210Po and 210Pb radioactivity levels in local and imported tobacco used in Palestine and Jordan.

This study aimed to assess the concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb in various tobacco samples from Palestine and Jordan. Cigarette smoking is recognized as a significant contributor to the radiation dose received by individuals, primarily due to the elevated levels of 210Pb and 210Po found in tobacco. The analysis revealed that the average concentrations of 210Po in locally sourced tobacco and cigarette samples in Palestine are 16.8 ± 2.3 mBq/g and 18.5 ± 2.0 mBq/g, with a total average of 17.8 ± 7.4 mBq/g (15.5 mBq/cigarette). Similarly, the average concentrations of 210Pb in these samples are 18.5 ± 2.6 mBq/g and 20.3 ± 2.2 mBq/g, with a total average of 19.6 ± 8.1 mBq/g (17.0 mBq/cigarette). In Jordan, the average concentrations of 210Po in cigarette samples and narghile tobacco are 20.1 ± 2.4 mBq/g and 18.3 ± 4.1 mBq/g, with a total average value of 19.6 ± 9.9 mBq/g (18.0 mBq/cigarette), while the average concentrations of 210Pb are 22.2 ± 2.6 mBq/g and 20.2 ± 4.5 mBq/g, with a total average value of 21.6 ± 10.8 mBq/g (19.9 mBq/cigarette). The annual effective doses resulting from inhalation were calculated for smokers of these samples. The findings revealed that the levels of 210Po and 210Pb radioactivity in certain investigated samples exceeded the results of studies in many countries of the world. The associated effective doses per year from smoking for all brands products in Palestine range from 34.7 µSv/y to 186.5 µSv/y with an average of 109.5 µSv/y, while in Jordan 54.5 µSv/y to 289.1 µSv/y with an average of 130.9 µSv/y.

Determination of the radiation dose from radon ingestion and inhalation in different types of drinking water samples collected from Bethlehem province -Palestine.

The objective of this study is to investigate the levels of radon gas and increase public awareness of its hazards to health in Bethlehem governorate- Palestine. The concentrations of radon-222 and radium- 226 in 79 different types of water samples were measured. The average values of radon and radium concentrations in tap water, rainwater, groundwater, and mineral water samples were 0.93 Bq/ℓ and 45.5 Bq/kg, 1.01 Bq/ℓ and 49.3 Bq/kg, 1.21 Bq/ℓ and 59.3 Bq/kg, and 0.60 Bq/ℓ and 29.2 Bq/kg, respectively. All the measured radon concentrations in the collected samples were within the limit of 11 Bq/ℓ established by UNSCEAR in 1982. The annual effective doses for ingestion and inhalation due to radon in water were calculated for adults, children, and infants using parameters introduced by UNSCEAR in 2000. The results show that there is no significant risk to public health from radon inhalation or ingestion through drinking water in the study region.

Determination of radon exhalation rates in soil samples using sealed can technique and CR-39 detectors.

BACKGROUND: In this study, the so-called sealed can technique dosimeters have been used to determine the radon exhalation rates in soil samples collected from different sites in Bethlehem region- Palestine. METHODS: For the measurement of radon concentration emanated from these samples, alpha-sensitive, Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD's) have been used. A total of 82 soil samples were collected simultaneously. RESULTS: It was found that the radon concentrations in these soil samples varied from 19.1 Bqm-3 to 572.9 Bqm-3 with an average value of 145.0 Bqm-3. The radon exhalation rate in these collected samples also varied from 6.9 mBqm-2 h-1 (0.26 mBqkg-1 h-1) to 207.2 mBqm-2 h-1 (7.84 mBqkg-1 h-1) with an a total average value of 52.2 mBqm-2 h-1 (1.97 mBqkg-1 h-1). CONCLUSIONS: All the values of radium content in all samples under test were found to be quite lower than the corresponding the global value 30 Bqkg-1. The present results show that the radon concentration and the resulting doses in all soil samples are below the allowed limit from ICRP. The radiological health implication to the population that may result from these doses is found to be low. The measurements have been taken as representing a baseline database of values of these radionuclides in the soils in the area. The results were compared with national and worldwide results.

Measurement of (222)Rn concentration levels in drinking water and the associated health effects in the Southern part of West Bank - Palestine.

Radon concentration and annual effective doses were measured in drinking water in the Southern Part of West Bank - Palestine, by using both passive and active techniques. 184 samples were collected from various sources i.e. tap water, groundwater, rain waters and mineral waters. It is found that the annual effective dose resulting from inhalation and ingestion of radon emanated from all types of drinking water is negligible compared to the total annual effective dose from indoor radon in the region. Results reveal that there is no significant public health risk from radon ingested and inhalation with drinking water in the study region.