Alpha radioactivity level along Tigris River sediments in Baghdad governorate area by using CR-39 SSNTD’s

Abstract

Abstract The alpha activities of sediment samples, collected from selected sites along Tigris River in Baghdad city area from January to November 2015, were measured. The measurements were based on the radon exhalation rate Bq m−1 from the sediment samples, of 10.00 g mass. It was found that the higher calculated uranium contents were observed during winter months from November to January, while the lowest one were during summer months from May to September. This difference was attributed to the nature of the sediment samples and anthropogenic activities that affected ecosystem of the river. Uranium content of the samples was increased ongoing towards south of the city due to the effects of huge human activities. The increase in water level of Tigris River during this period possibly related to the melting of snow in the Turkish mountainous region. Higher water stream can remove sediments from the river bottom; this mechanism will be partially responsible for increasing the radioactivity level at downstream of the river.

Keywords

• Tigris River sediments
• CR-39 SSNTD
• NORM
• Baghdad governorate area
• 238U
• 222Rn