companies in Iraq. The paper aims to determine the kinds and amounts of toxic materials carried by the nickel oxide sulfur bed spent catalyst and then submit the suitable treatment methods, such as leaching by water, base solution, and acid solution. Aradioactive test was first done to ensure the material was free from the radioactivity array. The material was tested for nickel oxide concentration after each step of treatment. It was found that the leaching by water reduces the content by 4.5% during 24 h of leaching and 15.5% after 7 days. The leaching by alkaline sodium hydroxide 10% concentration solution reduces the content by 7% during 24 h and 14.3% after 7 days. The 10% hydrochloric acid concentration solution leaching reduces the nickel content by 10.8 during 24 h and 65.7 after 7 days. Leaching by acid solution is more efficient in the extraction of nickel oxide. The treatment method novelty is to be carried out at reasonable temperatures with high metal extraction efficiency. The research results achieved this goal of attaining extraction at an easily achievable temperature of 70°C with a relatively good extraction rate higher than 65%.

This study investigates the activity concentration of natural radionuclides in a diverse range of food samples in the Koya district markets food baskets, including both domestic and imported products. The samples cover annual crops (e.g. coffee, tea, kidney beans), tree nuts (e.g. almonds, pistachios), and other items (e.g. beef, fish, milk) by using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. This research addresses a notable gap by providing baseline data on radionuclide concentrations and assessing potential health risks. Average activity concentrations for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were 0.943, 0.367, and 191.8 Bq kg^-1, respectively. Radium equivalent activity values ranged from 2.88-58.48 Bq kg^-1, all below the safety limit. The average excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was 0.154 mSv a^-1, indicating safety for most samples, though coffee and tea showed higher levels. This study provides new data crucial for future research and regulatory monitoring, underscoring the need for further investigation into geological impacts on radionuclide levels.

The present study is to compare the radon activity concentration in agricultural and virgin soils from various locations along the Little Zab River (LZR) in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. We conducted 24 measurements of soil samples using long tube techniques equipped with an electric radon detector called RAD7 in our research. The findings revealed that the radon activity concentrations ranged from 37.3 ± 7.52 Bq m-3 to 298.25 ± 50.09 Bq m-3 in virgin soil, and from 33.03 ± 10.85 Bq m-3 to 320.25 ± 34.62 Bq.m-3 in agriculture soil. The annual effective dose was also calculated to be from 0.94 ± 0.19 mSv.y-1 to 8.08 ± 0.87 mSv.y-1 for virgin soil, and from 0.83 ± 0.27 mSv.y-1 to 8.08 ± 0.87 mSv.y-1 for agriculture soil in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The field dose rates were measured using the RIIDEye Handheld Radiation Isotope Identifier and found to be within the range 56.8 nSv h-1 to 80.6 nSv h-1. It was observed that Agricultural soil has the highest radiation dose for humans compared to virgin soil.