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The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk of alpha emitter’s concentrations and measure it in human blood. The current study was done in the central laboratory and archaeologist employees of the Iraqi museum; likewise, the study also involved employees in State board of antiquities and heritage and Abd al-karim qasim museum that are located in Baghdad, Iraq. CR-39 Detector was used to measure alpha emitters track density. 60 participants Blood samples were collected in total (30 people in workers and 30 people in controls that were collected from general population). The maximum obtained values of alpha track density were (213.16±7.58 tracks/ mm2) and minimum obtained values (32.61±3.70 tracks/ mm2) in workers group with average of (81.36±3.78 No. of tracks/mm2) and the maximum obtained values of alpha track density were (219.37±6.75 tracks/ mm2) and minimum obtained values (3.02±0.37 tracks/ mm2) in control group with average of (28.45± 2.10 tracks/mm2). The result showed higher alpha emitter concentration in workers compared to the control group. Based on these results, high alpha concentrations to museum workers and archaeologists may have increased risk to DNA damage and cancer compared to non-occupational workers.

Cancer is a widespread significant health problem in Iraq and contributes 11% to total deaths. Throughout the Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003, about 1200 tons of ammunition were dropped around Iraq. After the wars, cancer incidence in Iraq is about 7,000 to 8,000 cancers cases per year, and the overall incidence of lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer, and lung cancer has increased twofold and even tripled, as compared to the time before the wars. This increase could result from environmental pollution with radioactive materials including uranium, as cancer can be caused by ionizing radiation. To investigate this hypothesis, uranium concentration in the blood of 64 Iraqi females has been measured by means of CR-39 track etch detectors (42 blood samples collected from females diagnosed with breast cancer and 22 blood samples from females without breast cancer). The results show that the uranium concentrations ranged from 19.1 ± 0.3 to 238.4 ± 0.4 with an average value of 94.9 ± 5.0 ng L−1 in the blood of women with breast cancer and from 5.2 ± 0.2 to 18.7 ± 0.04 with an average value of 10.5 ± 0.1 ng L−1 in the blood of women without breast cancer. In comparison with the literature data, elevated levels of uranium concentration were recorded in both groups, and significantly higher average uranium concentrations were found in the blood of women with breast cancer as compared to those in the blood samples of women without breast cancer. It is concluded that there is a correlation between the incidence of breast cancer in Iraqi women and elevated levels of uranium concentrations in their blood. Whether this is a casual relationship is unclear, because cancer can be caused by various carcinogens, including environmental pollution in the region.

Human being exposed to naturally occurring ionizing radiation throughout their lives as these radionuclides are present in different amounts in our environment. Gamma radiation emitted from uranium...

Single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), also called comet assay, is a rapid and sensitive technique used to analyse DNA Fragmentation Index(DFI). This study aimed to evaluate DNA damage in lymphocytes due to ionizing radiation in workers of Al-Tuwaitha nuclear site, which has been used for nuclear activities and contains a potentially significant amount of radioactive waste.The workers in this site are vulnerable to pollution due to a highly polluted environment of ionizing radiation. Blood samples were collected from 36 workerswho were divided into two groups;8 workers without protection and 28workers with protection, in addition to 30 control subjects.Alkaline comet assay was applied for analysis and the results indicated significantly higher DNA damage in the workers without protection as compared with the workers with protection and control groups.The result also showed significant differences between the workers with protection and control groups.

Some governorates of Iraq are considered as uranium-contaminated areas. The spread of cancerous tumors injuries was recorded in different parts of Iraq at very high rates. As cancer is closely related to high level of uranium in the blood, this study was conducted on women with breast cancer to evaluate the uranium concentrations in their blood. The aim of the study is to assess the concentration of uranium in the blood Iraqi breast cancer women to establish reference values for the levels of toxic uranium in their blood and the possibility of getting breast cancer. A total of 39 blood samples were collected from breast cancer women and a control group. CR-39 track detector has been used to evaluate the uranium concentration in blood samples by placing a drop of blood on the detectors and calculating the uranium concentrations by irradiating the detectors with a neutron source. Statistical analysis is achieved utilizing SPSS programme. The outcomes show elevated levels of uranium concentration in the blood of women with breast cancer, which was found to be 92±0.6 ngL

The nuclear level density parameter in non Equi-Spacing Model (NON-ESM), Equi-Spacing Model (ESM) and the Backshifted Energy Dependent Fermi Gas model (BSEDFG) was determined for 106 nuclei; the results are tabulated and compared with the experimental works. It was found that there are no recognizable differences between our results and the experimental -values. The calculated level density parameters have been used in computing the state density as a function of the excitation energies for 58Fe and 246Cm nuclei. The results are in a good agreement with the experimental results from earlier published work.

Henna leaves are a priority material for hair dyes and body tattoos and have been used for this purpose for decades. In Iraq, henna is used widely but it requires substantial controls. Iraq is considered an environmentally polluted area as a result of the wars it has experienced, hence, this study has been conducted to calculate the level of 222Rn contamination in henna leaves using a CR-39 nuclear track detector. The leaves were collected from the province of Basrah, which is located in southern Iraq and is famous for cultivation of this plant. The radon concentrations were found to range from 12.140 to 16.255 Bqm?3 in Al-Faw, and from 7.613 to 11.111 Bqm?3 in Abu Al Khasib. Radon activity ranged from 6.09?10?4 to 8.16?10?4 Bq Radon specific activity ranged from 1.22?10?4 to 1.63?10?4 Bqg?1 in Al-Faw, and from 7.64?10?5 to 1.12?10?4 Bqg?1 in Abu Al Khasib. The radon exhalation rate ranged from 4.05?10?4 to 5.43?10?4 with an average of 4.69?10?4 Bqm?2d?1 in Al-Faw, and from 2.54 10?4 to 3.71?10?4 with an average of 3.22 10?4 Bqm ?2d?1 in Abu Al Khasib. After obtaining the results, one can conclude that the henna plant collected from these areas is safe for human use and is free from high rates of 222Rn.

Environmental monitoring for outdoor and indoor radon is very significant for public health to evaluate the probability of developing respiratory system cancer, and to offer proper procedures that reduce the outdoor or indoor radon concentration. In southern Iraq, several cases of various types of cancer injuries have been reported in the literature. In this work, the radon concentration in the clay soil in Abu Al-Khaseb and Ad Dayer districts in Basra province in the south of Iraq has been measured in 18 samples collected from different depths. The mean values obtained for radon activity concentration in Abu Al-Khaseb and Ad Dayer were found to be 64.8 ± 0.9 and 80.9 ± 0.9 Bq m−3, respectively. The outcomes demonstrated that radon's concentration in both locations is within the safe range recommended by the World Health Organization WHO and the International Commission on Radiological Protection ICRP. The mean values of the estimated radiation hazard indices include the equilibrium equivalent radon concentration, the potential alpha energy concentration, the annual absorbed dose, the annual equivalent dose, the excess lifetime cancer risk, and the lung cancer cases per year per million people are well within the acceptable limits in both regions (45.3 Bq/m3, 0.01 mWL, 0.2 mSv/y, 0.4 mSv/y, 1.4, and 2.7 mSv $$\times {10}^{-6}$$ /y in Abu Al-Khaseb and 56.7 Bq/m3, 0.02 mWL, 0.2 mSv/y, 0.5 mSv/y, 1.7, and 3.4 mSv $$\times {10}^{-6}$$ /y in Ad Dayer, respectively). The areas under study are considered to be safe and do not pose any risk for inhabitants. Results obtained in this work were compared with other locally obtained results, and there is no significant variation in radon concentrations from one region to another.

Cancer is a widespread significant health problem in Iraq and contributes 11% to total deaths. Throughout the Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003, about 1200 tons of ammunition were dropped around Iraq. After the wars, cancer incidence in Iraq is about 7,000 to 8,000 cancers cases per year, and the overall incidence of lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer, and lung cancer has increased twofold and even tripled, as compared to the time before the wars. This increase could result from environmental pollution with radioactive materials including uranium, as cancer can be caused by ionizing radiation. To investigate this hypothesis, uranium concentration in the blood of 64 Iraqi females has been measured by means of CR-39 track etch detectors (42 blood samples collected from females diagnosed with breast cancer and 22 blood samples from females without breast cancer). The results show that the uranium concentrations ranged from 19.1 ± 0.3 to 238.4 ± 0.4 with an average value of 94.9 ± 5.0 ng L

Studies have been conducted in some southern Iraqi governorates to measure the radioactive contamination in the soil and have revealed that these areas are contaminated with radioactive materials. In these test sites, where many military operations have been conducted and that may have been affected by the Chernobyl accident, pollution and its impact on the truffle crop have been examined. Truffles are fungi that grow in the ground and can be contaminated by radiation from polluted soil. Uranium, thorium, potassium, and cesium activities were analyzed in truffles collected from the desert of Samawah governorate in the southern part of Iraq, and the results were compared with global values. The radionuclide activities were measured with a high-purity germanium detector. The average activities of 238U, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs were 3.9500, 2.5300, 260.36, and 1.7800 Bq kg-1 dry biomass, respectively. These results indicate that radionuclide activities are low and that desert truffles are suitable for human consumption.

Wide range of studies have been conducted around the word focusing on the evaluation of radionuclide concentrations in foodstuff. This work focusing on the estimation of the annual effective dose due to radionuclide activity in Iraqi wild fungus, specifically black desert truffles. The fungus have been collected from the desert of As Samawah governorate in the south of Iraq as it is grow in a large amount. The average activity concentrations for 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs were 3.95, 2.53, 260.36 and 1.78 Bqkg −1 respectively in all 10 collected truffle samples. The average annual effective doses from 238U ingestion were 0.36 and 0.54, from 232Th ingestion were 1.16 and 1.47, from 40K ingestion were found to be 3.23 and 319.20 and from 137Cs were 0.05 and 0.04 μSv year−1 in adults and children respectively. The measured values were less than the assessed world mean value from the exposure caused by natural radionuclide ingestion that documented in the literature (0.29 mSv year−1).

The properties of nuclear state density which increases with increasing excitation energy are very important in many nuclear reactions. Previously, several theoretical calculations were performed and added to correct the state density equation. In this work, various corrections, i.e. the pairing effect, Pauli exclusion principle, parity, spin distribution, the finite depth and the bound state effect were added to enhance the state density results using the energy-dependent single-particle level densities (non-ESM) in 114Sn and 116Sn nuclei. The results of this work were compared to the available experimental (OSLO technique), and theoretical (E&B and HF-BCS) results. The calculations were performed for energies up to 80 MeV and show a reasonable match with experimental and theoretical results at low energies. At high energies the deformation effect affects the results and leads to mismatch between the results of this work and other results. The inclusion of the spin distribution function in case of j=1/(2 ), gives results far from the experimental data and previous theoretical results, which shows the importance of the introduction of a new formula that deals with a non-ESM system.

Relatively high activity concentrations of some radionuclides (226Ra, 238U, 232Th, and 40K) have been measured in surface and subsurface soils in areas (southern Iraq) where many warfare actions have taken place during the Iran–Iraq and Gulf wars. Such high activity concentrations might be related to the increase in cancerous injuries and birth defects recently reported. The study was aimed to estimate the activity concentrations of some nuclides and a comparison of results with international health hazard indices. In addition, the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was assessed. Soil samples were collected at three depths (0, 30, and 60 cm) in three locations in Abu Al Khasib and Ad Dayr in Basrah governorates. The average activity concentrations were estimated employing hyper-pure germanium HPGe gamma-ray detection technology. The values obtained in Abu Al Khasib were: 58.44 Bq/kg (226Ra), 43.56 Bq/kg (238U), 19.38 Bq/kg (232Th), and 321.76 Bq/kg (40K) whereas in Ad Dayr 45.71 Bq/kg (226Ra), 35.53 Bq/kg (238U), 20.33 Bq/kg (232Th), and 337.02 Bq/kg (40K). According to UNSCEAR (Sources and effects of ionizing radiations: a report on the effects of atomic radiation to the general assembly with scientific annexes, Annex B, United Nations, New York, 2000) report, higher levels of 226Ra, 238U concentrations than the world’s average values (35 Bq/kg) were observed in both locations. In addition, some radiation hazard indices were determined for both locations: average outdoor external dose (D out), average indoor external dose (D in), total average value of the external dose (D tot), average annual outdoor effective dose (E out), average annual indoor effective dose (E in), and averaged total annual effective dose (E tot). Values for D tot and E tot were higher than the worldwide median (143 nGy/h and 0.48 mSv/y, respectively) in both regions. The measured values of activity concentrations were also used to estimate the outdoor, indoor, and total ELCR. The ELCR values were higher than the worldwide averages. Further analyses and studies need to assess the real risks for human health and possible soil remediation.

The objective of this study was to characterize the immunohistochemical localization of plasma membrane connexin 43 in the rumen of sheep after changing the diet from hay (ad libitum) to a mixed hay/concentrate diet. A total of 24 sheep were fed mixed hay/concentrate for different periods ranging from 0 weeks (control; hay ad libitum) to 12 weeks (1-1.5 kg hay plus 780 g concentrate per day in two equal portions). Using immunohistochemical technique the present study confirmed the existence of plasma membrane connexin 43 in the sheep rumen epithelium. Plasma membrane connexin 43 immunostaining was most intense at the stratum basale and stratum spinosum (suprabasal layer) and decreased iron intensity through stratum spinosum (superficial layers) to stratum granulosum. Meanwhile, stratum corneum was negative. The reaction around the cells gave a syncitial appearance with more apical-immunostaining concentration. Moreover, the present study confirmed a significant effect of concentrate diet on the immunoreactivity of plasma membrane connexin 43 in the rumen of sheep. A very strong degree of antibody reaction was seen in 4 to 12 weeks concentrate-fed groups.

The objective of this study was to characterize the immunohistochemical localization of Na+/H+ exchanger isoforms (NHE1 and NHE3) in the rumen epithelium of Sheep after changing the diet from hay (ad libitum) to a mixed hay/concentrate diet. A total of 24 sheep were fed mixed hay/concentrate for different periods ranging from 0 weeks (control; hay ad libitum) to 12 weeks (1-1.5 kg hay plus 780 g concentrate per day in two equal portions). NHE3-immunostaining was found to be more intense at both stratum granulosum (deep layer) and stratum spinosum (superficial layer), with decreasing intensity through stratum spinosum (deep or suprabasal layer) and stratum basal. Stratum corneum was negative. Distribution of NHE3 isoform was different within the different strata. In stratum granulosum and stratum spinosum (superficial layer), NHE3 isoform was distributed predominant at the apical surface /membrane of the cells. Meanwhile, in both stratum spinosum (deep layer) and stratum basale, intracellular NHE3 isoform was predominantly. The degree of antibody reaction was weak in hay-fed sheep and in all concentrate-fed groups, except in 2 and 4 weeks concentrate-fed groups, in which the degree of the antibody reaction was moderate and strong, respectively. NHE1 isoform was not detected in the sheep-rumen epithelium.