Gamma spectroscopy study of soil-plant transfer factor characteristics of 40K, 232Th and 226Ra in some crops cultivated in southwestern region of Nigeria

Soil-to-banana transfer factor of radionuclides in Lampung, Indonesia

This study estimates the soil-to-banana transfer factor of radionuclides in southern of Lampung, Indonesia, a region influenced by a large coal-fired power plant (CFPP) and other heavy industrial activities. This region is renowned for its banana productions, exceeding 11,000 tons annually for both local consumption (notably greater Jakarta) and export. Coal combustion in CFPP concentrates natural radionuclides from a series of uranium and thorium within the resulting ash. Soil and banana samples from Srengsem, Mataram, and Rangai Tri Tunggal villages were analyzed for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K using a calibrated P-type High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The study found average activity concentrations in soil were 26 ± 1 Bq kg-1 for 226Ra, 28 ± 1 Bq kg-1 for 232Th, and 368 ± 12 Bq kg-1 for 40K. In banana, 226Ra at 6 ± 1 Bq kg-1 and 40K at 288 ± 10 Bq kg-1 (40K) were detected, while 232Th below of limit detection. The transfer factors for 226Ra and 40K were counted at 0.3 ± 0.2 and 1.6 ± 1.3, respectively, showing medium to high uptake. The estimated effective dose was significantly below the BAPETEN limit of 1 mSv year-1, confirming that bananas cultivated in southern of Lampung area are safe for human consumption with minimal radiological impact. The findings underscore the critical insights into the safety of agricultural products produced in regions impacted by industrial activities and provides data for support the development of robust national food security management strategies.

Soil-to-rice transfer factors of naturally occurring radionuclides in the Afram Plains, Ghana, and their potential radiological risks

This study investigated the transfer of soil-based natural radionuclides from soil to rice in the Afram Plains and the potential radiological health risk to consumers. Gamma spectrometry was employed to measure activity concentrations of radionuclides in soil and rice samples. Transfer factors (TFs) estimated from the concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 were above the International Atomic Energy Agency values for TFs. Annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk from rice consumption were below UNSCEAR and global average permissible levels, indicating minimal radiological risk. However, the study recommended strategies to reduce activities that could increase radionuclide concentrations in the future to reduce the potential health risks associated with rice consumption in the study area.

Characterization of a typical urban soil in terms of natural radionuclide content. The case study of a university campus

A first comprehensive survey was carried out in a university campus in Italy in order to investigate in terms of natural elements an area where medium-high values of natural radiation are expected because of its peculiar geological features. The content of terrestrial radionuclides in 20 topsoil samples from the campus was determined with the aim to provide an important database of the soil characteristics. 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K concentrations were analysed by High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer in order to determine the background levels of natural radionuclides characteristics of the original area. The mean concentrations of radionuclides in the investigated soil samples ranged from 58.95 ± 4.20 to 158.05 ± 19.95 Bq kg-1 for 226Ra, from 72.28 ± 7.61 to 146.00 ± 22.27 Bq kg-1 for 232Th and, for 40K, from 550.76 ± 33.24 to 1367.50 ± 18.73 Bq kg-1. The radiological hazard indices, including radium equivalent activity, external hazard index, annual effective dose, absorbed dose rate, lifetime excess cancer risk, were also evaluated and compared with global averages, revealing values above the worldwide ones. Finally, a spatial modelling methodology of the site-specific radionuclides levels as graphical tool for the monitoring of the potential land redevelopment of urban soils was proposed.

Exposure and Health Risks Posed by Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils of Metal Fabrication Workshops in Mbarara City, Uganda

Metal fabrication workshops (MFWs) are common businesses in Ugandan cities, and especially those producing metallic security gates, window and door frames (burglar-proof), and balcony and staircase rails. The objective of this study was to comparatively assess the pollution levels and potential health risks of manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pd) and nickel (Ni) in pooled surface soil samples from four 5-, 7-, 8-, and 10-year-old MFWs (n = 28) and a control site (n = 8) in Mbarara City, Uganda. The concentration of the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Contamination, ecological, and human health risk assessment indices and models were used to identify any risks that the PTEs could pose to the pristine environment and humans. Our results showed that PTE pollution of soils is occuring in the MFWs than at the control site. The mean concentrations of the PTEs (mg kg-1) in the samples were: Mn (2012.75 ± 0.23-3377.14 ± 0.31), Cr (237.55 ± 0.29-424.93 ± 0.31), Cd (0.73 ± 0.13-1.29 ± 0.02), Pb (107.80 ± 0.23-262.01 ± 0.19), and Ni (74.85 ± 0.25-211.37 ± 0.14). These results indicate that the PTEs could plausibly derive from the fabrication activities in these workshops, which is supported by the high values of contamination factors, index of geoaccumulation, and the overall increase in pollution load indices with the number of years of operation of the MFWs. Human health risk assessment showed that there are non-carcinogenic health risks that could be experienced by children who ingest PTEs in the soils from the 7-, 8- and 10-year-old MFWs. The incremental life cancer risk assessment suggested that there are potential cancerous health effects of Cd and Ni that could be experienced in children (who ingest soils from all the four MFWs) and adults (ingesting soils from the 8- and 10-year-old MFWs). This study underscores the need to implement regulatory guidelines on the operation and location of MFWs in Uganda. Further research should be undertaken to investigate the emission of the PTEs during welding operations in the MFWs.