Abstract
It is a comparative assessment of natural deposition of radioisotopes in wild plants' stems and leaves from 11 sites of Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. Levels of ^226Ra, ^232Th, and ^40K activities were determined using high-resolution gamma spectrometry, and radiological equivalent indices—Radium Equivalent Activity (Raeq), Absorbed Dose Rate (D), Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), Annual Gonadal Dose Equivalent (AGDE), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR), and hazard indices (Hex, Hin, Iγ) were determined. All results indicated invariably greater radionuclide accumulation in leaves than in stems at every station. Mean Raeq in leaves was 63,473 Bq/kg and in stems 60,854 Bq/kg, and the highest values were found in Kairouan, Hammam al-Alil, and Makhmur. Although hazard indices never exceeded internationally accepted thresholds, elevated AEDE and ELCR values in some places point to potential long-term exposure risks. Spatial and anatomical heterogeneity highlight the value of wild plants, particularly foliar tissue, as sensitive bioindicators of environmental pollution. The study stresses the importance of continued radiological surveillance and environmental management, especially in ecologically and agriculturally important regions. These findings contribute to regional radioprotection planning and form a basis for future assessments of environmental contamination in northern Iraq.
First Page
91
Last Page
98
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Al-Bakri, Amina Q.; Albanna, Ayman; and Fadhel, Mazin N.
(2026)
"Comparative Evaluation of Radioisotope Accumulation in Stems and Leaves of Wild Flora in Nineveh Governorate for Environmental Pollution indicator,"
BioMed Visions Journal: Vol. 2:
Iss.
2, Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.63100/3078-6738.1023