Biological effect of radiation on human Interleukin-12 in Babylon governorate, Iraq

Abstract

The nuclear radiation caused by radionuclides and from the sources of activity has become a major part of life, as it is a part of our health, food, and has several applications in several fields, including biology, medicine, agricultural fields, industrial field and in a nuclear power station. This study aims to measure the natural radioactivity produced by natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th series, and 40K in the old urban neighborhoods (old buildings) in Babylon governorate (Iraq), which was chosen as a place to study; it included ten regions: AL-Krad, AL-Taies, Jabbawyin, AL-Mahdia, Jubran, AL-Taaq, AL-Jammien, AL_Wardia, AL-Galadj, and Kretaa. A total of seventy samples of soil were collected from regions under study. The 238U, 232Th series, and 40K concentrations were measured in the (20 cm) depth soil using a γ-ray spectrometer with the aid of the NaI (Tl) detector. The average values for the radiological parameters in the old buildings determined in the soil samples for Raeq, Dγ, Hex, and Hin were (65.415 Bq/kg, 31.267 nGy/h, 0.225, and 0.180), respectively. It may be inferred that these radionuclides in the soil at research locations pose no hazard to the health of the residents of these areas. The obtained results from the old buildings revealed that the correlation between IL-12 and natural radioactivity is close to the normal value in comparison with the control. The radiological parameters for the soil samples of the old urban neighborhoods (old buildings) in Babylon governorate, Iraq, were found within the internationally permissible limits for Raeq, Dγ, Hex, and Hin.