ABSTRACT
Twenty five samples distributed over five locations on the south part of Iraq near the unarmed zone between Iraq and Kuwait reaching Saudi Arabia have been studied. The investigated locations includes North field of Rumela, Safwan Um-Kasir crossing, Kdera Al-Uthma, Al-Shamyia airport, the region between Kdera Al-Uthma and Khornaj-station and Kornaj-station region. The aim of this study was the determination of depleted uranium (DU) concentrations in the samples which consist of a mixture of tanks and military equipments remains part of depleted uranium missiles and accumulated soils on the military equipments and around it.
The CR-39 and the HPGe techniques have been used . The obtained results reveal the existence of an increment in the concentrations of the DU ranged between (8.36-20) ppm over the natural concentration limit (0.2-1.2) ppm.
This can be attributed to the use of missiles contain (DU) penetrating projectiles. The measurements by the two techniques reveal also that their results were in good agreement which indicates the possibility of using these techniques in the detection of radioactive trace elements.