ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION LEVELS IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF KABUL CITY
Keywords:
Background radiation, Kabul city, radiation effects, gamma rays, incidence of cancer risk.Abstract
Background: Environmental gamma radiation of natural origin can cause the ionization of vital molecules such as DNA and pose a serious risk to human health. Measuring this radiation is particularly important because it increases the risk of various cancers. This study was conducted to measure the radiation dose, calculate the annual effective dose, and assess the risk of cancer caused by radiation in different regions of Kabul City in 2024.
Methods: In this study, measurements were taken using a dosimeter (model PM1621A) in open and closed spaces in 6 districts of Kabul city (District 3, District 5, District 6, District 10, District 11, and District 15 of Kabul city) during three different seasons in the Spring, Summer, and Autumn Seasons. Measurements were taken from five areas in each region and five random points in each region over three days in the Spring, Summer, and Autumn seasons. The annual effective dose and lifetime risk of radiation-induced cancer were also calculated.
Results: The average annual dose in open and closed spaces was 1.292±0.163 and 1.4046±0.219 mSv/year, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed between the average dose values of the Spring, Summer, and Autumn months and different regions of the districts. Also, the annual effective dose was calculated to be 0.93016 millisieverts, and the excess lifetime risk of radiation-induced cancer was calculated to be:.
Conclusion: The average annual effective dose of environmental gamma radiation in Kabul City is significantly higher than the global average. It is approximately twice the worldwide average level, indicating a relatively increased potential risk to public health.
