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Natural radioactivity levels of limestone rocks in northern Iraq using gamma spectroscopy and nuclear track detector

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Abstract

The activity concentration of radionuclides, such as 238U, 226Ra and 40K of limestone rocks in northern Iraq was measured using gamma spectroscopy. The radionuclide activities were obtained and discussed. CR-39 nuclear track detector was used to measure the radon exhalation rates as well as the effective radium contents of these samples and are found to correspond with uranium concentration values measured by NaI(Tl) detector in the corresponding limestone rocks samples. The absorbed gamma dose rates in air due to the presence of 238U, 226Ra, 40K and cosmic ray contribution varied between 105.3 and 223.11 nGy/h. The annual effective dose of each sample has been calculated. The correlation between activities of 226Ra, 222Rn exhalation rates and 238U is explained. Results show a symmetrical distribution of activity concentrations of primordial of radionuclides in selected samples. The values of all studied radionuclides are considered to be a typical level of natural background and compared with results of similar investigations carried out else where.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, College of Science, Mosul University, Mosul, Iraq

    Laith A. Najam, Firas M. AL-Jomaily & Enas M. AL-Farha

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  1. Laith A. Najam
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  2. Firas M. AL-Jomaily
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  3. Enas M. AL-Farha
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Correspondence to Laith A. Najam.

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Najam, L.A., AL-Jomaily, F.M. & AL-Farha, E.M. Natural radioactivity levels of limestone rocks in northern Iraq using gamma spectroscopy and nuclear track detector. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 289, 709–715 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1144-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1144-5

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