This study was conducted in order to measure the levels of natural radiation in sediments of the Tigris River in the city of Mosul, in northern Iraq, using the gamma spectroscopy technique to calculate the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in the sediments, The results showed that the activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K. ranged between (6.30±0.319-13.73±0.411) Bq/kg and an average(9.86±0.385) Bq/kg for 226 Ra, and between (13.39±0.626-29.84±0.923) Bq/kg and an average of (23.05±0.838) Bq/kg for 232 Th, while potassium-40 ranged between (166.83±6.456-275.96±7.601) Bq/kg and with an average (232.91±6.456) Bq/kg All the results of these activity concentration values were less than the internationally recommended values. Using the activity concentrations of these radionuclides, radiological hazard indices were evaluated in order to determine the effects of the sediments. The calculated average value of radium-226, thorium-232 and potassium-40 are 9.86, 23.05 and 232.91 Bq/kg , respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (  D ) , annual effective dose rate(AEDE) , internal and external radiation hazard indices (H) and Gamma Radiation Level Index (  I ) were calculated to study their hazardous nature. These values obtained from the sediments were less than the recommended safe and criterion limits given by UNSCEAR. Results of the present study could serve as an important baseline radiometric data for future epidemiological studies and monitoring initiatives in the study area.

Ten samples were studied from sediments collected from the Tigris River in the city of Mosul, and gamma ray spectroscopy NaI(TI) was used in order to detect and calculate the content of natural radionuclides for all samples collected. The results of the samples analyzed for the specific activity of 226Ra ranged from 6.30±0.319 Bq/kg to 13.73±0.411 Bq/kg with mean of 9.86±0.385 Bq/kg, and for 232Th from 13.39±0.626 Bq/kg to 29.84±0.923 Bq/kg and with mean of 23.05±0.838 Bq/kg, while for 40K, it ranged from 166.83±6.456 Bq/kg to 275.96±7.601 Bq/kg and at mean of 232.91±6.456 Bq/kg. the results of the study were within the range of the recommended global values. Therefore, it can be said that the study area is safe and does not pose a threat to the residents near it. Statistical data such as skewness and kurtosis were calculated, and box plot, were applied in order to assess the distribution of radiological parameters

The effects of the environment on human exposure to radiation from naturally occurring radioactive elements have been investigated around the world. In the group of natural radionuclides under examination, the study's objective is to ascertain the distribution, potential anthropogenic origins, and activity of the radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and their radiological risk parameters in twelve soil samples taken from Rabia town in Nineveh Governorate, North Iraq using NaI (Tl) detector. For the examined region, the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K ranged from 4.79±0.211 to 21.77±0.675 Bq/kg, 11.21±0.942 to 33.57±2.185 Bq/kg, and 112.8±32.074 to 312.2±95.463 Bq/kg, respectively. The estimated radiological hazard parameters for the examined samples included the absorbed dose rate (Dair), annual effective dose equivalent (AED), gamma-ray hazard index (I), and annual gonadal dose equivalent. Furthermore, the current work revealed the distribution of radionuclides and their relationships with the mineralogical composition. Based on obtained results, this soil is safe for the population living in the study area and can be used as a building material or for other human activities without posing any radiological danger.

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