https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-026-07667-9
Regular Article
Investigating potential anomalies, environmental implications, and a radiological risk assessment of natural radioactivity in soil from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
1
Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Raparin -Rania, Kurdistan Region, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
2
Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
3
Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Erbil, Iraq
4
Medical Laboratory Techniques, Erbil Medical Technical Institute, Erbil Polytechnic University, Kurdistan Region, Erbil, Iraq
5
Directorate of Scientific Research Center, University of Raparin-Rania, Kurdistan Region, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
a
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Received:
21
January
2026
Accepted:
8
April
2026
Published online:
25
April
2026
Abstract
This study investigates the natural radioactivity levels in soil samples and evaluates the associated radiological risks in the Qaladiza district, Kurdistan region, Iraq. A total of sixty-one soil samples were collected from nine locations and categorized into three groups (A, B, and other sites). The samples were analyzed using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector to determine the activity concentrations and estimate potential radiological hazards. The mean activity concentrations were found to be 72.77 ± 3.20 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 26.43 ± 0.69 Bq kg−1 for 232Th, and 312.20 ± 4.96 Bq kg−1 for 4⁰K in site A. In site B, the mean levels of activity concentrations were 51.31 ± 2.81 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 29.31 ± 0.84 Bq kg−1 for 232Th, and 402.37 ± 5.51 Bq kg−1 for 4⁰K. At other sites, averages were 29.66 ± 2.25 Bq kg−1, 14.54 ± 0.51 Bq kg−1, and 244.45 ± 4.98 for 226Ra, 232Th, and 4⁰K, respectively. The average activity of 226Ra in both sites A and B exceeded the global average. The average values for radium equivalent, annual effective dose, and external and internal hazard indices were all within international safety limits. However, absorbed dose rates at site A exceeded the global average. The average of the excess lifetime cancer risk was below the global benchmark but several samples within A and B sites exceeded threshold values. The average value of annual equivalent gonadal dose was higher than the worldwide limit at A and B sites. This work emphasizes the possible radiation risk related to natural radioactivity concentrations in the soil of Qaladiza regions to evaluate precious facts for safety and public health.
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-026-07667-9.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
