A decade of atmospheric ¹³⁷Cs monitoring in Kuwait: dust storms influence and radiological risk assessment

Many Arab countries in the Middle East are affected by dust storms, suspended dust, and fallout deposition, all of which can carry both natural and anthropogenic radionuclides. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of long-term atmospheric radionuclide concentrations in Kuwait, a region with limited historical radiation data, to establish a critical database for radiological risk assessment. Daily measurements of radionuclides were collected and analyzed at the RN40 station, Kuwait, for the period from 2013 to 2022. The average concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁷Be, and ⁴⁰K were 10.51 ± 2.04 μBq m⁻³, 11.8 ± 3.7 mBq m⁻³, and 161.7 ± 3.8 μBq m⁻³, respectively. The observed ⁷Be concentration was comparable to global averages, while ¹³⁷Cs levels were consistent with previously reported studies; although a notably high value of 407 μBq m⁻³ was recorded, exceeding the prior maximum by ⁓3.75 times. Both ⁷Be and ¹³⁷Cs concentrations were significantly higher than those reported in Polar Regions. The highest annual ¹³⁷Cs level was recorded in 2018, aligning with a surge in dust storm activity, during which 18 events occurred. Dust resuspension, driven by northwesterly winds during the summer months, likely carried airborne particles containing ¹³⁷Cs from neighboring regions. The estimated annual dose equivalents from inhalation of ¹³⁷Cs were 0.09 nSv for adults, 0.13 nSv for 10-year-old children, and 0.34 nSv for 1-year-old infants, which is considered to be a negligible contribution to the International Commission on Radiological Protection public dose limit of 1 mSv per year. The excess lifetime cancer risks were well below the recommended threshold, confirming negligible health risks.