CONTRIBUTION OF URANIUM TO GROSS ALPHA-RADIOACTIVITY IN SOME ENVIRONMENTAL-SAMPLES IN KUWAIT

This study was done in connection with the use of uranium-tipped antitank shells during the Gulf War and possible contamination of the environment of Kuwait. It was found that uranium concentrations in the soil samples ranged from 0.3 mu g/g to 1.85 mu g/g. The average value of 0.7 mu g/g was lower than the world average value of 2.1 mu g/g for surface soils. Its contribution to the total natural alpha radioactivity (excluding Rn and its short-lived daughters) varied from 1.1% to 14%. The solid fall-out samples showed higher uranium concentration which varied from 0.35 mu g/g to 1.73 mu g/g (average 1.47 mu g/g) but its contribution to the gross alpha radioactivity was in the same range, from 1.1 to 13.2%. The difference in the concentration of uranium in suspended air matter samples during the summer of 1993 and the winter of 1994 was found to be 2.0 mu g/g and 1.0 mu g/g, respectively. The uranium contribution to the natural alpha radioactivity in these samples was in the same range but lower for the winter period. The isotopic ratio of U-235 to U-238 for the measured samples was basically within an experimental error of +/-0.001, close to the theoretical value of 0.007. The calculated total annual intake of uranium via inhalation for the Kuwait population was 0.07 Bq, e.g., 0.2% of the annual limit on intake.