Mohammad Yahya R Al-Yasiri (1), Abdullah Ahmed Khalaf (2), Hadi D. Alattabi (3)
General Background: Dust storms are recurrent environmental events in dry and semi-arid regions and can transport fine particles containing naturally occurring radioactive materials with potential implications for human health. Specific Background: This study assessed uranium-238 (238U), thorium-232 (232Th), and potassium-40 (40K) in samples collected during active dust storms from five sites in Wasit Governorate and one site in Al-Qadissiya Governorate, Iraq, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Knowledge Gap: Site-specific assessment is required because radionuclide concentrations can differ according to soil type, storm intensity, and source location. Aims: The study measured 238U, 232Th, and 40K activity concentrations, evaluated possible radiological health risks, and compared the findings with published research and international standards. Results: Activity concentrations varied among locations: 238U ranged from 12.1 to 113.5 Bq/kg, 232Th from non-detectable levels to 1.58 Bq/kg, and 40K from 1125.9 to 3546.9 Bq/kg. Sample E005 from Al-Qadissiya recorded the highest 238U and 40K concentrations, while 232Th was not detected in B002 and C003. The measured levels remained below international safety limits. Novelty: The study provides a site-specific comparison of three radionuclides across storm-derived samples from Wasit and Al-Qadissiya using ICP-OES. Implications: The findings support continued environmental monitoring, health-risk assessment, and mitigation measures including afforestation, soil stabilization, and public education.
Highlights:
Keywords : Dust Storms, Iraq, Radionuclides, 238U, 232Th, 40K, ICP-OES, Radiological Health Risks.
Attiya and B. G. Jones, "A huge dust storm influenced air quality on 16 May 2022 in Baghdad City, Iraq," IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 1371, no. 2, p. 022001, 2024.
S. M. Awadh, "Impact of North African sand and dust storms on the Middle East using Iraq as an example," Atmosphere, vol. 14, no. 1, p. 74, 2023.
J. Al-Khalidi, D. Bakr, and A. A. Abdullah, "Synoptic analysis of dust storm in Iraq," EnvironmentAsia, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 13–22, 2021.
M. Al-Dabbas and R. A. Al-Khafaji, "Some geochemical, textural, and radioactive characteristics of the sandstorms loads blown over Baghdad and Ramadi cities, Middle Iraq," Iraqi Journal of Science, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 120–129, 2012.
K. K. Ali and S. J. D. Shejiri, "The radiological effects of dust storms in Baghdad-Ramadi area," Iraqi Journal of Science, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 255–262, 2019.
UNSCEAR, Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation: Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes. New York, NY, USA: United Nations, 2000.
Goudarzi, "Respiratory effects of dust storm particles on human health: A review," Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 59–65, 2016.
Y. Cao, J. Xu, Y. Chen, and Z. Wang, "Health impacts of dust storms: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Environmental Research, vol. 196, p. 110391, 2021.
ICRP, The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, ICRP Publication 103, Annals of the ICRP, vol. 37, no. 2–4, 2007.
E. S. A. Mohamed, "Natural radioactivity in dust samples and associated radiological risks," Radiation Protection Dosimetry, vol. 174, no. 1, pp. 108–116, 2017.
K. A. Hussein, A. S. Ahmed, and A. H. Al-Hamzawi, "Evaluation of natural radionuclides in dust storms in Baghdad city," Journal of Radiological Protection, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 320–333, 2021.
M. Al-Khashman, "The radioactivity of seasonal dust storms in the Middle East: The May 2012 case study in Jordan," Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, vol. 136, pp. 148–154, 2014.
H. M. Al-Zubaidi, "Assessing the radioactivity of samples taken during a dust storm in the Iraqi city of Hilla," Iraqi Journal of Physics, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 45–55, 2023.
R. Hamad, K. Kolo, and R. M. S. E. Din, "Characterization of dust storm particles and their radiological impacts in the Middle East," Science of The Total Environment, vol. 650, pp. 2682–2690, 2019.
J. P. Hagen and J. Sneddon, "Determination of copper, iron, and zinc in crayfish by ICP-OES," Spectroscopy Letters, vol. 42, no. 1, pp. 58–61, 2009.
Y. Morishige and A. Kimura, "Ionization interference in inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy," SEI Technical Review, no. 66, pp. 106–111, 2008.
X. Hou, R. S. Amais, B. T. Jones, and G. L. Donati, "Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry," Encyclopedia of Plasma Technology, pp. 655–678, 2017.
V. A. Fassel and R. N. Kniseley, "Inductively coupled plasma: Optical emission spectroscopy," Analytical Chemistry, vol. 46, no. 13, pp. 1110A–1120A, 1974.
S. Iti, "ICP-OES: An advance tool in biological research," Open Journal of Environmental Biology, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 027–033, 2020.
R. Log, "Standard operating procedure no. 30 ICP-OES analysis," Environmental Protection Agency, no. 30, pp. 1–19, 2008.