APL007-1-7 Measurement of U-238 Concentrations in Soil Samples at Northern Baghdad Location

Abstract

Studying soil contamination with uranium is necessary to assess environmental and health risks to humans. Uranium concentrations were measured in the soil samples taken from the location of the College of Education, Al-Iraqia University to the north of Baghdad city using the nuclear trace detector CR-39. Uranium concentrations were measured in 10 soil samples from different sites of the location at a depth of 3 cm using the technique of counting the traces of fission fragments resulting from the fission of the uranium nucleus with thermal neutrons. Uranium concentrations were determined by calculations based on comparison with standard samples. The results indicate that the range of uranium concentrations in the soil ranged between 0.730 ppm within the Dean Office garden and the lowest concentration 0.478 ppm within the club garden at a concentration rate of 0.610 ppm. The results obtained are also less than the permissible limit (11 ppm), indicating that the soil is not radioactively contaminated.