No abstract

Natural radioactivity is common in the environment. As well as in geological formations such as soil, rock, air, water and plants. Which required extensive researches in many countries are due to the global interest in exposure to natural radioactivity. Ten different samples of milk collected from Iraqi markets were evaluated for concentration of alpha radioactivity (uranium concentration, effective radium content and radon concentrations) using CR-39. After exposure, the detectors were etched in a (NaOH) solution of normality (6.25 N) at a temperature of 70 °C for 8 hours. The tracks were calculated by the microscope track-counting system. At a rate of 0.171 ppm, uranium concentrations ranged between 0.079 – 0.263 ppm. While, the effective radium content varied from 53.724 - 178.47 mBq/kg with an arithmetic rate of 116.096 mBq/kg. The variation of the radon exhalation values for the mass unit and for the area unit was also observed between 0.406 - 1.349 mBq/kg.h and 3.076 -10.217 mBq/m 2.h, at a mean rate of 0.943 mBq/kg.h and 6.646 mBq/m2.h, respectively. The average of annual average internal effective dose (AAIED) due to ingestion of 222Rn in milk samples in children and adults has been found 0.60 nSv/y and 0.2 nSv/y respectively, there are excellent correlation between radium concentrations and radon exhalation rate and uranium concentration(R2=1). Thus, the results of this study do not constitute a health hazard to the lives of people because they are within the limits allowed internationally.