Table 7

Uranium concentrations, beta gamma dose rate at 30 cm (μGyh^-1) and activity ratios (where measured) in surface soil river sediment and water samples (μgL^-1) from Fallujah, Iraq

Sample

^aBeta/gamma

^bUranium mgkg^-1

^cU238/U235

Soil 1

150

0.857, 0.685, 1.033

129

Soil 2

120

0.164, 0.231, 0.252

132

Soil 3

160

0.688, 0.759, 0.637

129

Soil 4

190

0.725, 0.603, 0.867

130

Soil 5

220

0.119, 0.738, 0.907

118

Soil 6

130

1.44, 1.51, 1.51

129

BP Horizon Oil

0.070, 0.073, 0.073

138

Sediment R. Euphrates

1.05 mgkg^-1

NA

Well water

2.72 μgL^-1

NA

River water

2.24 μgL^-1

NA

Tap water

2.28 μgL^-1

NA

Three separate aliquots were taken from each soil sample and results are shown. Limit of Detection was 0.002 mgkg^-1. As a check on the ion exchange method, the Uranium atom ratio from the deep oil from the BP Horizon Macondo oil spill was run with the Fallujah soil samples.

^a nGyh^-1; ^b mean of three runs is tabulated for each of three aliquots; LOD, U-235 = 0.0007; ^c Natural ratio is 137.88; these measurements are derived from counts using the ion-exchange extracted Uranium solutions. 95% CI limits for Natural Uranium Ratio are 132.1 < Ratio < 144.1, Values below 132.1 are thus enriched, above 144.1 depleted with p < 0.05. NA = not assessed.

Alaani et al. Conflict and Health 2011 5:15   doi:10.1186/1752-1505-5-15