Measurement of Uranium Concentration in the Soil Samples South of Thi-Qar Governorate Using ICP-MS Technique
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/bsj.Vol22.Iss43.1531Keywords:
Keywords: Uranium, Soil, Plasma (ICP-MSAbstract
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-Ms) was used to determine uranium concentrations in surface soil samples taken from Twenty-three sites in the southern part of Dhi Qar Governorate, southern Iraq. Measured uranium concentrations in the Al-Tar and Karmat Bani Saeid and Suq Al-Shuyuk and Al-Fuhud area ranged from 1.1 to 3.4 parts per million (ppm) . At all studied sites, uranium levels were well below 100 ppm, indicating that the detected uranium is most likely associated with sporadic background sources or residual contamination, rather than exploitable mineral deposits. Furthermore, all analyzed samples showed uranium concentrations below internationally recommended detection and safety thresholds. According to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), the permissible concentration for uranium in soil is 11.7 ppm. The results of this study show that uranium concentrations in the topsoil of the study area are significantly lower than this limit, indicating minimal environmental and health risks associated with the presence of uranium in the investigated area.
Keywords: Uranium, Soil, Plasma (ICP-MS)
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