Soil radioactive pollution in Falluja-Iraq

Year 2018, Volume: 11 Issue: 3, 99 - 105, 15.12.2018

Muthana Shanshal Saja S Farıs Umar H Shıhab

Abstract

Applying the CR-39, Solid State Nuclear Track Detector, the radioactivity of the soil in Fallujah City was measured at the ground depths 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm respectively. The soil samples were collected during summer 2014. At the surface, 0-20 cm depth, the measured radioactivity corresponding to depleted uranium concentration of 1.12.5 ppm, showed lower values as compared with the tolerated average value of 2.8 ppm DU . The detected activity values at the 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm depths were not negligible, 1.0-2.3 ppm and 0.9-2.0 ppm respectively. The results indicate the diffusion of the radioactive material, accepted as depleted Uranium, down the soil layer within the 3 levels. Adding the ppm values at the three depths together yields radioactivity values of 3.1-6.8 ppm, which are greater than the IAE tolerated value of 2.8 ppm. The ‘accumulated activity’ represents the initial value for the contamination. The formation process dates back to the year 2005, of the 2nd Falluja confrontation. The period required for the diffusion down the soil extends over 9-10 years. The high numeric value of the radioactive contamination 3.0-6.8 ppm DU can permit us to understand the origin of the increase in cancer disease cases, women repetitive abortions, malformations and generic deformations of newly borne babies, following the year 2005, as reported by the health administrations of the city

Keywords

Falluja, Iraq, soil, radioactivity, CR-39

Falluja-Irak'ta toprak radyoaktif kirliliği

Abstract

CR-39, Katı Hal Nükleer Yol Dedektörünü uygulayarak, Felluce Şehri'ndeki toprağın radyoaktivitesi, sırasıyla 0-20, 20-40 ve 40-60 cm'lik toprak derinliklerinde ölçülmüştür. Toprak örnekleri 2014 yılının yaz mevsimi boyunca toplanmıştır. Yüzeyde, 0-20 cm derinliğinde, 1.1-2.5 ppm'lik tükenmiş uranyum konsantrasyonuna karşılık gelen ölçülen radyoaktivite değeri, tolere edilen 2.8 ppm ortalama değerine kıyasla daha düşük değerler göstermiştir. 20-40 cm ve 4060 cm derinliklerinde tespit edilen aktivite değerleri, sırasıyla, 1.0-2.3 ppm ve 0.9-2.0 ppm olarak göz ardı edilemezdi. Sonuçlar, tükenmiş uranyum olarak kabul edilen radyoaktif malzemenin, 3 kattaki toprak tabakasında aşağı doğru yayıldığını göstermektedir. Üç derinlikte ppm değerlerinin toplanması, 3.1-6.8 ppm'nin radyoaktivite değerlerini verir, bu da 2.8 ppm'lik IAE tolere edilen değerden daha büyüktür. "Birikmiş etkinlik", kirlenmenin başlangıç değerini temsil eder. Formasyon süreci, 2. Felluce çatışmasının 2005 yılına kadar uzanmaktadır. Toprak aşağı difüzyon için gerekli süre 9-10 yıl boyunca uzanır. Radyoaktif kontaminasyon 3.0-6.8 ppm DU'nın yüksek sayısal değeri, 2005 yılından itibaren, şehrin sağlık yönetimi dikkate alındığında, kanser hastalarında görülen artış, kadınların tekrarlayan düşükleri, yeni doğan bebeklerin sakat olması ve genel deformasyonlarını anlamamızı sağlayabilir

Keywords

Felluce, Irak, toprak, radyoaktivite, CR-39

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