Asaad H. Ismail

Measurements of Indoor Radon-222 Concentration inside Iraqi Kurdistan: Case Study in the Summer Season

Exposure to natural sources of radiation, especially 222 Rn and its short-lived daughter products has become an important issue throughout the world because sustained exposure of humans to indoor radon may cause lung cancer. Therefore, indoor radon concentration levels have been measured inside 8 government hospitals in three main regions (Erbil, Duhok and Sulaymaniya) in Iraqi Kurdistan region during summer season by using CR-39 nuclear track detector. The CR-39 detectors were placed in the all hospitals for three floors (ground, first and second). The highest average radon concentration value and annual effective dose was found to be in the Shaheed Dr. Aso hospital in Sulaymaniya city (52.89 ± 3.52 Bq. m-3 , 1.37 ± 0.09 mSv/y ) respectively and the lowest was found in the Erbil Teaching hospital in Erbil city (30.15 ± 2.85 Bq. m -3 , 0.81 mSv/y) respectively, This depended on the geological formation , type of building material, and the floor level. Therefore, the results showed that the average radon concentration and annual effective dose decreases gradually as the floor level increases The highest and lowest of annual effective dose was found in ground and second floor, respectively. Thus, according to the annual exposure dose data, the workers are safety in most of the hospitals.

Relationship between radon concentration, ventilation rate and male infertility: a case study in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The relationship between annual effective dose, ventilation rate and the rate of male infertility in selected locations in the Iraqi Kurdistan region was studied using the bedrooms of 124 homes of men whose fertilities were determined using a CR-39 nuclear track detector. The results show that there is an exponential relation between annual effective dose and the rate of male infertility, and radon concentrations in most locations which have a high rate of male infertility are increased, especially in those men with a low concentration of sperm (sperm/ml). This may be due to the ventilation rate, the structure of the houses, and variations in geological formation and in grades of uranium at different locations. The average rate of annual effective dose was 3.688 ± 0.828 mSv y−1, 2.903 ± 0.332 mSv y−1 and 2.793 ± 0.428 mSv y−1 for poor, partial and good ventilation rates, respectively. The rate of male infertility was (272.77 ± 140.90) × 10−2%, (144.05 ± 19.65) × 10−2% and (139.11 ± 17.26) × 10−2% for poor, partial and good ventilation rates, respectively. This is a clear indication of the effect of the radon concentration on male sterility, especially on the activity of sperm.

A study of indoor radon levels in Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Influencing factors and lung cancer risks

Radon alpha activity concentration has been measured in 8 public hospitals in the three main governorates: Erbil, Duhok and Sulaymaniya -Iraqi Kurdistan region during two seasons summer and winter by using CR-39 nuclear track detectors. The CR-39 detectors were placed in the all hospitals for three floors (ground, first and second). . The highest average radon concentration was found to be in the Shaheed Dr.Aso hospital (Sulaymaniya) in winter season (131.73±9.42 Bq.m -3 ) , and the lowest was found in the Erbil Teaching hospital (Erbil) in summer season (30.15±2.83 Bq.m -3 ), this depended on the geological formation , type of building material, ventilation rate and the floor level. Therefore, the results showed that the average radon concentration and annual effective dose decreases gradually as the floor level increases. The highest and lowest of annual effective dose was found in ground and second floor, respectively.

Design a Radon Exposure Technique for Risks Evaluation of Radon's Progenies Accumulation on the Platelet and Red Blood Cells

Risks evaluation of alpha particles deposition on human blood has been performed by using new exposure techniques of CR-39 NTDs. The method of distribution of alpha particles and radiation dose on the surface of CR-39 NTDs showed that human blood samples have significantly improved. Platelet (PLT), red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC) counts were found to be relatively affected. However, the most was the PLT count, which decreased with increasing radiation dose of alpha particles. In addition, comparative study of CR-39 NTDs and the human blood samples is a new technique for in vitro studies of blood ionization. In the present exposure technique, the radon concentration reduced to around 4.915 %, and thus, around 95% of the radon concentration was saved. A ratio of the deposition of alpha particles was found to be adequate to change the PLT count in both males and females. Index Terms—Human blood, CR-39 NTDs, Radon-222, Alpha particles.

THE IMPACT OF EXPOSING HUMAN BLOOD SAMPLES TO THE RADON GAS ON THE PLATELET COUNT: USING NEW EXPOSURE TECHNIQUE

In the present technique, an amount of radon gas (2210 ± 5.1 Bq/m3) is collected in a tight PVC chamber equipped with two sources of radium (5 μCi). Blood samples and the pieces of CR-39NTDs are exposed (together) to a known radon concentration for different periods of exposure. Complete blood test and the computer scanning for each piece of CR-39NTDs before and after exposure are carried out. The results show a 95% retention of radon gas in the present technique during the exposure. Thus, the present technique is considered a better technique in terms of conservation of gas, because of the low rate of loss of the gas (4.915%), and this is the advantage of the present technique: keeping the concentration of gas during periods of exposure as much as possible. Deposition of the alpha particles, which are emitted from radon daughters, has reduced the number of platelets in both gender, and this is dependent on the energies of the alpha particles. Exposure time and the energy loss of the alpha particles within the target (blood and CR-39) through the atomic displacements are considered important parameters in the changes of platelet count. At 20-minute exposure time, the rate of absorption dose is 2.255 ± 0.11 μSv and the platelet count reduces rapidly.