Radiological Impacts of Natural Radioactivity and Heavy Metal of Tobacco Plants in Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Cigarette smoking is a potential route for radiation exposure because tobacco leaves used in cigarette production contain radioactive elements. From a health perspective, Understanding the radioactivity levels in tobacco leaves and products is crucial for evaluating the radiological effects of smoking tobacco for positive and negative smokers. The study utilized a gamma-ray spectrometer (HPGe) to measure naturally occurring radionuclides, while X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was used to analyze the levels of Cr, Ni, Zn, and Pb. The results indicate that the mean levels of 238U, 232Th, and 40K activity levels in tobacco samples from all examined locations were below the global data. The mean values of the Raeq, Hin, and Hex indices in tobacco plant samples from all the studied sites were lower than the permissible global limit. The average values of the representative gamma index (Iγ) in the Samilan, Galala, and Qaerawan sites were lower than the permissible global limit. However, the average magnitudes of the Iγ index at the Qasre, Amadiya, Sarsang, Sheladeze, Sidakan, and Penjwin sites were higher than the permissible global limit. The levels of toxic substances in tobacco plants decrease in the following sequence: Cr Ni Zn Pb. Furthermore, descriptive analyses assessing the relationship between radionuclides and heavy metals indicated a strong positive correlation between 238U and 232Th. Additionally, they demonstrate positive correlations between 238U and heavy metals. A tenuous association was detected between 232Th and heavy metals, as well as between 40K and toxic substances.