Natural Radioactivity Levels in Healthy and Groundwater Samples of Al-Manathera Region of Al-Najaf, Iraq

Abstract

In this study, the specific activity of the radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K
was determined in groundwater samples and potable water in Al-Manathera, Al-Najaf
governorate, Iraq. The study was carried out using an NaI(TI) scintillation detector of
gamma spectroscopy of "3×3" dimensions. The concentrations in Bq/l of 238U, 232Th and
40K have average values of 8.3±1.2, 1.9±0.4 and 57.4±5.7 for the groundwater and
0.6±0.10, 0.07±0.02 and 2.7±0.50 for the potable water. At the same time, another effective
dose of ingested water (EDIW) was also calculated in three age groups for the current
study. These groups of age include infants (≤ 1 y), children (2 – 17y) and adults (> 17y). As
for the comparison with global standards and international limits by WHO2011, ICRP 1991
and WHO 2000, we found that the calculated values for groundwater were over the
standardized global limits, but those for potable water were within those limits. This is to
say that the EDIW, in addition to the activity concentration s that are within the
international limits, were set by the previously mentioned organizations and can be safely
consumed. Their consumptions, however, do not pose a threat or a biohazard to their
respective cities. On the other hand, consuming groundwater can negatively affect the city's
population where the study was conducted.

Keywords: Radionuclide, Effective dose, Drinking water, Al-Manathera.