Dose Measurement and Cancer Risk from Natural Radioactivity in Cleaning Powders at Kurdistan Markets, Iraq

Abstract

Abstract: The Kurdistan region of Iraq has seen a rise in the use of cleaning powders due to their favorable effects on health. However, various levels of radioactive isotopes, including ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, can be found in the ore used to make some cleaning powders. Therefore, washing powder is regarded as one of the environmental sources of radionuclides and radioactivity. In this study, 25 samples of ordinary cleaning powder were analyzed to estimate the specific activities of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K using a gamma-ray sodium iodide NaI(Tl) detector. The mean activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were found to be 0.27±0.027, 1.881±0.149, and 19.213±0.899 Bq.kg^-1, respectively, which are well below the recommended values set by UNSCEAR 2000: 32, 45, and 400 Bq/kg for ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, respectively. The radiological hazard parameters determined for each sample of detergent were also found to be lower than the maximum allowable values recommended by international organizations. Therefore, cleaning powders sold in the Kurdistan region markets pose no radioactive risk to users.