ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY AND RADIOLOGICAL HAZARD IN SEDIMENT BOTTOM OF EUPHRATES RIVER

The level of natural radioactivity has been studied in the bottom river sediments of Euphrates river course through three governorates (AL-Najaf AL-Asharf , Babylon and AL- Qadisiya).Where thirty samples from river sediments(ten samples at each governorate) were taken to laboratory for radio analysis. These spectral measurements were carried out by the use of NaI(Tl) detector that has the dimensions of (3"×3") high efficiency .The radioactivity of naturally composed radioactivity nuclide, and for natural decay series. The specific activities of the studied samples measured by units(BqKg) then the spectra of studied samples were analyzed. The specific activities in the three governorates respectively in AL-Najaf AL-Ashraf it has been found the values of 40???? varies from 324.62±3.15 to 413.29±3.8 BqKg and average value of 362.46± 4.54 BqKg . the values of 238???? from 9.51±0.53 to 20.22±0.8 BqKg and average value of 15.28± 9.92 BqKg. The values of 232????ℎ from 5.3±0.24 to 9.92±0.34 BqKg and average value 7.62± 0.26 BqKg. In Babylon the values of 40???? from 335.49±3.33 to 405.26±3.37 BqKg and average value of 381.87± 3.4 BqKg . the values of 238???? from 10.02±0.55 to 20.00±0.82 BqKg with on average value of 15.24± 0.59 BqKg. The values of 232????ℎ from 4.9±0.24 to 8.45±0.31 BqKg and average value 7.17± 0.19 BqKg. In AL-Qadisiya the values of 40???? from 303.37±3.21 to 421.76±4.06 BqKg and average value of 382.88± 9.52 BqKg . The values of 238???? from 8.15±0.54 to 23.95±0.95 BqKg with on average value of 15.46± 0.74 BqKg. The values of 232????ℎ from 8.24±0.34 to 12.63±0.39 BqKg and average value 9.97± 0.21 BqKg .The resulted average of specific activities in the three governorates were compared to the average values permitted by UNSCEAR for 40K , 238???? and 232????ℎ which are (400,32,30) BqKg respectively , and they were found to be within the permissible values. The average value of Radium Equivalent , activity concentration index, External Hazard index, Internal Hazard index , Absorbed Dose and Excess life time cancer Risk have been calculated. All of them were within permissible limits.