Effect of Using Chemical Fertilizers on Natural Radioactivity Levels in Agricultural Soil in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Saddon Taha Ahmad Koya University/ School of Medicine/ http://koyauniversity.org Abstract: In this study, the effect of the use of chemical fertilizers on natural radioactivity levels in agricultural soil was investigated. For this purpose, virgin and agricultural (fertilized) soils were collected from Erbil city, the capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Gamma-ray spectroscopy was applied using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector to determine the activity concentrations of 226Ra, K in soil samples. The results showed that the range of activity concentrations for 226Ra, 232 Th, and 232Th, and 40K in virgin soils are (10.6-16.2) Bq/kg, (8.8-10.7) Bq/kg, and (241.8-340.9) Bq/kg, respectively, while the range of activity concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th, and K in agricultural soils are (11.9-18.2) Bq/kg, (8.8-12.4) Bq/kg, and (247.7-338.3) Bq/kg, respectively. The obtained values of activity concentration show that the application of chemical fertilizers elevated the natural radioactivity level of the soil. The radiologicalhazard parameters were also calculated in both the virgin and agricultural soil samples and compared with the international dose safety limit in the soil. Date: 18/12/2019 Place: Koya University/ SMED/ Hall no.3 |
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