Radioprotection No 59-4 | Page 71

310 K . M . Thabayneh and R . J . Shawamreh : Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 4 ), 306 – 316
Table 1 . Radon- 222 concentration ( C Rn ), Radium contents ( C Ra ), Exhalation rates ( E A and E M ) and the total annual effective dose ( AED tot ) in Tulkarm Governorate- Palestine .
Site
Sample code
C Rn
( Bq / m 3 )
C Ra
( Bq / kg )
E A
( mBq m �2 h �1 )
E M
( mBq kg �1 h �1 )
Qaffin
Tuss 1
465.6
20.0
437.0
10.0
16.1
Baqa asharqiya
Tuss 2
476.6
20.8
447.0
10.6
16.5
An Nazla
Tuss 3
498.4
21.7
467.8
11.0
17.3
al-Gharbiya
Zeita
Tuss 4
701.7
30.6
658.7
15.6
24.3
Illar
Tuss 5
826.0
36.0
775.6
18.0
28.6
Attil
Tuss 6
681.0
29.7
639.0
15.0
23.6
Deir
Tuss 7
542.0
23.6
508.9
12.0
18.7
al-Ghusun ( 1 )
Deir
Tuss 8
453.6
19.8
425.8
10.0
15.7
al-Ghusun ( 2 )
Jarushiya
Tuss 9
362.9
15.8
340.6
8.0
12.6
Shwaika
Tuss 10
281.0
12.0
263.7
6.0
9.7
Bal " a
Tuss 11
377.0
16.0
354.0
8.0
13.1
Iktaba
Tuss 12
365.0
16.0
342.7
8.0
12.7
Tulkarm western region
Tuss 13
524.6
22.9
492.5
11.7
18.2
Anabta
Tuss 14
618.7
27.0
580.7
13.7
21.4
Kafr al-Labad
Tuss 15
436.1
19.0
409.0
9.7
15.1
Irtah ( 1 )
Tuss 16
474.0
20.7
445.0
10.5
16.5
Irtah ( 2 )
Tuss 17
503.9
22.0
473.0
11.0
17.5
Min
281.0
12.0
263.7
6.0
9.7
Max
826.0
36.0
775.6
18.0
28.6
Average
505.2
22.0
474.2
11.2
17.5
AED tot
( mSvy �1 ) And the total annual effective dose calculated as : � AED tot mSvy �1
¼ AEDin þ AED out : ð9Þ
4 Results
Tables 1- 3 display recorded and computed data concerning radon concentrations , radium contents , exhalation rates , and annual effective doses in various soil samples collected from the northern part of the West Bank in Palestine . These tables provide valuable insights into the radiological characteristics of the examined soil samples .
Table 1 presents the radon-222 concentrations and radium contents in soil samples collected from various sites in the Tulkarm Governorate in Palestine , along with additional information . The radon-222 concentrations exhibited a range from 281.0 Bq / m 3 ( in Shwaika site ) to 826.0 Bq / m 3 ( in Illar site ), with an average value of 505.2 Bq / m 3 . Similarly , the average radium concentrations varied from 12.0 Bq / kg to 36.0 Bq / kg , resulting in an overall average value of 22.0 Bq / kg . Additionally , Table 1 provides data on the surface and mass exhalation rates of radon-222 for the soil samples . The surface exhalation rate showed a range from 263.7 mBq m �2 h �1 to 775.6 mBq m �2 h �1 , with an average value of 474.2 mBq m �2 h �1 . The mass exhalation rate was found to fluctuate from 6.0 mBq kg �1 h �1 to 18 mBq kg �1 h �1 , with an average value of 11.2 mBq kg �1 h �1 .
Moreover , the total annual effective dose ( AED tot ) derived from these soil samples ranged from 9.7 mSvy �1 to 28.6 mSvy �1 , with an average value of 17.5 mSvy �1 . These findings offer valuable insights into the levels of radon-222 and radium observed in the soil samples collected from various locations within the Tulkarm Governorate .
In Table 2 , the data presents measurements of radon-222 concentrations , radium contents , exhalation rates , and total annual effective doses in soil samples collected from various locations in the Jenin Governorate , Palestine . The radon-222 concentrations in the collected samples exhibit a range from 116.0 Bq / m 3 at the Jenin city roundabout site to 746.0 Bq / m 3 at the Salem village site ( middle 2 ), with an average value of 528.4 Bq / m 3 . These measurements provide insight into the levels of radon-222 gases , a radioactive gas that can be present in soil , potentially posing health risks . Furthermore , the radium concentrations observed in the soil samples range from 5.1 Bq / kg to 32.5 Bq / kg , with an overall average value of 23.1 Bq / kg . Radium , a naturally occurring radioactive element found in soil and rocks , indicates the potential for increased radiation exposure .
The surface exhalation rates in the collected samples exhibit variability , ranging between 108.8 mBq m �2 h 1 and 699.7 mBq m 2 h 1 , with an average value of 496.0 mBq m 2 h 1 . This measurement indicates the rate at which radon-222 gas is released from the soil surface into the atmosphere . Additionally , the mass exhalation rates range from 2.6 mBq kg 1 h 1 to 16.5 mBq kg 1 h 1 , with an average value of 11.73 mBq kg 1 h 1 . These findings provide insights into the dynamics of radon-222