scholarly journals Activity concentrations of 226^Ra, 232^Th, and 40^K in common maize meal consumed in Namibia and their potential radiation hazards

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 146-152
Author(s):  
SA Onjefu ◽  
NN Kafidi ◽  
C Kamunda ◽  
PI Uloko ◽  
M Hitila ◽  
...  

Gamma spectroscopy was performed to determine the concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in maize meal samples collected from shop outlets and open markets in Namibia. The activity concentrations and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk were determined using a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The average activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th were found to be 29.98 ± 4.05, 0.99 ± 0.40 and 0.35 ± 0.08 Bq.kg – 1 in the maize meal samples. The result showed the activity concentrations of 40K significantly higher than the other radionuclides in all the maize meal samples. The average excess life cancer risk varies from 1.33 x 10 – 13 to 6.05 x 10 – 13 for 40K, 8.76 x 10 -13 to 1.19 x 10 – 12 for 232Th and 2.43 x 10 -11 to 2.83 x 10 – 11 for 226Ra. Hence, when compared with internationally acceptable limits, all values fall within the safety limits. Thus, the study concludes that the maize meals consumed in Namibia are radiologically safe for consumption.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakariya A. Hussein

In this work, the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil samples from Erbil governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan were investigated by a gamma-spectroscopy system based on high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. This is to assess the dose of radionuclides exposure to the population, knowing the health risks and to have a baseline for future changes in the environmental radioactivity. It was found that the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were ranged from (14.6 ± 1.6 to 38.2 ± 2.8 Bq.kg-1),  (4.5 ± 1.4 to 52.4 ± 5.8 Bq.kg-1) and ( 302.8 ± 12.6 to 388.6 ± 12.8 Bq.kg-1), respectively. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with the reported data of other countries and with the worldwide average activity of soil. Radium equivalent activities, absorbed dose rate, excess lifetime cancer risk and the values of hazard indices were calculated for the measured samples to assess the radiation hazard of the natural radioactivity in all samples to the people. It was concluded that the radium equivalent activities of the studied samples are below the internationally accepted values. These results show that annual effective dose absorbed via occupant from activity construction of soil samples used in the under place is below 1.0 mSv.y-1. It is concluded that the assessment radioactivity of soil are within acceptable levels and does not pose any health hazard to the population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 566-573
Author(s):  
Lang Yu ◽  
Guangwen Feng ◽  
Qian Liu ◽  
Chao Tang ◽  
Baoshan Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract As one of the drinking water quality parameters, natural radioactivity parameters are recommended to prevent a potential health threat to the public. In this study, the gross-α and gross-β activity concentrations in 15 different brands of commercial bottled mineral water consumed in China were analyzed to evaluate the quality and corresponding health impact on the population. The activity concentrations of gross-α and gross-β in different samples varied from 4.4 to 130.6 and 17.3–320.3 mBq L–1, respectively. The values of the annual effective dose equivalent rate (AED) for infants, children and adults ranged from 1.3 to 21.6, 2.9–52.5 and 5.5–97.8 μSv y–1, respectively. The average excess lifetime cancer risk caused by the consumption of bottled mineral water samples was estimated as 6.0 × 10–5. These results show that all the measured gross-α and gross-β are found to be obviously less than the guidance level by WHO and the domestic standard. The values of AED are below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limit of 0.1 mSv y–1. Combined with the lifetime cancer risk assessment, it is concluded that there is no significant risk for consumption of the observed brands of bottled mineral water and it can be consumed safely.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-543
Author(s):  
Jalil ur Rehman ◽  
Iftikhar Alam ◽  
Nisar Ahmad ◽  
Aslam Hameed ◽  
Alia Nazir ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study is to compare the natural radioactivity and excess life time cancer risk (ELCR) factor of soil in different regions of Pakistan during last decade. Soil contains various elements and compounds including naturally occurring radioactive elements (238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs). Human being, animals and plants are in health risk by contaminations of natural radioactivity in soil and environmental radiometric pollution. Transferring of large amount of the natural radioactive elements in human body by nutrients may cause carcinogenic effects in human body. Pakistani soil has six types as Indus Basin Soil, Bongar Soil, Khaddar Soil, Indus delta soil, Mountainous soil and Sandy Desert Soil. In some northern region of Pakistan, naturally occurring radioactive rocks like uranuium-238 and iridium concentrations present in Gharwandi, Aram, Kingri S, Vitakri Fort Munro, Dera Bugti, Kohlu and Sibbi districts.MethodsIn this reviewed data, gamma rays spectroscopy used to determine the concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K with the help of High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors. Only the data of HPGe detector collected because of comparisons of different regions of Pakistan.Results and conclusionsMostly, different gamma rays energy peaks of relevant daughter radionuclides of radioactive element were used such as the energy peak lines of daughter radionuclides 214Pb (295.21 and 352 KeV) and 214Bi (609 and 1,120 KeV) used for calculating the 226Ra concentration in soil. In the recent study, it is concluded that average values of concentrations of natural radioactivity in soil in central and north regions of Pakistan are higher than permissible limit but found permissible range in south region of Pakistan. Mean values of ELCR factor were found higher, equal and lower in central, north and south regions than permissible limit, respectively. Generally, no serious health hazard due to natural radioactivity in soil were found.


Author(s):  
Aysenur Yilmaz ◽  
Sibel Yıldız ◽  
Ahmet Çelik ◽  
Uğur Çevik

In this study, radioactivity and heavy metals accumulations in Agaricus campestris mushroom collected from Kahramanmaraş and Erzurum provinces was determined. HPGe gamma detector was used for the determination of radioactivity concentrations. Heavy metal content was measured using a ICP-MS. As radioactive element; natural (238U, 232Th 40K) and artificial radionuclide (137Cs) concentrations were determined. The values of the committed effective dose were calculated. Same measurements were made in soils. Absorbed dose and excess lifetime cancer risk were calculated. Amount of Mg, Al, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Pb206, Pb207 and Pb208 as heavy metals of mushrooms were determined. 238U, 232Th, 40K activity concentrations of mushroom collected from Erzurum was determined as 12.1 ± 0.8, 11.7 ± 0.9, 497.7 ± 17.8 Bq/kg, respectively and 137Cs was not detected by system. 232Th and 40K activity concentrations of mushroom collected from Kahramanmaraş was determined as 13.4 ± 0.5, 134.9 ± 6.3 Bq/kg, respectively, 238U and 137Cs was not detected by system similarly. The value of the committed effective dose collected from Erzurum and Kahramanmaraş were calculated as 75 and 29 μSv respectively and these values were found lower than 290 μSv accepted as world average. Absorbed dose and risk of lifetime cancer for Erzurum was determined as 37.39 nGy/h, 16.5 x 10-5; absorbed dose and excess lifetime cancer risk for Kahramanmaraş was determined as 30.92 nGy/h, 13.3 x 10-5 respectively. Amount of daily intake for each heavy metal was calculated. Radionuclide activity concentrations and accumulations of heavy metal were not founded threaten level to healthy, except from arsenic As (0.025 and 0.039 mg/kg) in mushroom collected from both provinces. They were found a bit higher than upper limit (0.015 mg/kg) in report which is prepared World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly.


2019 ◽  
Vol 186 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shittu Abdullahi ◽  
Aznan Fazli Ismail ◽  
Supian Samat

Abstract The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclides from common building materials used by Malaysian people for construction purposes were studied using High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The measured activity concentrations of the aforementioned radionuclides range from 10 ± 1 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 155 ± 61 Bq kg−1 (feldspar), 12 ± 3 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 274 ± 8 Bq kg−1 (kaolin) and 62 ± 19 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 1114 ± 20 Bq kg−1 (pottery stone) for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The measured activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides reported herein were found to be in accordance with other previous studies. In general, the activity concentration of the natural radionuclides revealed that all the determined values were below the recommended limit.


2019 ◽  
Vol 188 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-46
Author(s):  
K Nadira Mahamood ◽  
V Prakash

Abstract Radon and thoron are natural radioactive gases that tend to accumulate in the indoor environment and one of their major health implications is the ability to cause lung cancer. Present study comprises the quantification of radon and thoron activity concentrations and measurement of gamma exposure rates in different types of dwellings from the endosulfan-affected area, Panathady, Kasaragod district, Kerala. It is observed that, residents of this area were more prone to various diseases and health problems including cancer. The LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors with single entry pin-hole based dosemeters have been used for the measurement of 222Radon and 220Rn activity concentrations. The assessment of radiological parameters such as annual effective doses and excess lifetime cancer risk has also been done in order to understand the dose level and the associated risk. The estimated values have been compared with the limit recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) and International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The average indoor radon and thoron activity concentrations observed in these dwellings were 134 ± 30 and 111 ± 28 Bq m−3, respectively. The estimated activity concentrations, effective doses, etc. are found to be within the recommended level by the UNSCEAR or ICRP.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-117
Author(s):  
Amineh Salehipour ◽  
Akbar Eslami ◽  
Mohammad Mirzaee ◽  
Fatemeh Bolori ◽  
Mohammad Hosien Saghi ◽  
...  

Background: Evaluation of the various types of water reveal that groundwater comprises 99% of the earth’s available fresh water. Many factors affect the type and degree of mineralization, as well as the natural radionuclides content in these types of water. The consumption of bottled natural mineral water, which comes from groundwater, among Iranians is gradually increasing. Therefore, the detection of high concentrations of radionuclides, associated with consumption of groundwater, is proposed as a public health problem in several areas. Methods: In this study, the activity concentration of natural radionuclides such as 226Ra, 228Ra, 210Pb, and 40K, annual effective dose for three age groups (<1 year, 7-12 years, and >17 years), and excess lifetime cancer risk due to the ingestion of natural radionuclides present in 70 different commercial bottled mineral waters from most provinces of Iran, were evaluated. Activity concentrations were measured using gamma spectrometry and a high purity germanium detector (HPGe). Results: The results showed that the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides were higher than those reported in the same studies in other countries. Also, the annul effective dose for the three age groups was much higher than the recommended value (0.1 mSvyr-1), as reported by the WHO. The excess lifetime cancer risk for three radionuclides, 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K, were less than the acceptable value of 10-3 for radiological risk, while the risk for 210Pb was higher than the recommended value. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the frequent use of bottled waters produced in different provinces of Iran possess health hazards to consumers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nevenka Antovic ◽  
Danilo Boskovic ◽  
Nikola Svrkota ◽  
Ivanka Antovic

Soil samples from Mojkovac, Montenegro, were analyzed by standard gamma-spectrometry for radioactivity due to 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs. Average activity concentrations have been found to be 28.6, 43.1, 620.8, and 55 Bq/kg, respectively. In order to evaluate the radiation hazard, radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose, external and internal hazard indexes, and the annual gonadal dose equivalent were determined and found to be at an average of 133.79 Bq/kg, 65.18 nGy/h, 79.93 mSv/y, 0.37, 0.45, and 0.46 mSv/y, respectively. With life expectancy taken to be 70 years, a mean lifetime outdoor gamma radiation was calculated as 5.6 mSv, yielding a lifetime cancer risk of 2.8?10-4.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-130
Author(s):  
I C OKEYODE ◽  
A O MUSTAPHA ◽  
N N JIBIRI ◽  
V MAKINDE ◽  
F G AKINBORO ◽  
...  

This study was aimed at measuring and comparing the activity concentration of soil samples collected from some selected hand – dug wells with their corresponding depths of collection in Abeokuta metropolis. Total of twenty (20) soil samples were collected from hand-dug wells in five sites (Obada, Adigbe, Kuto, Olorunsogo, and Obantoko) within Abeokuta with four (4) soil samples from each hand-dug well at the surface, (0.0m) through to 2.25m depth. Gamma ray spectroscopy with High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector was used for the measurements. The average activity concentrations obtained for the three natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in Bq/Kg are 34.31 ± 2.01, 128.73 ± 4.41 and 152.31 ± 2.59 respectively at depth 0.00 m (surface), 23.00 ± 1.61, 68.39 ± 3.24 and 191.08 ± 3.11 respectively at depth 0.75 m, 31.52 ± 2.21, 145.37± 4.95 and 375.56 ± 5.50 respectively at 1.50 m and lastly 28.57±1.70, 95.61 ± 3.71 and 181.10 ± 3.94 respectively at 2.25 m depth. The world average activity concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are given to be 35 Bqkg-1, 30 Bqkg-1 and 400 Bqkg-1 respectively (UNSCEAR 2000). 232Th showed  higher average values than the world’s average while averages of 226Ra and 40K were lower but most of the activity concentration values obtained in some of the locations are higher than the world’s average values, especially 226Raand 232Th in the soil samples. 


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