Author : Esraa Hamad Raheem

The aim of the present work is to measure the activity concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in different brands of fertilizer samples in Iraq using Germanium detector gamma spectrometry. The results of measurements showed that the mean of specific activities for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activities in the all fertilizers are 181.5, 119.92 and 2508.34 Bq/kg, respectively. With respect to NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphor and Potassium) fertilizers under investigation, the average radioactivity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are 341.73, 248.63 and 5166.43 Bq/kg, respectively. Some of radium equivalent activity is exceeding 370 Bq/kg, the maximum permissible limit for radiation dose, others are not exceeding for present samples. Average values of the natural radionuclides measured in the brands of chemical fertilizers used in Iraq are higher the range of values reported in several other countries. This study could be useful as baseline data for radiation exposure to fertilizers and their impact on human health.

Keywords: 238U, 232Th and 40K radionuclides, chemical fertilizer, environmental radioactivity

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.5, No.6 (Dec-2015)