Radiological risk assessment of particulate matters in urban areas in Kuwait

Both natural and artificial radioactive airborne particles (RAPs) scatter over long distances and in a variety of directions. Vulnerability to the RAPs can result in an internal radiation exposure, which must be estimated, particularly in areas, such as Kuwait, where dust is prevalent. The aim of this study is to determine the radiation risks associated with inhaling various diameters of RAPs. Air samples were collected from various residential areas in Kuwait using high-volume air samplers with a five-stage cascade impactor. Radioactivity amounts of ⁷Be, ⁴⁰K, ²¹⁰Pb, ²¹⁰Po, ¹³⁷Cs, and U isotopes were determined in three particle sizes (10.2, 2.4, and less than 0.73 μm). In addition, the daughter radionuclides of ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn, with comparatively small half-lives, were obtained and analyzed in particle sizes less than 10 μm. The abundance of all gamma and alpha emitters radionuclides in air samples was determined using low background gamma spectrometry systems and chemical separation methods of ²¹⁰Po and U isotopes.