Evaluation of natural environmental radioactivity in the soil of some schools in Baghdad Governorate, Iraq

Abstract

The study involved the collection of soil samples from several schools across the Baghdad governorate. The precise activity levels of 238U and 232Th, and 40K were between 3.2 ± 1.3 and 20.6 ± 0.2 Bq/kg, with an average of 22.1 ± 1.118.22 Bq/kg, or 122.0-4.8 Bq/kg. The outcomes of Raeq, Hex, Hin, I?, and Ia are listed in Table 2. From this Table, Raeq values range from 24.4 to 84.4 Bq/kg, with an average value of 45.35 ±3.603 Bq/kg. Additionally, the Hex, Hin, I? and Ia values range from 0.042 to 0.228, with an average value of 0.1156-0.08, from 0.049 to 0.284, with an average value of 0.1385-0.09, from 0.194 to 0.636, with an average value of 0.3289-0.02, and from 0.031 to 0.103, with an average value of 0.041-0. 015, respectively. Some schools in the Baghdad region have soil that is over the international limit for soil radioactivity, as a result, it is safe for humans to be near them.