Iranian Journal of Physics Research

Absorption dose distribution pattern and radiological risk assessment in sediments of Miankaleh international wetland, north of Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Reza Pourimani
Seyyedmohsen Mortazavishahroudi
Roushanak Ghorbani

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak, Iran

https://doi.org/10.47176/ijpr.22.4.71518
Abstract
In this study, the specific activity of natural and artificial radioactive elements was measured for 50 sediment samples collected from throughout Miankaleh wetland in northern Iran on the southeastern side of the Caspian Sea using a High-Purity Germanium detector. Also, radiological parameters and hazard indicators due to environmental gamma radiation caused by these nuclei were calculated and a distribution map of Radium equivalent activity and absorbed Dose for the whole Miankaleh wetland was drawn using GIS software. The mean specific activity of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs respectively were 16.06±1.65, 21.19±1.46, 312.37±8.17 and 4.81±0.27 Bqkg-1 that for natural radioactive nuclei are less than the global average. The highest concentration of 226Ra is related to the sediments of the estuary of the Galougah River. The results show rapid deposition of 232Th immediately after entering the lagoon. The highest concentrations of 40K and 137Cs were observed in the mouth of the Gaz River and the calm part in the central area of the wetland, respectively. The mean values of Raeq and D respectively were 70.42±4.37 Bqkg-1 and 32.73 nGyh-1, which are less than the global average. The distribution map of Raeq and D shows the high amount of these two parameters in the sediments of the southern and eastern parts of the wetland, which is due to the entry of radionuclei by the water flow of rivers of this wetland basin. In general, the amount of radioactivity expressed in terms of radium equivalent in the wetland is higher near the mouth of rivers with higher water flow. The average value for AEDEout, ELCR, AGDE, Iγ and Hex in this wetland is less than the allowable value and, in general, the results of this study show that the amount of radiation due to the radionuclei in Miankaleh wetland does not pose radiological hazards to the health of the inhabitants of this area.

Keywords

Miankaleh international wetland
environmental radiation
dose distribution pattern
radiological map
Subjects
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