scholarly journals Uptake and Distribution of Natural Radionuclides in Cassava Crops from Nigerian Government Farms

Author(s):  
C. P. Ononugbo ◽  
O. Azikiwe ◽  
G. O. Avwiri

Radioactivity distribution and transfer factor (TF) in plants are crucial parameters used to assess radioactive contamination in the environment, impact of soil radioactivity on agricultural crops and its risks to humans.  The root crop cassava (Manihot esculenta) provides about 50 percent of the calories consumed in Nigeria. Gamma - ray spectroscopy was used to measure activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in cassava root and soil. The average activity concentration of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in cassava was 565.31± 13.17, 21.89±5.94 and 817.28±2.52 Bqkg-1 respectively. The mean activity concentration   40K, 226Ra and 232Th in soil range from 92.07±35.08 to 689.28±14.35 Bqkg-1with a mean value of 413.64±21.22 Bqkg-1, 5.37 ± 8.90 to 64.93 ± 7.23 Bqkg-1 with a mean value of 54.43 ± 3.22 and BDL to 928.15 ± 2.36 Bqkg-1 with a mean value of 561.67 ± 2.21 Bqkg-1. The transfer values for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were in the range of 0 to 1.81, 0 to 3.41 and 0.68 to 4.5 respectively. The high value of transfer factor for 40k may be due to its importance in plant growth, fertilization and adaptability of plant to environmental pressures. It may have also been enhanced by the application of NPK fertilizers in those farms. Thorium showed the highest mean transfer factor which may be due to its higher accumulation in soil and higher uptake by plants (Figure 3). The average transfer factors of 226Ra (0.99) < 40K (1.55) < 232Th (1.66) show that although activity concentration of the natural radioisotopes in the area under study are high, the rate at which they are transferred to cassava are still moderate.  The average values of radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose rate (AEDE), internal hazard index and excess life cancer risk (ELCR) are 1009.27 Bqk-1, 346.50 nGyh-1, 1.51 mSvy-1, 2.78 and 3.92 x 10-3 for respectively. These values were higher than their corresponding permissible values of 370Bqk-1, 55nGyh-1, 1.0 mSvy-1, 1.0 and 0.29 x 10-3 respectively. The mean values of Hex and Hin are greater than unity and may, therefore, constitute a significant radiological health risk. The mean annual gonad dose estimated value of 2943.90 mSvy-1  was above the world acceptable value of 300 mSvy-1 and the annual effective dose in all the samples except in few locations as shown in Figure 2, exceeded the safe value of 1.0 mSvy-1. The use of soil from these farms and the crops may constitute a threat to the bone marrow and general health conditions of the inhabitants.

Author(s):  
A. Ibitola, Gilbert ◽  
Ajanaku Olanrewaju ◽  
Ilori, Abiola Olawale ◽  
R. O. Aremu ◽  
I. A. A. Omosebi

The aim of this present study is to collect soil samples and some commonly consumed food materials in Ondo State, Nigeria such as tubers (cassava, Manihot esculent and yam, Dioscorea alata) samples and vegetables (waterleaf, Talinium triangulare and bitter leaf, Vernonia amygdalina) samples at some selected locations in Okitipupa, Ondo state, Southwestern, Nigeria in order to determine the following natural radionuclides (40K, 238U and 232Th) levels using a well calibrated NaI(TI) which is well shielded with a detector coupled to a computer resident quantum MCA2100R Multichannel. The transfer factors, annual absorbed dose rate and the annual effective dose in the samples collected were estimated. The results showed that the measured natural radionuclides were present in the mean concentrations of 323.79 ± 12.45 Bqkg-1, 81.87 ± 45.30 Bqkg-1 and 57.62 ± 18.04 Bqkg-1 for 40K; 11.76 ± 36.03 Bqkg-1, 4.67 ± 10.12 Bqkg-1 and 3.45 ± 2.10 Bqkg-1 for 238U and 9.66 ± 0.89 Bqkg-1, 3.07 ± 2.45 Bqkg-1  and 2.45 ± 0.92 Bqkg-1  for 232Th for soil, yam and cassava samples respectively. The results also showed that the radionuclides were present in the concentrations of 11.76 ± 36.03 Bqkg-1 and 9.66 ± 0.89 Bqkg-1 for 40K; 9.67 ± 8.53 Bqkg-1 and 7.87 ± 1.89 Bqkg-1 for 238U and 8.63 ± 6.08 Bqkg-1 and 6.58 ± 0.76 Bqkg-1 for 232Th for waterleaf and bitter leaf samples respectively. The soil-to-yam transfer factors were found to be 0.26, 0.40 and 0.32 for 40K, 238U and 232Th and soil-to-cassava yam transfer factors were found to be 0.18, 0.29 and 0.25 for 40K, 238U and 232Th respectively. The soil-to-waterleaf transfer factors were found to be 0.37, 0.82 and 0.82 for 40K, 238U and 232Th while the soil-to-bitter leaf transfer factors were found to be 0.32, 0.74 and 0.68 for 40K, 238U and 232Th respectively. The mean absorbed dose rate was 25.08 ± 0.57  and the mean annual outdoor effective dose was 46.17 . The annual effective dose reported for this present study area represents 65.95% of the world average value of 70.00 and 47.11% of Nigeria value of 98.00 mSvy-1  


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 619-624
Author(s):  
Baghdad Science Journal

In this research the specific activity of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were determined by sodium iodide enhanced by thallium NaI(TI) detector and assessed the annual effective dose in Dielac 1 and 2 and Nactalia 1 and 2 for children of less than 1 year which are available in Baghdad markets. The specific activity of 40K has the greater value in all the types which is in the range of allowed levels globally that suggested by UNSCEAR. The mean value of annual effective doses were 2.92, 4.005 and 1.6325 mSv/y for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K respectively.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
M. Onwuka ◽  
C. P. Ononugbo

Radiometric survey of the granitic quarry site at Ishiagu and its environment was done using two radiation monitors and geographical positioning system (GPS) for GIS mapping. In-situ measurement of exposure rate was carried out following the international standard organizational standard between May 2018 and June 2019. The measured average exposure rates ranged from 0.010± 0.002 to 0.038 ± 0.003 mRh-1 with mean value of 0.026 ±0.005 mRh-1. The estimated outdoor absorbed dose rate ranged from 87.0 to 330.6 nGyh-1 with mean value of 228.38 nGyh-1. The equivalent dose rate ranges from 0.84 to 3.20 mSvy-1 with mean value of 2.21 mSvy-1. The mean annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) calculated was 0.28 mSvy-1 while the mean excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was 0.98 x 10-3. The estimated annual effective dose to different organs showed that the testes have the highest annual effective  dose of 0.191 mSvy-1 followed by ovaries and kidney of 0.135 and 0.139 mSvy-1 respectively while the liver has the lowest annual effective  dose of 0.103 mSvy-1. The radiation contour map of the area showed the distribution of radiation of high and low areas. The result showed that the radiation exposure rate and its associated radiological risk parameters exceeded the safe limits prescribed by ICRP and also the values reported in literatures. However, these values may not constitute acute health risk but long term exposure of residents and workers may be detrimental to their health. Therefore adequate monitoring of this quarry site is necessary to checkmate the exposure rate and provide some protective measures for quarry workers.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heiyam Najy Majeed ◽  
Ali . K. Hasan

Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf city on of the most important cities in Iraqi country it was chosen as the cultural Islamic capital for 2012 by the Islamic world ,Kufa university will be played big role of liability, cultural and education efficacies, this city had been exposed to artillery bombard expand along different areas in 1991 and 2003 in our research we try to test the studying area to know The total absorbed dose rate and the most possible hazards for this reasons the study was done. The natural radiation of thirty two samples of soil which collected randomly in June 2012 from the new Kufa University location were measured using Na(Tl) detection. The mean values activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K was (25.73±11.23 , 3.72±0.81 and 165.16±9.39 ) Bq kg-1 respectively . The highest value of the Radium equivalent activity was (30.870) Bq.kg–1 in (S2) which mean that all the soil samples values lower than (370Bq kg-1) the world average . External and internal hazard and gamma activity concentration (representative level index) indexes were lower than unity for all samples . The average value of absorbed dose rate calculated from activity concentration of 238U , 232Th and 40K was (20.553) nGy h-1 this value coincident to recommended. Annual effective dose in (?Sv/y) varies from (36.912) (?Sv/y) in (S15) to (15.460) (?Sv/y) in (S8) , all the soil samples have the annual effective dose less than the world average 460 (?Sv/y). The results can be consider as base values for distribution of natural radionuclides in the region and will be used as references information to assess any changed in the radioactive background level due to geological processes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Rahman ◽  
Muhammad Rafique

Radioactivity levels in building materials, collected from the Islamabad capital territory have been determined by using a gamma spectrometric technique. Measured specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in material samples ranged from 8 ? 1 to 116 ? 6 Bq/kg, 9 ? 1 to 152 ? ? 5 Bq/kg, and 29 ? 6 to 974 ? 23 Bq/kg, respectively. The radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose, and gamma index were evaluated from the measured amounts of radioactivity to assess the radiation hazard associated with the studied building materials. The mean radium equivalent activity, the absorbed dose rate and annual effective dose estimated ranged from 81 ? 6 to 221 ? 11 Bq/kg, 38 ? 3 to 104 ? 5 nGy/h, and 0.23 ? 0.02 to 0.64 ? 0.03 mSv, respectively. The ranges of the calculated Raeq were found to be lower than the values recommended for construction materials (370 Bq/kg). The mean values of the internal and external hazard indices were found in the range of 0.30 ? 0.02 to 0.78 ? 0.05 and 0.22 ? 0.02 to 0.60 ? 0.03, respectively. The results of the materials examined indicate no significant radiological hazards arise from using such material in building construction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 108 (7) ◽  
pp. 573-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aslı Kurnaz ◽  
Şeref Turhan ◽  
Aybaba Hançerlioğulları ◽  
Elif Gören ◽  
Muhammet Karataşlı ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this study, content of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) and radon emanating power and radon mass exhalation rate of surface soil samples collected around industrial province Karabük in which the first iron steel plant was built in 1937 were determined by high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry with a high purity germanium detector. The average activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil samples were measured as 30 ± 2, 28 ± 2 and 251 ± 20 Bq kg−1, respectively. The average value of radon emanating power and mass exhalation rate of soil samples were found as 31 % and 19 μBq kg−l s−l, respectively. Assessment of possible radiation hazards to the people due to external exposure was done by estimating the outdoor absorbed gamma dose rate in the air at 1 m above the soil, the corresponding annual effective dose, and the excess lifetime cancer risk. The average outdoor gamma dose rate, annual effective dose, and lifetime cancer risk were estimated as 41 nGy h−1, 51 μSv y−1 and 2.0 × 10−4, respectively. A comparison of the activity and radiological results obtained for the studied samples with the corresponding worldwide average values indicates that the results are below the world average values.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-239
Author(s):  
Abdalsattar Kareem Hashim ◽  
Laith Ahmed Najam ◽  
Firas Mohammed Ali Aljomaily

Abstract Introduction: The radon isotopes are not as significant as (222Rn) due to the decay of the natural radionuclides (235U), (232Th) and (238U) due to their short half-life, at most. (222Rn) can be classified as among the most harmful radioactive elements in the world. Material and method: In this analysis, the closed-can technique was used with solid-state nuclear track detectors (CR-39). After forty days of closed dosimeter buried in the soil of the garden, and ninety days from the closed position in the air of some dwellings were collected dosimeter and stripped of nuclear detectors impact of closed groups. For 8 hours, CR-39 detectors were chemically etched by (6.25 N) NaOH solution at 70°C and then registered within an optical microscope. Result: The levels of soil radon concentrations ranged from 28.44±0.58 to 479.76±2.43 Bq/m3 with a mean value of 220.33±1.64 Bq/m3, while the concentration of radon in the air of certain dwellings varied from (1.95±0.27 to 46.82±0.75) Bq/m3 with an average value of 21.51±0.54 Bq/m3. In comparison, the annual effective dose attributed to radon in soil ranged from 0.71±0.09 mSv/y to 12.10±0.38 mSv/y with an average value of 5.55±0.261 mSv/y, while the annual effective dose in air differed from (0.04±0.02 mSv/y) to (1.18±0.12 mSv/y) with an average value of (0.60±0.09 mSv/y). Conclusion: Neglecting the effects of other radon sources, the percentage share of the annual effective dose due to radon in soil measured in the air home, ranged from 0.005±0.001 to 0.453±0.074 with an average value of 0.130±0.040. Weak correlation between concentrations of radon in households and soil air. But roughly speaking, one can say that in soil air every 1000 Bq/m3 and 1000 mSv/y contributes around 130 Bq/m3 and 130 mSv/y in indoor air.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 957-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Hussein Alomari ◽  
Muneer Aziz Saleh ◽  
Suhairul Hashim ◽  
Amal Alsayaheen ◽  
Ismail Abdeldin ◽  
...  

Abstract The current study was conducted to measure the activity concentration of the gross alpha and beta in 87 groundwater samples collected from the productive aquifers that constitute a major source of groundwater to evaluate the annual effective dose and the corresponding health impact on the population and to investigate the quality of groundwater in Jordan. The mean activity concentration of gross alpha and beta in groundwater ranges from 0.26 ± 0.03 to 3.58 ± 0.55 Bq L−1 and from 0.51 ± 0.07 to 3.43 ± 0.46 Bq L−1, respectively. A very strong relationship was found between gross alpha and beta activity concentrations. The annual effective dose for alpha and beta was found in the range of 0.32–2.40 mSv with a mean value of 0.89 mSv, which is nine times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limit and one and half times higher than the national regulation limit. The mean lifetime risk was found to be 45.47 × 10−4 higher than the Jordanian estimated upper-bound lifetime risk of 25 × 10−4. The data obtained in the study would be the baseline for further epidemiological studies on health effects related to the exposure to natural radioactivity in Jordan.


2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 659-672
Author(s):  
Sk. A. K. Arafin ◽  
Md. Sapan Bhuiyan ◽  
Jannatul Ferdous ◽  
M. Ashraful Hoque ◽  
A. K. M. Rezaur Rahman ◽  
...  

The study aimed to investigate natural radioactivity levels and Transfer Factors of natural radionuclides from soil to some plants in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The concentrations of naturally occurring and anthropogenic radionuclides in soil and plants were measured in this work to determine the absorbed dose rate and the transfer factors of radionuclides from soil to plant. Plants (Spinach and Vegetables) and corresponding soil samples were collected from three different locations in Chittagong (Nasirabad, Sitakunda, and Halda Agrotechnology), and the concentrations of activity of natural radionuclides were measured using gamma-ray spectrometry. The average absorbed dose rate in the soil of Nasirabad, Sitakunda, and Halda Agrotechnology are 49.84 nGyh-1, 37.4 nGyh-1, and 45.6 nGyh-1. The average transfer factor from soil to plants, recorded for 238U, 232Th, and 40K of these study areas, are 0.461, 0.400, and 3.10, respectively. The ratio of soil to plant transfer factor for the present study compared with some previous work. The Transfer Factor of 40K gives some high value but does not exceed the limit of the different published values. Because there are no existing databases for the natural radioactivity in soil and plants from Chittagong, Bangladesh, our results are establishing a database for the Chittagong, Bangladesh soil and plants. This data may be used as a database for further investigation for the betterment of public health.


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