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Al Mahmud J, Siraz MMM, Alam MS, Dewan MJ, Rashid MB, Khandaker MU, Osman H, Tamam N, Yeasmin S. A pioneering study of the radiological mapping in the world's largest mangrove forest (the Sundarbans) and implications for the public and environment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 202:116349. [PMID: 38604081 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Coastal Mangroves are facing growing threats due to the harmful consequences of human activities. This first-ever detailed study of natural radioactivity in soil samples collected from seven tourist destinations within the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, was conducted using HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry. Although the activity levels of 226Ra (11 ± 1-44 ± 4 Bq/kg) and 232Th (13 ± 1-68 ± 6 Bq/kg) generally align with global averages, the concentration of 40K (250 ± 20-630 ± 55 Bq/kg) was observed to surpass the worldwide average primarily due to factors like salinity intrusion, fertilizer application, agricultural runoff, which suggests the potential existence of potassium-rich mineral resources near the study sites. The assessment of the hazard parameters indicates that the majority of these parameters are within the recommended limits. The soil samples do not pose a significant radiological risk to the nearby population. The results of this study can establish important radiological baseline data before the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant begins operating in Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jubair Al Mahmud
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - M M Mahfuz Siraz
- Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.
| | - M S Alam
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, Chattogram 4349, Bangladesh
| | - Md Jafor Dewan
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md Bazlar Rashid
- Geological Survey of Bangladesh, Segunbaghicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Mayeen Uddin Khandaker
- Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies Group, CCDCU, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia; Faculty of Graduate Studies, Daffodil International University, Daffodil Smart City, Birulia, Savar, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
| | - Hamid Osman
- Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, 21944 Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nissren Tamam
- Department of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - S Yeasmin
- Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
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Siraz MMM, Al Mahmud J, Alam MS, Rashid MB, Hossain Z, Osman H, Khandakar MU, Yeasmin S. Assessment of radioactivity level and associated radiological hazard in fertilizer from Dhaka. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:192. [PMID: 38263472 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12328-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Miners, factory workers, traders, end-users, and foodstuff consumers all run the risk of encountering health hazards derived from the presence of elevated levels of radiation in fertilizers, as these groups often come into direct or indirect contact with fertilizers as well as raw materials throughout various linked processes such as mineral extractions, fertilizer production, agricultural practices. A total of 30 samples of various kinds of fertilizer produced in different factories in Dhaka megacity were analyzed to quantify the concentrations of primordial radionuclides using HPGe detector. Among the analyzed samples, average (range) concentration of 40K was found to be 9920 ± 1091 (8700 ± 957-11,500 ± 1265), 9100 ± 1001 (8600 ± 946-9600 ± 1056), 2565 ± 282 (2540 ± 279-2590 ± 285), and 3560 ± 392 (2620 ± 288-4500 ± 495) Bq/kg in the samples of Muriate of Potash Fertilizer, Sulphate of Potash Fertilizer, Humic Acid Fertilizer, and NPKS Fertilizer, respectively. Elevated concentration of 226Ra was found in Triple Super Phosphate Fertilizer with a mean (range) of 335 ± 37 (290 ± 32-380 ± 42) Bq/kg. The higher activity of 40K can be linked to the greater levels of elemental potassium in phosphate fertilizer. Elevated concentrations of radionuclides may also result from variations in chemical processes as well as the local geology of the mining areas where the raw materials were extracted for fertilizer production. Numerous fertilizer brands surpass prescribed limits for various hazardous parameters, presenting significant health risks to factory workers, farmers, and consumers of agricultural products. This study provides baseline information on the radioactivity of fertilizers, which could be used to develop mitigation methods, establish national fertilizer usage limits, justify regulatory frameworks, and raise public awareness of fertilizer overuse. The findings of the study could potentially help to explore the impact of fertilizer on the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Mahfuz Siraz
- Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
| | - Jubair Al Mahmud
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - M S Alam
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, Chattogram, 4349, Bangladesh
| | - Md Bazlar Rashid
- Geological Survey of Bangladesh, Segunbaghicha, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Zakir Hossain
- Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Hamid Osman
- Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, 21944, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mayeen Uddin Khandakar
- Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies Group, CCDCU, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
- Faculty of Graduate Studies, Daffodil International University, Daffodil Smart City, Birulia, Savar, Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh
| | - Selina Yeasmin
- Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
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Siraz MMM, A. M. J, Alam MS, Rashid MB, Hossain Z, Khandaker MU, Bradley DA, Yeasmin S. Measurement of radioactivity in soils of Karamjal and Harbaria mangrove forest of Sundarbans for establishment of radiological database. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289113. [PMID: 37856554 PMCID: PMC10586596 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
This work presents the first in-depth study of soil radioactivity in the mangrove forest of Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans. It used HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry to measure the amount of natural radioactivity in soil samples from Karamjal and Harbaria sites of the world's largest mangrove forest. The activity concentrations of most of the 226Ra (14±2 Bqkg-1 to 35±4 Bqkg-1) and 232Th (30±5 Bqkg-1 to 50±9 Bqkg-1) lie within the world average values, but the 40K concentration (370± 44 Bqkg-1 to 660±72 Bqkg-1) was found to have exceeded the world average value. The evaluation of radiological hazard parameters revealed that the outdoor absorbed dose rate (maximum 73.25 nGyh-1) and outdoor annual effective dose (maximum 0.09 mSvy-1) for most samples exceeded the corresponding world average values. The elevated concentration of 40K is mainly due to the salinity intrusion, usage of fertilizers and agricultural runoff, and migration of waste effluents along the riverbanks. Being the pioneering comprehensive research on the Bangladesh side of the Sundarbans, this study forms a baseline radioactivity for the Sundarbans before the commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jubair A. M.
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M. S. Alam
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Z. Hossain
- Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mayeen Uddin Khandaker
- Department of General Educational Development, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - D. A. Bradley
- Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
- Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - S. Yeasmin
- Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Siraz MMM, Das SK, Mondol MS, Alam MS, Al Mahmud J, Rashid MB, Khandaker MU, Yeasmin S. Evaluation of transfer factors of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radionuclides from soil to grass and mango in the northern region of Bangladesh. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:579. [PMID: 37067680 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11223-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Bangladesh is a rapidly developing country, which is vulnerable to various types of pollution due to the large-scale industrial and associated human activities that might potentially affect the locally harvested foodstuffs. Therefore, the transfer factor is an essential tool to assess the safety of foodstuffs due to the presence of natural radioactivity in environmental matrix and/or strata. This is a first study of its kind conducted in a well-known region for mango farming in Bangladesh, measuring the uptake of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) by grass and mango from soil to assess the ingestion doses to humans. The HPGe gamma-ray detector was used to determine the concentrations of NORMs in samples of soil (20), grass (10), and mango (10), which were then used to calculate the transfer factors of soil to grass and soil to mango. Average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in associated soil samples (47.27 ± 4.10, 64.49 ± 4.32, 421.60 ± 28.85) of mango and 226Ra and 232Th in associated soil samples (45.07 ± 3.93, 52.17 ± 3.95) of grass were found to exceed the world average values. The average transfer factors (TFs) for mango were obtained in the order of 40K(0.80) > 226Ra (0.61) > 232Th (0.31), and for grass, it shows the order of 40K (0.78) > 232Th (0.64) > 226Ra (0.56). However, a few values (3 mango samples and 3 grass samples) of the estimated TFs exceeded the recommended limits. Moreover, Bangladesh lacks the transfer factors for most of the food crops; therefore, calculation of TFs in the major agricultural products is required all over Bangladesh, especially the foodstuffs produced near the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Mahfuz Siraz
- Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - S K Das
- Department of Physics, Jagannath University, Dhaka, 1100, Bangladesh.
| | - M S Mondol
- Department of Physics, Jagannath University, Dhaka, 1100, Bangladesh
| | - M S Alam
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Jubair Al Mahmud
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md Bazlar Rashid
- Geological Survey of Bangladesh, Segunbaghicha, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Mayeen Uddin Khandaker
- Department of General Educational Development, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, Daffodil International University, DIU Rd, Dhaka, 1341, Bangladesh
- Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia
| | - S Yeasmin
- Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
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de Barros Correia FL, Dos Santos Júnior JA, Vieira JW, Dos Santos Amaral R, Brayner Cavalcante Freire Bezerra M, Herrero Fernández Z, Santos JMDN, Dos Santos YM, Barbosa da Silva KR, da Silva LM. Radioanalytical models applied to the investigation of caesium signatures in sugar samples. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2023; 40:404-414. [PMID: 36662517 DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2023.2169360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The presence of anthropogenic radioisotopes in the environment may be due to inappropriate discards, nuclear tests and accidents, which requires and justifies constant monitoring to ensure the safety of nuclear applications. The radiometric analysis is a necessary condition for exporting sugar for world consumption. The investigation of 134Cs and 137Cs in a sugar matrix is required to predict radiometric anomalies. This work aimed to standardise a semi-empirical radiometric model to characterise and quantify caesium isotopes in sugar. The research was carried out with high-resolution gamma spectrometry, a non-destructive method. The results were applied to the analysis of different types of sugar for export. The models allowed us to determine with excellent resolution the minimum quantifiable activities of 0.74 Bq kg-1 and 0.48 Bq kg-1 for 134Cs and 137Cs, respectively, which are lower than 600 Bq kg-1, reference values adopted by the EU for isotopes in food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Lopes de Barros Correia
- Radioecology Group, Department of Nuclear Energy, Center of Technology and Geosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Luiz Freire, Recife, Brazil
| | - José Araújo Dos Santos Júnior
- Radioecology Group, Department of Nuclear Energy, Center of Technology and Geosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Luiz Freire, Recife, Brazil
| | - José Wilson Vieira
- Radioecology Group, Department of Nuclear Energy, Center of Technology and Geosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Luiz Freire, Recife, Brazil.,Numerical Dosimetry Group, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Romilton Dos Santos Amaral
- Radioecology Group, Department of Nuclear Energy, Center of Technology and Geosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Luiz Freire, Recife, Brazil
| | - Mariana Brayner Cavalcante Freire Bezerra
- Radioecology Group, Department of Nuclear Energy, Center of Technology and Geosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Luiz Freire, Recife, Brazil
| | - Zahily Herrero Fernández
- Radioecology Group, Department of Nuclear Energy, Center of Technology and Geosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Luiz Freire, Recife, Brazil.,Academic Center of the Agreste, Technology Center, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Marielle Franco, Caruaru, Brazil
| | - Josineide Marques do Nascimento Santos
- Radioecology Group, Department of Nuclear Energy, Center of Technology and Geosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Luiz Freire, Recife, Brazil.,Academic Center of the Agreste, Technology Center, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Marielle Franco, Caruaru, Brazil
| | - Yasmin Marques Dos Santos
- Radioecology Group, Department of Nuclear Energy, Center of Technology and Geosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Luiz Freire, Recife, Brazil
| | - Keyth Roslyn Barbosa da Silva
- Radioecology Group, Department of Nuclear Energy, Center of Technology and Geosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Luiz Freire, Recife, Brazil
| | - Leandro Moreira da Silva
- Radioecology Group, Department of Nuclear Energy, Center of Technology and Geosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Luiz Freire, Recife, Brazil
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Siraz MMM, Roy D, Dewan MJ, Alam MS, A M J, Rashid MB, Khandaker MU, Bradley DA, Yeasmin S. Vertical distributions of radionuclides along the tourist-attractive Marayon Tong Hill in the Bandarban district of Bangladesh. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:382. [PMID: 36759352 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-10921-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This is the first attempt in the world to depict the vertical distribution of radionuclides in the soil samples along several heights (900 feet, 1550 feet, and 1650 feet) of Marayon Tong hill in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bandarban by HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry. The average activity concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra, and 40K were found to be 37.15 ± 3.76 Bqkg-1, 19.69 ± 2.15 Bqkg-1, and 347.82 ± 24.50 Bqkg-1, respectively, where in most cases, 232Th exceeded the world average value of 30 Bqkg-1. According to soil characterization, soils ranged from slightly acidic to moderately acidic, with low soluble salts. The radium equivalent activity, outdoor and indoor absorbed dose rate, external and internal hazard indices, external and internal effective dose rates, gamma level index, and excess lifetime cancer risk were evaluated and found to be below the recommended or world average values; but a measurable activity of 137Cs was found at soils collected from ground level and at an altitude of 1550 feet, which possibly arises from the nuclear fallout. The evaluation of cumulative radiation doses to the inhabitants via periodic measurement is recommended due to the elevated levels of 232Th.This pioneering work in mapping the vertical distribution of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) can be an essential factual baseline data for the scientific community that may be used to evaluate the variation in NORMs in the future, especially after the commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh in 2024.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Mahfuz Siraz
- Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
| | - Debasish Roy
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md Jafor Dewan
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - M S Alam
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Jubair A M
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md Bazlar Rashid
- Geological Survey of Bangladesh, Segunbagicha, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Mayeen Uddin Khandaker
- Faculty of Science and Information Technology, Department of General Educational Development, Daffodil International University, DIU Rd, Dhaka, 1341, Bangladesh
- Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia
| | - D A Bradley
- Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia
- Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, Surrey, UK
| | - S Yeasmin
- Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
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Dos Santos Junior OP, Dos Santos Junior JA, Moraes AS, Amaral RDS, Simões Menezes RC, Jose Isidoro de Araújo Rodrigues Azevedo A. Anthropogenic accumulation based on chemometrics of the radionuclide K-40 in tropical soils in the northeast Brazil. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 251-252:106981. [PMID: 36007394 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The continuous use of fertilizers can increase the radionuclides levels in soils, and their accumulation and concentration are related to their characteristics and the various processes of use and soil occupation. Analyzing data from radiometric and pedological measurements often demands the use of more robust tools for better integration of results. This work presents the results of a study to evaluate the accumulation of 40K, in an area of the Zona da Mata region in Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil, due to the contribution of natural or artificial sources. 40K activity concentration was measured by high resolution gamma spectrometry in 108 soil samples, as well the organic matter content and particle size distribution. Results showed the 40K activity ranged from 103 to 1843 Bq.Kg-1, with the arable soils showing levels above the world average value (420 Bq.Kg-1). A higher prevalence of 40K was observed on arable soils, regardless of soil type, organic matter content, depth or texture. Agricultural activities increased of 40K levels in different degrees, depending on the type of crop used, with an accumulation factor of up to 4 times greater compared to soils not impacted by agricultural activities. The radiochemometric diagnosis maded it possible to draw up a strategic management plan to improve the management practices of family farming in order to maximize production efficiency, and promote the conservation of natural resources and environmental preservation.
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Natural radionuclide levels and the associated radiological risks in soils from the three mesoregions of Pernambuco state, Brazil. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-020-07124-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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