Measurement of Natural Radioactivity Level in Selected Phosphate Fertilizer Samples Collected from Iraqi Markets

Abstract

The Gamma-ray spectrometry (spectra line Gp) and a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector were used to determine the activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in fertilizer samples. ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K activity concentrations in fertilizers and phosphate raw. In this study the gamma index (Ig), Radium equivalent dose (Ra_eq), dose rate (D_R), external hazard index (H_ex) internal hazard index (H_in), annual effective dose outdoor (AEDout) and annual effective dose indoor (AEDin) were found. This study could serve as a starting point for figuring out how fertilizer radiation affects human health.