ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Higher Levels of Radon Affect Women's Fertility
in Iraqi Kurdistan
Najeba F. Salih, Mohamad S. Jaafar
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Medical Physics and Radiation Science Research Group, School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia,
11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2013;22(4):1163-1169
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The effect of indoor radon on the fertility of women was studied for the first time in Kurdistan. The
Lowest radon was 99.94 Bq·m-3, 94.883 Bq·m-3 and highest radon concentrations were 360.112 Bq·m-3 and
357.832 Bq·m-3 in kitchens and living rooms in Sulaymania. Lowest radon was 97.886 Bq·m-3 and 95.113
Bq·m-3, and the highest concentrations were 360.112 Bq·m-3 and 357.832 Bq·m-3 in kitchens and living rooms
in Erbil, respectively, which were significant (p<0.001). This result is above the normal limits and the action
level provided by the international environmental organizations of 148 Bq·m-3. The indoor radon concentration
in Iraqi Kurdistan was high in many houses, which affects women’s fertility.