Determination of alpha radioactivity in soil samples collected from University of Kerbala, Iraq

In this study, alpha particles in 60 soil samples of the University of Kerbala (Freiha-Sites) were determined using a CN-85 detector. The results show that the average values of radon concentrations in air space, radon concentrations 222Rn in samples, annual effective dose, radium content, mass exhalation rates, surface exhalation rates and uranium concentrations were 120.82 ± 1.19 Bq/m³, 3769.71 ± 6.67 Bq/m³, 3.02 ± 0.18 mSv/y, 0.093 ± .033 Bq/kg, 0.70 ± 0.09 mBq/kg.h, 30.93 ± 0.62 mBq/m².h and 2.75 ± 0.18 Bq/kg, respectively. It was concluded that as recommended by (ICRP) and (WHO), the average values of alpha particle concentrations in this study were within safe limits and the results showed that these areas are healthy with regard to radon gas in terms of a health threat.

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