Natural radioactivity assessment around the petroleum-producing areas of The-Qar province, Iraq

The area of oil and gas production may have more noteworthy radioactivity levels, due to the disposal petroleum pipes containing sludge and scale as a technologically enhanced natural occurring radioactive material (TENORM) which leads to potential radiological and health dangers. The specific radioactivity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰ K in 124 of soil and waste petroleum samples such as sludge (from waste pit) and scale contained in the disposal petroleum pipes in the area of oil and gas production of the Thi-Qar province, southeast of Iraq were measured using the gamma-ray spectrometer. The measured samples were collected from six different locations. The average values of the specific concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰ K of all samples were less than the release level recommended by the IAEA. The highest radioactivity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰ K among the different investigated samples were 19.90 Bq/kg (sludge), 20.06 Bq/kg (soil) and 480.33 Bq/kg (soil), respectively. The obtained results have been compared with the previous works in different regions in Iraq and the world average values specified by the UNSCEAR reports. The radiological indices such as radium equivalent, external hazard index, radiation dose rate and effective dose were determined, and their values were lower than the recommended regulatory limits. Thus, this study confirmed that exposure to the natural radiation coming from the soil or any petroleum materials in the area of oil and gas production of the Thi-Qar province did not present any significant radiological hazard to the public and the workers.