Measuring of ²²²Rn gas concentration and mapping in Al-Najaf soil samples

Abstract

Lung cancer may be caused by extended exposure to high amounts of radon gas, with the estimated yearly effective dosage from inhaling the gas being around 55% of the natural public exposure dose rate. In the present work, radon-222 (222Rn) gas measurements were carried out in soil samples at depth 40 cm for Al-Najaf city using RAD-7 detectors that produced from DURRIDGE (made in USA). Measurements were carried out from Augst 2024. The annual effective dose (Dinh) in soil due to radon gas concentrations that inhalation by the public was calculated. The results of radon concentration in thirty-five regions in Najaf city ranged 193.9±3.5 Bq/m3 to 6405± 20.0 Bq/m3. The maximum value of the annual effective dose calculated in Al-Saad District was 6.76 mSv/y. and the minimum value found in Al-Ulama District was 0.2 mSv/y. From the results, it follows that all of these radon concentrations and Dinh in soil samples are below 10 kBq/m3 and 10 mSv/y, respectively which it was considered low risk. Moreover, it was establishing a radon gas map to reference the following studies using GIS technology.