Determination of Alpha Particles Levels in Blood Samples of Cancer Patients at Karbala Governorate, Iraq

Introduction: Alpha particle emitters are very damaging and harmful when entering into the human body ,if   ingested or inhaled , swallowed or absorbed  into the lungs or bloodstream . Uranium (۲۳۸U), Radium (۲۲۶Ra) and Radon (۲۲۲Rn) are typical alpha-particle emitters. Material and Methods: we measured the level of alpha particles emitted from ۲۲۲Rn, ۲۲۶Ra, and ۲۳۸U in blood samples of ۱۰ cancer patients diagnosed using solid-state nuclear track detector. The samples were collected from hospitals located in Karbala Governorate of Iraq. This study was carried out between October and December ۲۰۱۷. Alpha particles concentrations of the collected blood samples were estimated in patient and control groups. Results: The mean concentrations of radon, radium, and uranium concentration were ۶۴.۳±۲۵.۹۲ Bq/m۳, ۳.۱±۱.۲۴ Bq/kg and ۱.۴±۰.۵۸ ppm, respectively. Also, the results showed that radon concentrations, activity concentrations of radon, radium concentrations, and uranium concentrations were significantly higher in the patient group compared to the controls (p <۰.۰۵). Conclusion: It was found that radon concentrations in all the studied blood samples were within the allowed limit according to International Commission on Radiological Protection and International Atomic Energy Agency (۲۰۰ Bq/m۳), except for sample C۴(male, type of cancer is colon) that had a value of ۲۶۵.۱۵±۱۸.۹۴ Bq/m۳.