Level of natural radionuclides in foodstuffs and resultant annual ingestion radiation dose

Level of natural radionuclides in foodstuffs and resultant annual ingestion radiation dose 1 corresp first-author E-mail: mousa_19@yahoo.com E-mail: mousa_19@yahoo.com mousa_19@yahoo.com Physics Department, Faculty of Science Qena, South Valley University, Egypt Physics Department, Faculty of Science Qena, South Valley University, Egypt The natural radioactivities in three major groups of foodstuff widely consumed in Upper Egypt were determined. The specific activities of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in cereals, leguminosae, and flour were measured using γ-ray spectroscopy. Another group of hay, water, and soil samples from the same location were also analyzed. Hay samples were found to contain the highest radioactivity concentration among all the samples that were investigated. This increment could be due to the high water content in the shoots which tends to accumulate soluble radionuclides. The average calculated concentrations of soil samples in the present study exhibits the lowest values with respect to those from different countries. In the case of water samples, the average activities of both 232 Th and 40 K were similar to those for soil while 226 Ra was twice that of water sample. The annual ingestion dose from each radionuclide was calculated. The computed annual dose owing to daily intake of radium, thorium, and potassium via wheat flour, lentils, and bean in the present study (214.8 µSv) is ten times lower than the global average annual radiation dose (2400 µSv) from the natural radiation sources as proposed by UNSCEAR. The obtained results show that the dose values are quite low and carry insignificant radiation dose to the public. Radioactivity Soil Water Foodstuffs Annual dose References Iyengar G V , Kawamura H , Dang H S , et al . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity , 2004 , 77 : 221 - 232 . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Gaso M I , Segovia N , Cervantes M L , et al . Radiation Protection Dosimetry , 2000 , 78 : 213 - 216 . Radiation Protection Dosimetry International Commission on radiological Protection (ICRP) , Age-dependant dose to member of the public from intake of radionuclides. Part II. Publication-67 , Pergamon Press , Oxford . 1993 . Age-dependant dose to member of the public from intake of radionuclides. Part II. Publication-67 Till J E , Moore R E . Health Physics , 1988 , 55 : 541 - 548 . Health Physics Velasco H , Ayub J J , Belli M , et al . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity , 2004 , 71 : 225 - 241 . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Carini F . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity , 2001 , 52 : 237 - 279 . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity International Atomic Energy Agency , Generic models and parameters for assessing the environmental transfer of radionuclides from routine releases, Exposure of Critical Groups. Safety Series No/ 57 . IAEA , Vienna , 1982 . Generic models and parameters for assessing the environmental transfer of radionuclides from routine releases, Exposure of Critical Groups. Safety Series No/ 57 UNSCEAR , Sources and effects of ionizing radiation Vol.1. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Report of the Genaral Assembly with Scientific Annexes . United Nations , New York . 2000 . Sources and effects of ionizing radiation Vol.1. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Report of the Genaral Assembly with Scientific Annexes Yunoki E , Katoaka T , Michiro K , et al . Journal of Radio-analytical Chemistry Articles , 1993 , 174 ( 2 ): 223 - 228 . Journal of Radio-analytical Chemistry Articles Bikit I , Slivka J , Conkic L J , et al . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity , 2005 , 78 : 11 - 19 . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Sroor A , El-Bahi S M , Ahmed F , et al . Applied Radiation and Isotopes , 2001 , 55 : 873 - 879 . Applied Radiation and Isotopes Ryan B , Martin P , Iles M . Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry , 2005 , 264 ( 2 ): 407 - 412 . Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Arogunjo A M , Ofuga E E , Afolabi M A . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity , 2005 , 82 : 1 - 6 . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Pulhani V A , Dafauti S , Hede A G , et al . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity , 2005 , 79 : 331 - 346 . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity UNSCEAR , Sources and effects of ionizing radiation , United Nations Publication , New York . 1999 . Sources and effects of ionizing radiation 10.1016/S1001-8042(06)60056-0 X125,R144,R155.5 2006-01-17 2006-10-20 2021-01-19 2006 Nuclear Science and Techniques 05 17