Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Present in Common Vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Amakom Chijioke,
Ukewuihe Udoka Mathias,
Uduma Ifeanyi Awa,
Iheonu Nneka Onyinyechi
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
1-4
Received:
10 November 2021
Accepted:
29 November 2021
Published:
31 March 2022
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.
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 spec...
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Investigation of Radioactivity Levels and Lead in Soil and Shore Sediment from Port Said, Egypt
Raghda Ahmed Eissa,
Ashraf Ali Arafat,
Abd Elnaser Ahmed Mansour,
Mossad EL-Metwally
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
5-21
Received:
22 March 2022
Accepted:
14 April 2022
Published:
22 April 2022
Abstract: Soil is one of the foremost vital foundations of life for humans, animals, and plants, so the soil contamination by radionuclides is a dangerous threat of human health. This study investigated the 226Ra, 228Ra, 40K, 137Cs and pb to assess their risks in soil cover of Port Said governorate. So, 41 samples (29 soil samples and 12 shore sediment samples) were collected to cover the districts area, beaches and industrial areas in Port Said governorate. Activity concentrations of 226Ra, 228Ra, 40K and 137Cs were determined by Hyper-Pure Germanium detector, and their Pearson’s coefficient correlations were calculated and to assess the effects of radiation produced from these radionuclides, their hazards indices were estimated. Pb was determined using Ionized coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Geo-accumulation index (I-geo) and Contamination Factor (CF) were calculated. The activity concentration of soil for 226Ra, 228Ra, 40K and 137Cs ranged from 2.78 to 26.88, BDL to 19.69, BDL to 382.34 and BDL to 1.14 Bq/Kg with average values 11.59, 7.53, 218.77 and 0.25 Bq/Kg respectively. The activity concentrations of shore sediment for 226Ra, 228Ra, 40K and 137Cs ranged from 5.48 to 15.17, BDL to 11.75, BDL to 448.48 and BDL to 1.14 Bq/Kg with average values 10.16, 6.91, 364.23 and 0.38 Bq/Kg respectively. The highest activity concentrations and values of hazard indices are around the industrial facilities in both cases of soil and shore sediment samples as a result of contamination from factories. But the average activity concentration of 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K in the soil and shore sediment samples are still lower than the worldwide activity concentrations average values and the Egyptian activity concentrations mean values. Also, all values of hazard indices and their average values are below recommended values by UNSCEAR 2000. Geo-accumulation Index (I-geo) and Contamination Factor (CF) for Pb indicated that more than 2 thirds of soil and 80% of shore sediment samples are moderately polluted or considerably contaminated by Pb. Pearson's Correlation indicated that pb from side and 226Ra, 228Ra and 40K from other side may be from different sources.
Abstract: Soil is one of the foremost vital foundations of life for humans, animals, and plants, so the soil contamination by radionuclides is a dangerous threat of human health. This study investigated the 226Ra, 228Ra, 40K, 137Cs and pb to assess their risks in soil cover of Port Said governorate. So, 41 samples (29 soil samples and 12 shore sediment sampl...
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