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Estimation of excess lifetime cancer risk and radiation hazard indices in southern Iraq

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Abstract

Relatively high activity concentrations of some radionuclides (226Ra, 238U, 232Th, and 40K) have been measured in surface and subsurface soils in areas (southern Iraq) where many warfare actions have taken place during the Iran–Iraq and Gulf wars. Such high activity concentrations might be related to the increase in cancerous injuries and birth defects recently reported. The study was aimed to estimate the activity concentrations of some nuclides and a comparison of results with international health hazard indices. In addition, the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was assessed. Soil samples were collected at three depths (0, 30, and 60 cm) in three locations in Abu Al Khasib and Ad Dayr in Basrah governorates. The average activity concentrations were estimated employing hyper-pure germanium HPGe gamma-ray detection technology. The values obtained in Abu Al Khasib were: 58.44 Bq/kg (226Ra), 43.56 Bq/kg (238U), 19.38 Bq/kg (232Th), and 321.76 Bq/kg (40K) whereas in Ad Dayr 45.71 Bq/kg (226Ra), 35.53 Bq/kg (238U), 20.33 Bq/kg (232Th), and 337.02 Bq/kg (40K). According to UNSCEAR (Sources and effects of ionizing radiations: a report on the effects of atomic radiation to the general assembly with scientific annexes, Annex B, United Nations, New York, 2000) report, higher levels of 226Ra, 238U concentrations than the world’s average values (35 Bq/kg) were observed in both locations. In addition, some radiation hazard indices were determined for both locations: average outdoor external dose (D out), average indoor external dose (D in), total average value of the external dose (D tot), average annual outdoor effective dose (E out), average annual indoor effective dose (E in), and averaged total annual effective dose (E tot). Values for D tot and E tot were higher than the worldwide median (143 nGy/h and 0.48 mSv/y, respectively) in both regions. The measured values of activity concentrations were also used to estimate the outdoor, indoor, and total ELCR. The ELCR values were higher than the worldwide averages. Further analyses and studies need to assess the real risks for human health and possible soil remediation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the reviewers of this paper for providing constructive comments, which have contributed to the improvement in the published version.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, College of Science, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

    R. S. Mohammed

  2. Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Alkadhimiya, Baghdad, Iraq

    R. S. Ahmed

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Mohammed, R.S., Ahmed, R.S. Estimation of excess lifetime cancer risk and radiation hazard indices in southern Iraq. Environ Earth Sci 76, 303 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6616-7

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