Ibn Al-Haitham International Conference for Pure and Applied Sciences (IHICPS) IOP Publishing

Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1879 (2021) 032051 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1879/3/032051

Measurement the natural radioactivity and Hazard Indices of

Milk Powder Consumed in Iraq

Auras M. Omron1, Taghreed K. Hameed 2, saba J. hasan 2, Mahmood S. Karim2

1
Department of Physics, College of Education, Karbala University1
2
Department of Physics, College of Education, Al-Mustansiriyah University2

E-mail: Mahmood_msc74@yahoo.co.uk

Abstract. In the present work, the specific activity of different types of milk powder samples
from various foreign origins in the local markets was studied. For this purpose, (HPGe) detector
was used. The results showed that Miedo sample (Jordanian origin) had the highest quantities of
AU, ATh and Ak equal to respectively (18.690, 25.070 and 183.500) Bq/kg respectively. All the
specific activity and parameters are less than their corresponding allowed limits, and hence no
health risk they possess.

Keywords: milk powder samples, specific activities, (HPGe) detector.

1. Introduction
Radionuclides in air or water may also input food chain. For instance, plants are capable of absorbing
radionuclides from water in the same way of absorbing different minerals. When humans and animals
drink water, some of the radionuclides in the water will remain in their bodies. Radionuclides from air
may settle on the surface of plants. When animals consume the plants, they ingest the radionuclides that
have settled from air or have been absorbed from the water. Animals and plants that will eventually be
food for humans thus provide a pathway for radionuclides to move via the environment to humans [1].
Milk products and milk are important components of diet in many countries. Milk is one of the few
foods produced over large areas and collected on a daily basis. Its composition is almost identical all
over the world, and it is easy to collect a representative specimen that can be analyzed in dried or liquid
forms [2]. Milk is likely to be contaminated by radioactive. Contamination of milk can be greatest when
cows are grazing, but even if cows are kept indoors, contamination of milk may also occur by means of
inhalation of radionuclides [3].

2. Experimental part

2.1. High purity germanium system (HPGe)

In the present study, (HPGe) detector with energy resolution of (2.6 keV) at energy (1332.6 keV) for
60
Co and efficiency of 40% was used. The high purity N-type semiconductor detector with (3×3) inch
was used to study the characteristics of geometry closed end coaxial. (HPGe) detector is kept cold by
immersing it in a liquid-nitrogen vessel at (-196°C) to reduce the leakage current to the acceptable levels.

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Ibn Al-Haitham International Conference for Pure and Applied Sciences (IHICPS) IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1879 (2021) 032051 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1879/3/032051

The detector is surrounded by lead shield of about 10 cm thickness in order to reduce the background
radiation.

Figure 1. (HPGe) system

2.2. Radiation Hazard indices Calculation

activity concentrations[5]:
NET
A=
 * I * m * t
NET: net peak area under the specific peak corrected for the background
A: activity concentrations of the sample with unit Bq/kg,  : Energy efficiency,
m: mass of sample (kg), t: measurement time (7200 sec.).
Radium Equivalent (Raeq)[5]:
Raeq (Bq/kg) = (1.43ATh) + (0.077AK ) + (AU)
Where:
AU, ATh and AK are the specific activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 respectively.
2.2.3 Absorbed Dose Rate (DƔ) [6]:
Dɣ (nGy/h) = 0.604ATh + 0.462AU + 0.0417AK

Annual Effective Dose Equivalent [7]:

(AED) in (mSv/y)= Dɣ (nGy/h)×10-6×8760 h/y×0.80×0.7Sv/Gy
(AED)out (mSv/y)= Dɣ (nGy/h)×10-6×8760 h/y×0.20×0.7Sv/Gy
External (Hex) and Internal (Hin) Hazard Indices [8]:
AU ATh A
H in = + + K ≤1
185 259 4810
A A A
H ex = U + Th + K ≤ 1
370 259 4810
Activity gamma Index (Iɣ) [9]:
AU A A
Iγ = + Th + K
300 200 3000

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 Ibn Al-Haitham International Conference for Pure and Applied Sciences (IHICPS) IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1879 (2021) 032051 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1879/3/032051

3. Results and Conclusions

The aftereffects of the present work were outlined in Table 1. The most elevated estimation of AU,
ATh and Ak was found in Nido sample (Jordanian origin) to be (18.690, 25.070 and 183.500) Bq/kg
respectively. While, the lowest estimation of AU, ATh and Ak was found in Ancor sample (New Zealand
origin) to be (9.420, 10.190 and 76.260) Bq/kg respectively. Figure (2) shows the average estimation of
(20.785±3.6 Bq/kg and 24.695±3.3 Bq/kg), respectively. The present outcomes have demonstrated that
the estimations of AU, ATh and Ak in fertilizer samples were less than the recommended values of (35,
30 and 400) Bq/kg respectively [10].
The most elevated estimation of the parameters [Raeq, DƔ, (AED) in, (AED) out, Hin, Hex and Iɣ] was found
in Ancor sample to be (29.864 Bq/kg, 13.687 nGy/h, 0.067 mSv/y, 0.017 mSv/y, 0.106, 0.081 and 0.108)
respectively. While the lowest estimation of the parameters [Raeq, DƔ, (AED)in, (AED)out, Hin and Iɣ] was
found in Nido sample to be (68.670 Bq/kg, 31.429 nGy/h, 0.154 mSv/y, 0.039 mSv/y, 0.236, 0.185 and
0.249) respectively, and with an average estimation of (49.025 Bq/kg, 22.411 nGy/h, 0.11 mSv/y, 0.027
mSv/y, 0.167, 0.132 and 0.178) respectively. All the values of the specific activity and parameters were
less than their corresponding allowed limits, and hence no health risk is considered.

Figure 2. Specific activity of (238U, 232Th and 40K) for all studied milk powder samples

Table 1. Specific activities of 238U, 232Th and 40K with some other parameters [Raeq , DƔ,(AED) in,(AED)out , Hin ,
Hex and Iɣ] in all milk powder samples

Milk Origin U-238 Th-232 K-40 Raeq DƔ Hazard index

(A.E.D)
type Indoor Outdoor Hin Hex IƔ
Ein Eout

Dielac UAE 14.64 18.43 103.52 48.966 22.212 0.109 0.027 0.172 0.132 0.175
Nactalia France 12.33 15.65 113.83 43.474 19.896 0.098 0.024 0.151 0.117 0.157
Nido Nethorland 14.45 16.42 161.45 50.362 23.326 0.114 0.029 0.175 0.136 0.184
Ancor New 9.42 10.19 76.26 29.864 13.687 0.067 0.017 0.106 0.081 0.108
Zealand
Novielac Germany 9.83 20.51 113.74 47.917 21.672 0.106 0.027 0.156 0.129 0.173
Al- Oman 13.43 18.62 132.92 50.291 22.994 0.113 0.028 0.172 0.136 0.182
Mudhish
Sunny France 9.43 16.35 117.25 41.839 19.121 0.094 0.023 0.138 0.113 0.152
Guigoz Feliben 15.13 21.14 125.89 55.054 25.008 0.123 0.031 0.190 0.149 0.198

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Ibn Al-Haitham International Conference for Pure and Applied Sciences (IHICPS) IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1879 (2021) 032051 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1879/3/032051

Milk Origin U-238 Th-232 K-40 Raeq DƔ Hazard index

(A.E.D)
type Indoor Outdoor Hin Hex IƔ
Ein Eout

Hana Iraq 10.37 20.86 176.83 53.816 24.764 0.121 0.030 0.173 0.145 0.198
Miedo Jordan 18.69 25.07 183.50 68.670 31.429 0.154 0.039 0.236 0.185 0.249

Avr. 12.772 18.324 130.519 49.025 22.411 0.110 0.027 0.167 0.132 0.178
Min. 9.420 10.190 76.260 29.864 13.687 0.067 0.017 0.106 0.081 0.108
Max. 18.690 25.070 183.500 68.670 31.429 0.154 0.039 0.236 0.185 0.249
Worldwide 35 30 400 370 55 1 1 1 1 1
average [10]

4. Conclusions
The results of the present work were concerning the values of the specific activity for (238U, 232Th
and 40K) and determining the parameters [Raeq, DƔ, (AED)in, (AED)out, EAD, Iɣ, Hin and Hex]. All the above
values were found to be lower than their corresponding allowed limits.

References
[1] Raymond L 1989 Understanding Radioactive Waste 3rd ed (Columbus: Ohio- Battelle Press).
[2] Marth E H 1978 Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products, Fourteenth Edition,
(Association: Washington- American Public Health Association).
[3] Vosniakos F Moumtzi A Kesidou A Ganatsios S Bizopoulos A and
Karakoltsidis P A 1989 Aust. J. Dairy Technol 44 44.
[4] Karim M S 2015 Study of radioactivity and radon gas emanation in some Iraqi governorates
Ph.D Thesis Al-Mustansiriyah University College of Education.
[5] Karim M S 2016 International Journal of Recent Research and Review IX 1.
[6] Nashwan S 2000 Radioactive pollution and environmental sources in the province of Nineveh
Master Thesis Wassit University.
[7] El-Arabi A M 2005 Indian J. Pure Appl. Phys. 43 422.
[8] Ahmed H F Mohammed A N and Karim M S 2020 Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci.
33 19.
[9] Arman E 2007 Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 37 199.
[10] (UNSCEAR) United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 2000
Sources Effects and Risks of Ionizing Radiation (New York-United Nations).

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