Assessment of radioactivity levels in poultry feed from various sources for chicken production in Erbil Province, Iraq

This study investigates the activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K) in poultry feed samples collected from thirty different commercial and local production sites across Erbil Province, Iraq. Using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry, a total of 30 poultry feed samples were analyzed to assess radiological safety and evaluate potential exposure risks through the poultry food chain. The measured activity concentrations ranged from 0.18-5.27 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²²⁶Ra, below detection to 5.16 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²³²Th, and 46.12-268.20 Bq kg⁻¹ for ⁴⁰K. The mean concentrations of 1.556 Bq kg⁻¹ (²²⁶Ra), 1.34 Bq kg⁻¹ (²³²Th), and 167.52 Bq kg⁻¹ (⁴⁰K) were all moderately low compared to other countries' work. Regional variation in radionuclide levels was observed, particularly for ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th, with the highest levels detected in samples from Pirmam, potentially due to geogenic factors or mineral-based additives. Descriptive statistics and histogram analysis showed that ⁴⁰K concentrations followed a near-Gaussian distribution, while ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th exhibited positive skewness. Comparative analysis with data from other countries confirmed that the activity concentrations in this study were significantly lower than those reported in Nigeria, Serbia, and Uganda. This research provides a vital radiological baseline for poultry feed in the region and demonstrates that the feeds currently used in Erbil pose no significant radiological hazard to poultry or human health. These findings emphasize the importance of continued surveillance of feed materials, especially in regions with diverse geological sources, to ensure food chain safety and compliance with international radiological protection standards.