Article

Measurement of some natural radioactive isotopes concentrations in soil samples in the northern part of West Bank − Palestine

Faculty of Science and Technology, Hebron University, Hebron, Palestine

^* Corresponding author: khalilt@hebron.edu

Received: 3 February 2024
Accepted: 18 March 2024

Abstract

In this specific study, the concentration of radon, radium content, and annual effective dose were meticulously measured and calculated utilizing solid-state nuclear track detectors (CR-39). The research was centered on soil samples extracted from diverse locations in the northern regions of the West Bank, Palestine. A comprehensive set of 40 soil samples was systematically collected from Tulkarm, Jenin, and Tubas Governorates. The average concentrations of ²²²Rn and ²²⁶Ra in Tulkarm, Jenin, and Tubas governorates were found to be 505.2 Bq/m³ and 22.0 Bq/kg; 528.4 Bq/m³ and 23.1 Bq/kg; and 515.3 Bq/m³ and 22.5 Bq/kg, respectively. Calculating the overall total average effective dose for these governorates yielded values of 17.5, 18.3, and 17.8 mSv/year, respectively. These values slightly exceed the action levels (3–10 mSv/year) recommended by ICRP-1993. It’s noteworthy that the measurements established in this study provide a foundational database of activity levels, serving as a reference for future studies assessing the potential impacts of events to come.