A Study of Carcinogenic radioactive Materials around the Residential Areas Near the Stores of Fertilizer and Pesticides, Aljazeera Agricultural Project using Gamma-ray Spectrometry

Abstract

This study showed that the evaluation of radiological risk factors due to terrestrial radionuclide's in soil, about the stores of pesticides and fertilizers for Aljazeera agricultural project in Alhassahisa, Sudan, The problem was the spread of cancers and chronic diseases due to the widespread spread of radioactive materials in the Hasahisa area and the nearby places, which led to the pollution of the environment on a large scale due to the use of fertilizers and agricultural pesticides in the agricultural soil, to address the issue of the natural radioactivity of this area. Hence, levels of 226Ra, 232Th, 228Ra, 40K and 137Cs in the soil were calculated (by using (gamma-ray spectrometry), and then the radiation risk parameters were calculated. its including radioactivity concentration Bqkg-1, absorbed dose D, and effective annual dose E, its due to inhalation of radon (222Rn) and consumption of potassium (40K), radium (226Ra), radium (228Ra), thorium (232Th) and mean activity concentrations The norms for the five primitive radionuclides were, respectively, 268.98 ± 5.22, 14.54 ± 0.2, 15.31 ± 1.54, 20.45 ± 0.96, and 0.34 ± 0.19 Bq kg-1. This results somewhat normal distribution of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. The results obtained indicate that some radiation risk factors appear to be unfavorable. The mean average absorbed dose (30.54 ± 2.71) nGyh-1 was a slightly normal distribution of the average value of 30.54 nGyh-1, and the Average annual effective dose E (µSVyear-1) (37.48 ± 3.32).) Svyear-1 was a slightly normalized distribution of the value of SVyear-1its compared with the data of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Radiation hazard parameters were was computed. These include excess lifetime cancer risk, annual gonadal dose equivalent hazard index, radium equivalent activity and external hazard. Obtained result indicates that some of the radiation hazard parameters, the average value excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) 0.12 × 10-3 μSv, were found to be lower than the UNSCEAR reported value of 0.29 × 10−3 μSv (UNSCEAR 2000), and that of average annual gonadal dose equivalent hazard index 214.59 µSvyear-1, the average value of AGDE in the region is the lower than worldwide average of 300 μSvy-1 (UNSCEAR 2000). the average radium equivalent Raeq (Bqkg-1) 64.3 Bqkg-1. The average external hazard index (Hex) 0.18, the calculated Hex values for all the samples were found to be below unity, which does not cause harm to the populations of the investigated region. Radiation hazard parameters due to terrestrial radionuclide's in the soil samples were compared to the international values reported by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR, 2000) and previous studies on the region. The study focuses light on the demand to develop a comprehensive program for radiation protection in Sudan and in agricultural projects that constantly use pesticides and fertilizers for regulatory oversight.