Radiological Assessment and Health Risk Analysis of Natural Radionuclides in Surface, Groundwater, and Tap Water of Al-Rifai District, Southern Iraq

Authors

  • zahraa Salman Unversity of Sumer
  • Bahaa. H. Abbas University of Sumer

Keywords:

Natural radioactivity; Water quality; Gamma spectrometry; Radiological hazard indices; NaI (Tl) detector; Iraq.

Abstract

    This study investigated the levels of natural radionuclides and evaluated the associated radiological health risks in different water resources collected from Al-Rifai District, Dhi Qar Governorate, Southern Iraq. A total of river water, groundwater, and treated tap water samples were analyzed using gamma-ray spectrometry equipped with a NaI (Tl) scintillation detector. The activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides including 238U, 232Th, 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K were determined and compared with internationally recommended limits.The measured activity concentrations ranged from 0.97–2.25 Bq/L for 238U, 0.90–2.25 Bq/L for 232Th, 0.58–1.32 Bq/L for 226Ra, 0.066–1.25 Bq/L for 228Ra, and 11.40–40.30 Bq/L for 40K. Groundwater samples exhibited relatively higher radionuclide concentrations compared with river and tap water samples, reflecting the influence of geological formations and water-rock interactions. Several radiological hazard parameters were calculated, which is significantly lower than the globally accepted limit recommended by international radiological protection agencies. The obtained results demonstrate that all investigated water sources are radiologically safe for human consumption and do not pose significant environmental or long-term health hazards to the local population.

Author Biography

  • Bahaa. H. Abbas, University of Sumer

    Dear Editor-in-Chief,
    I am writing to submit our original research manuscript entitled "Radiological Assessment and Health Risk Analysis of Natural Radionuclides in Surface, Groundwater, and Tap Water of Al-Rifai District, Southern Iraq" for consideration for publication as a full-length research article in [ Sumer Journal for pure]
    This study was co-authored by Zahraa S. Flaih and Bahaa H. Abbas, from the Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Sumer, Iraq.
    About the Study:
    This research focuses on evaluating the levels of naturally occurring radionuclidesU-238, Th-232, Ra}, Ra-226,Ra-228, and K-40 in various water resources (river water, groundwater, and treated tap water) in Al-Rifai District, Dhi Qar Governorate, using gamma-ray spectrometry. In addition, several radiological hazard parameters were comprehensively evaluated, including the Radium Equivalent Activity (Ra_{eq}), Absorbed Dose Rate (D_\gamma), Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), Internal and External Hazard Indices (H_{in}, H_{ex}), and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR).
    Key Findings:
     The groundwater samples exhibited higher radionuclide concentrations due to geological formations and water-rock interactions.
      Crucially, all calculated hazard indices—including the average ELCR (0.5986  10^-4)—remained significantly lower than the globally accepted limits set by international radiological protection agencies (such as UNSCEAR and ICRP).
     The findings conclusively demonstrate that the water sources in this region are radiologically safe for human consumption and do not pose long-term environmental or health risks.
    Significance & Relevance to the Journal:
    We believe this manuscript falls perfectly within the scope of [Sumer Journal for pure Science] as it provides a vital baseline radiological dataset for environmental protection, radiation hygiene, and water quality monitoring in Southern Iraq. This data will be highly valuable to researchers and policymakers working on environmental radioactivity and public health tracking.
    We confirm that this manuscript is original, has not been published previously, and is not currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. All authors have approved the submission.
    Thank you very much for your time and for considering our work. We look forward to hearing from you regarding the peer-review process.
    Sincerely,

     

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Published

2026-08-09

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Physics