Estimation of Natural Radioactivity of Some Medicinal or Herbal Plants Used in Iraq

Laith A. Najam^1*, Nada F. Tafiq², Fouzey H. Kitah³

¹Physics Department, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.
²Physics Department, College of Science, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq.
³Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.

DOI: 10.4236/detection.2015.31001                

Abstract

Nine medicinal or herbal plants used in Iraq were analyzed to determine natural radioactivity. The radionuclides were determined by Gross alpha, beta and gamma spectrometry Proportional counter + NaI(Tl) detector type(XLB5) and gamma-ray spectroscopy with (HPGe) techniques. The activity concentration of 40K ranged from 124.1 Bq/kg in (Crust sample) to 88.3 Bq/kg in (Chamomile sample), for gross alpha ranged from (N.D.) in (Flax sample) to 0.4 cpm in (Anise sample), while for beta ranged from 5.7 cpm in (Flax sample) to 25.6 cpm in (Latency sample) and for gamma ranged from 0.6 cpm in (Thyme sample) to 5.10 cpm in (Coriander and Flax samples).

Keywords

Medicinal Plants, Alpha Cross, Natural Radioactivity, Beta Cross, Gamma Spectroscopy

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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