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Abstract

All human beings are affected by soil directly or indirectly. This study focuses on the effect of radon gas and related radiological risks using SSNTDs, specifically CR-39 detectors, in eighty secondary schools in Najaf and Kufa cities, Najaf Governorate, Iraq. As we recognize the importance of soil and its strong connection to humans, the study focused on areas where public and private schools were built, where students are present, and the potential for radiation risks to affect students' health. The results show that the average concentrations of C, CRn were 64.329±59.149 Bq / m3 and 3150.699±2897.036 Bq / m3 respectively, and for CRa and CU were 4.425±4.077 Bq / Kg and 1.993±1.881 ppm. At the same time, radiological risk values of AED, EM, Es, and ELCR were 0.264±0.241 mSv/ yr, 0.815±0.750 ( mBq/Kg.h), 62.153±57.149 ( mBq/m2.h), and 0.923±0.843, respectively. So that all values were under acceptable limits, except for twenty-eight samples for C and eight samples for CRn. Meanwhile, the concentrations of radiological risks were all under acceptable limits according to the World Health Organization. Radiation maps were drawn using GIS techniques, and a statistical analysis with SPSS was used Pearson correlation, which shows that the p-value is significant at p< 0.05. Finally, all values were under permissible limits according to UNSCEAR, WHO, and ICRP and did not pose any danger to human health.

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