Some physicochemical parameters and 226Ra concentration in groundwater samples of North Guilan, Iran

Radioactivity concentration levels and potential radiotoxicity risk assessment of aquatic superfoods case study of algae supplements

It has been found that algae have a variety of health benefits, although investigations showed that they contain radiotoxic elements, including 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs, which may affect human health. This study is connected to activity concentration measurements of the above radionuclides in the algae supplements available in the Middle East markets. The annual effective radiation doses of measured radionuclides in analyzed algal supplements have been calculated. The highest values of annual effective doses have been estimated for 226Ra in Ecklonia (13.39 μSv/y) and for 232Th in Red Marine Algae (11.80 μSv/y), both from South Korea. In algal "superfoods", the effective dose of 137Cs is not significantly affected by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the activity levels of radionuclides are low, the naturally occurring radionuclides provide the most effective doses, and algae supplements can be considered safe.

Natural radioactivity and its radiological implications from soils and rocks in Jaintiapur area, North-east Bangladesh

Natural radioactivity concentrations in recent alluvial soils from swampy areas and Tertiary rocks from Jaintiapur were measured using gamma-ray spectrometer equipped with HPGe detector. The average radioactivity concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were 47 ± 6, 64 ± 5 and 762 ± 40 Bqkg⁻¹ in soils, whereas, 25 ± 2, 37 ± 4 and 884 ± 41 Bqkg⁻¹ in rock samples, respectively. Average radioactivity concentrations of studied soil and rock samples exceeded the world average except ²²⁶Ra for rocks. Radio-elemental ratios suggest that an oxic depositional environment with low uranium and high thorium content. Regarding radiological hazard indices, radium equivalent activities (Ra_eq), external hazard index (H_ex) and internal hazard index (H_in) was found to be below the world permissible limits. Whereas, absorbed dose rate (D), and annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) averages exceeded the world admissible values. Statistical studies show that radioactivity for ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th linked to a source enriched in radioactive minerals and ⁴⁰K related to a different sources high in K enriched minerals.