Evaluation of radiological risk of uranium in well water in Nineveh Governorate, northern Iraq
R.B. Alkhayat, Laith Ahmed Najam, Taha Yaseen Wais, Howaida Mansour
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.