Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Amakom Chijioke; Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias; Uduma Ifeanyi Awa; Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi

doi:doi:10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11

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Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Amakom Chijioke, Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias, Uduma Ifeanyi Awa, Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi

Published in Radiation Science and Technology (Volume 8, Issue 1)

Received: 10 November 2021 Accepted: 29 November 2021 Published: 31 March 2022

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Abstract

Naturally occurring radionuclide materials are usually absorbed by plants through their root systems as nutrients, which in turn pose a radiation risk to humans when they consume the plants as food. This study evaluated the radionuclide risks from naturally occurring radionuclides in samples of commonly consumed vegetables in Owerri. Gamma ray spectroscopy was used to analyze and profile the ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K levels in the vegetable samples of African basil, water leaf, uziza leaf and bitter leaf which are commonly consumed vegetables in Owerri, south-eastern Nigeria. No artificial radionuclides were observed in all the vegetable samples. The ⁴⁰K level was found to be lower than the permissible level for all the vegetables while values above the permissible levels were observed for ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th. We subsequently evaluated the Activity concentrations, Absorbed Gamma Dose Rate (D_R), Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR). The range for the activity concentrations were, 193.86 to 391.05 for ⁴⁰K, 12.54 to 43.07 for ²²⁶Ra and 91.92 to 111.27 for ²³²Th. Although the absorbed dose (D_R) was almost twice the world average value, ELCR were lower than the permissible values indicating consumption safety for those who do not rely heavily on the consumption of these common vegetables.

Published in	Radiation Science and Technology (Volume 8, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11
Page(s)	1-4
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Radionuclide, Leafy Vegetables, Owerri, Cancer Risk, Dose

References

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APA Style

Amakom Chijioke, Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias, Uduma Ifeanyi Awa, Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi. (2022). Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Radiation Science and Technology, 8(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11

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ACS Style

Amakom Chijioke; Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias; Uduma Ifeanyi Awa; Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi. Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Radiat. Sci. Technol. 2022, 8(1), 1-4. doi: 10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11

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AMA Style

Amakom Chijioke, Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias, Uduma Ifeanyi Awa, Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi. Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Radiat Sci Technol. 2022;8(1):1-4. doi: 10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11

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@article{10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11,
  author = {Amakom Chijioke and Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias and Uduma Ifeanyi Awa and Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi},
  title = {Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria},
  journal = {Radiation Science and Technology},
  volume = {8},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-4},
  doi = {10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.rst.20220801.11},
  abstract = {Naturally occurring radionuclide materials are usually absorbed by plants through their root systems as nutrients, which in turn pose a radiation risk to humans when they consume the plants as food. This study evaluated the radionuclide risks from naturally occurring radionuclides in samples of commonly consumed vegetables in Owerri. Gamma ray spectroscopy was used to analyze and profile the 226Ra, 232Th and 40K levels in the vegetable samples of African basil, water leaf, uziza leaf and bitter leaf which are commonly consumed vegetables in Owerri, south-eastern Nigeria. No artificial radionuclides were observed in all the vegetable samples. The 40K level was found to be lower than the permissible level for all the vegetables while values above the permissible levels were observed for 226Ra and 232Th. We subsequently evaluated the Activity concentrations, Absorbed Gamma Dose Rate (DR), Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR). The range for the activity concentrations were, 193.86 to 391.05 for 40K, 12.54 to 43.07 for 226Ra and 91.92 to 111.27 for 232Th. Although the absorbed dose (DR) was almost twice the world average value, ELCR were lower than the permissible values indicating consumption safety for those who do not rely heavily on the consumption of these common vegetables.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
AU  - Amakom Chijioke
AU  - Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias
AU  - Uduma Ifeanyi Awa
AU  - Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi
Y1  - 2022/03/31
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11
T2  - Radiation Science and Technology
JF  - Radiation Science and Technology
JO  - Radiation Science and Technology
SP  - 1
EP  - 4
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5943
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11
AB  - Naturally occurring radionuclide materials are usually absorbed by plants through their root systems as nutrients, which in turn pose a radiation risk to humans when they consume the plants as food. This study evaluated the radionuclide risks from naturally occurring radionuclides in samples of commonly consumed vegetables in Owerri. Gamma ray spectroscopy was used to analyze and profile the 226Ra, 232Th and 40K levels in the vegetable samples of African basil, water leaf, uziza leaf and bitter leaf which are commonly consumed vegetables in Owerri, south-eastern Nigeria. No artificial radionuclides were observed in all the vegetable samples. The 40K level was found to be lower than the permissible level for all the vegetables while values above the permissible levels were observed for 226Ra and 232Th. We subsequently evaluated the Activity concentrations, Absorbed Gamma Dose Rate (DR), Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR). The range for the activity concentrations were, 193.86 to 391.05 for 40K, 12.54 to 43.07 for 226Ra and 91.92 to 111.27 for 232Th. Although the absorbed dose (DR) was almost twice the world average value, ELCR were lower than the permissible values indicating consumption safety for those who do not rely heavily on the consumption of these common vegetables.
VL  - 8
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Amakom Chijioke

Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias

Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Uduma Ifeanyi Awa

Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi

Department of Mathematics, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

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APA Style

Amakom Chijioke, Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias, Uduma Ifeanyi Awa, Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi. (2022). Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Radiation Science and Technology, 8(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11

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ACS Style

Amakom Chijioke; Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias; Uduma Ifeanyi Awa; Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi. Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Radiat. Sci. Technol. 2022, 8(1), 1-4. doi: 10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11

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AMA Style

Amakom Chijioke, Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias, Uduma Ifeanyi Awa, Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi. Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Radiat Sci Technol. 2022;8(1):1-4. doi: 10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11

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@article{10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11,
  author = {Amakom Chijioke and Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias and Uduma Ifeanyi Awa and Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi},
  title = {Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria},
  journal = {Radiation Science and Technology},
  volume = {8},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-4},
  doi = {10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.rst.20220801.11},
  abstract = {Naturally occurring radionuclide materials are usually absorbed by plants through their root systems as nutrients, which in turn pose a radiation risk to humans when they consume the plants as food. This study evaluated the radionuclide risks from naturally occurring radionuclides in samples of commonly consumed vegetables in Owerri. Gamma ray spectroscopy was used to analyze and profile the 226Ra, 232Th and 40K levels in the vegetable samples of African basil, water leaf, uziza leaf and bitter leaf which are commonly consumed vegetables in Owerri, south-eastern Nigeria. No artificial radionuclides were observed in all the vegetable samples. The 40K level was found to be lower than the permissible level for all the vegetables while values above the permissible levels were observed for 226Ra and 232Th. We subsequently evaluated the Activity concentrations, Absorbed Gamma Dose Rate (DR), Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR). The range for the activity concentrations were, 193.86 to 391.05 for 40K, 12.54 to 43.07 for 226Ra and 91.92 to 111.27 for 232Th. Although the absorbed dose (DR) was almost twice the world average value, ELCR were lower than the permissible values indicating consumption safety for those who do not rely heavily on the consumption of these common vegetables.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
AU  - Amakom Chijioke
AU  - Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias
AU  - Uduma Ifeanyi Awa
AU  - Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi
Y1  - 2022/03/31
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11
T2  - Radiation Science and Technology
JF  - Radiation Science and Technology
JO  - Radiation Science and Technology
SP  - 1
EP  - 4
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5943
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20220801.11
AB  - Naturally occurring radionuclide materials are usually absorbed by plants through their root systems as nutrients, which in turn pose a radiation risk to humans when they consume the plants as food. This study evaluated the radionuclide risks from naturally occurring radionuclides in samples of commonly consumed vegetables in Owerri. Gamma ray spectroscopy was used to analyze and profile the 226Ra, 232Th and 40K levels in the vegetable samples of African basil, water leaf, uziza leaf and bitter leaf which are commonly consumed vegetables in Owerri, south-eastern Nigeria. No artificial radionuclides were observed in all the vegetable samples. The 40K level was found to be lower than the permissible level for all the vegetables while values above the permissible levels were observed for 226Ra and 232Th. We subsequently evaluated the Activity concentrations, Absorbed Gamma Dose Rate (DR), Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR). The range for the activity concentrations were, 193.86 to 391.05 for 40K, 12.54 to 43.07 for 226Ra and 91.92 to 111.27 for 232Th. Although the absorbed dose (DR) was almost twice the world average value, ELCR were lower than the permissible values indicating consumption safety for those who do not rely heavily on the consumption of these common vegetables.
VL  - 8
IS  - 1
ER  -

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