Radiometric analysis of samples of domestic fish species and radiological implications

The concentration of radioisotopes (Potassium-40, Polonium-210, Radium-226, and Thorium-230) in fillet tissue carp fishes: A systematic review and probabilistic exposure assessment

Chemical contamination of seafood has become a global health concern. Carp fish is one of the most widely consumed globally, and several studies have been conducted on the contamination of carp fish with radioisotopes. In the current study, a meta-analysis and probabilistic exposure assessment regarding the Potassium-40 (40K), Polonium-210 (210Po), Radium-226 (226Ra), and Thorium-230 (230Th) in the fillet tissue of carp fish were performed. In this regard, Scopus and PubMed were screened to retrieve the associated citations with on the concentration of radioisotopes in the fillet tissue of carp fish until October 2021. The rank order of radioisotopes in fillet tissue carp fish was 40K (103.49 Bq kg-1) > 210Po (9.39 Bq kg-1) > 226Ra (0.62 Bq kg-1) > 230Th (0.39 Bq kg-1). The highest effective dose due to 210Po ingestion was observed in Spain (male; 4.44E-05 Sv y-1, female; 2.67E-06 Sv y-1); 40K (female, 5.07E-07 Sv y-1); 226Ra (male, 9.93E-09 Sv y-1). The mean of effective dose (ED) in the male and females in India due to ingestion of 230Th as result of carp fish consumption was (1.70E-06 Sv y-1) and (7.01E-08 Sv y-1), respectively. The probabilistic exposure assessment by the Monte Carlo simulation method revealed that consumers of fillet tissue carp fish content of radioisotopes are at a safe range (0.001 Sv y-1).

Excess lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of fish from a dam reservoir associated with a nuclear facility in Brazil

Fish from a Funil dam reservoir associated with a Nuclear Fuel Factory were sampled aiming to assess the radiological risk due to ingestion. Funil dam reservoir is a strategic site, once it receives effluent from the industrial complex that performs isotopic enrichment of uranium and conversion of UF6. The mean activity concentrations obtained for 40K, 226Ra, 228Ra and 228Th were 57.81, 0.41, 0.92 and 0.49 Bq·kg-1, respectively. Lifetime cancer risk was estimated in ∼10-5 and no action needs to be taken.

Evaluation of the Activity of Gamma-Emitting Natural Radionuclides in Seafood and Estimation of the Annual Effective Dose for Different Age Groups in KSA

Twenty-six brands of canned tuna and sardines imported from several countries in Southeast Asia to consume in the KSA. All samples were prepared and analyzed by using a High Pure Germanium Detector of 40% efficiency. Natural radionuclides 40K, 238U (226Ra) and 232Th(228Ra) series were observed with a varying range in all analyzed samples. The values found to be 192.3 ± 14.6, 1.5 ± 0.8 and 1.0 ± 0.6 Bq kg-1 for canned tuna and 219.8 ± 15.8, 0.37 ± 0.3 and 1.2 ± 0.3 Bq kg-1 for canned sardines, respectively. Cesium-137 was not detected at any sample. The comparison between the average activity concentrations of 40K, 238U(226Ra) and 232Th(228Ra) in both canned tuna and sardines was performed and discussed. The dose assessment due to consume/ingestion of seafood was calculated and observed that the calculated committed effective dose is within the global internal dose (290 μSv/y).

Activity Concentrations and Dose Assessment of Gamma Emitting Radionuclides in Canned Tuna and Sardines Produced after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

The aim of the present work was to investigate the radioactivity concentrations of gamma emitting radionuclides in canned tuna and sardines that were produced after the Fukushima nuclear accident and to assess the resulting radiation doses to the public. Fifty-eight brands of canned tuna and sardines consumed in the Middle East and produced from different parts of the world were analyzed using a germanium detector. Cesium-137 (137Cs) was not detected above the minimum detectable activity in any of the samples. Natural radionuclides 40K, 226Ra and 228Ra were detected with wide activity concentration ranges and with average values of (in Bq kg(-1) wet weight): 68 ± 36, 0.31 ± 0.45, 0.34 ± 0.25, respectively, in tuna samples and with averages of 129 ± 67, 0.20 ± 0.33, 0.60 ± 0.31 in sardine samples. The results of the activity concentrations of 40K and 226Ra showed some regional dependence. Tuna samples produced in Europe have almost twice the concentration of 40K and half the concentration of 226Ra as compared to samples produced in either East or South Asia and North America. Moreover, sardine samples produced in North Africa and Europe have almost twice the concentrations of 40K and 226Ra as those produced in East or South Asia and North America. Dose assessment due to ingestion of canned seafood was also performed, and the committed effective dose was found to be well within the worldwide average.

Natural radioactivity levels of some medicinal plants commonly used in Ghana

Natural radioactivity levels in some selected medicinal plants commonly used in Ghana from the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine were investigated to determine the activity concentration and the annual committed effective dose due to naturally occurring radionuclides of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K. The activity concentration was determined using gamma-ray spectrometry. The results of the analysis indicated an average activity concentration of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K in the medicinal plants to be 31.8±2.8 Bq kg(-1), 56.2±2.3 Bq kg(-1) and 839.8±11.9 Bq kg(-1) respectively. Khaya ivorensis recorded the highest activity concentration of (238)U and (232)Th while Lippia multiflora recorded the highest activity concentrations of (40)K. The total annual committed effective doses ranged from 0.026±0.001 to 0.042±0.002 mSv a(-1) with an average value of 0.035±0.001 mSv a(-1). The average annual committed effective dose due to ingestion of the natural radionuclides in the medicinal plant samples were far below the world average annual committed effective dose of 0.3 mSv a(-1) for ingestion of natural radionuclides provided in UNSCEAR 2000 report. Therefore, the radiological hazard associated with intake of the natural radionuclides in the medicinal plants is insignificant. The results provide baseline values which may be useful in establishing rules and regulations relating to radiation protection as well as developing standards and guidelines for the use of medicinal or herbal plants to the appropriate authorities.