Estimation of radiological parameters from seasonal observations of primordial natural radionuclides in sediments of Darbandikhan Lake water resources at Kurdistan region, Northeastern Iraq

Abstract

In this study, sediments from different resources of Darbandikhan Lake were studied through 100 samples taken from spring, stream, and lake during the four seasons. The specific activity of (238U, 232Th and 40K) natural radionuclides have been measured using the Gamma Spectrometry analysis with HPGe detector. The measured average activity concentration of these radionuclides in the studied samples were (11.9 ± 1.00, 7.80 ± 1.08 and 211 ± 3.41) Bq/kg in spring; (9.23 ± 1.19, 7.66 ± 0.977 and 181 ± 3.06) Bq/kg in summer; (12.7 ± 1.52, 8.16 ± 1.04 and 188 ± 3.10) Bq/kg in autumn; (11.91 ± 1.55, 9.13 ± 1.03 and 219 ± 3.04) Bq/kg in winter. The radiological hazard indices of radium equivalent activities (Raeq), outdoor absorbed dose rate (Dout), outdoor annual effective dose equivalent (Eout), activity utilization index (AUI), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), and excess life time cancer (ELCR) were calculated. All of these radiological parameters were below the international recommended values, and hence the usage of these sediments is considered safe regarding their radioactivity.