Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T18:40:03.143Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

238U and 232Th concentrations in various foodstuffs in Morocco and resulting radiation doses to the members of the public

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2008

M. A. Misdaq ,
H. Elamyn  and
H. Erramli
M. A. Misdaq
Affiliation:
Nuclear Physics and Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, B.P. 2390, University Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco.
H. Elamyn
Affiliation:
Nuclear Physics and Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, B.P. 2390, University Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco.
H. Erramli
Affiliation:
Nuclear Physics and Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, B.P. 2390, University Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco.
Get access

Abstract

Uranium (238U) and thorium (232Th) concentrations were measured in different foods widely consumed in Morocco by using CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). Data obtained were compared to those obtained by using isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS). Total daily intakes of 238U and 232Th for a typical food basket were estimated to be 1.3 ± 0.1 mBq d-1 and 0.98 ± 0.08 mBq d-1, 1.4 ± 0.1 mBq d-1 and 1.06 ± 0.08 mBq d–1, 1.7 ± 0.1 mBq d–1 and 1.26 ± 0.08 mBq d–1 and 2.0 ± 0.1 mBq d–1 and 1.5 ± 0.1 Bq d–1 for the 2–7 years, 7–12 years, 12–17 years and adult’s age groups, respectively. Alpha-activities due to annual 238U and 232Th intakes from the ingestion of the studied foodstuffs were determined in different organs and tissues of the human body of members of the public by using the ICRP gastrointestinal tract and systemic part models for these radionuclides. Committed equivalent doses due to annual intakes of 238U and 232Th were evaluated in the human body organs and tissues for different age groups of the Moroccan population by exploiting data obtained for alpha-doses deposited by 1 Bq of 238U and 1 Bq of 232Th in the considered human organs and tissues. The influence of the mass of the target tissue and activities due to 238U and 232Th on the committed equivalent doses due to annual intakes of these radionuclides in the organs and tissues of the human body was studied.

Keywords

Nuclear-track detectoringestion238U and 232Th intakesequivalent doseuraniumthoriumenvironmentnatural radioactivity
Type
Research Article
Information
Radioprotection , Volume 43 , Issue 2 , April 2008 , pp. 225 - 237
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Biersack J.P., Ziegler J.F. (1998) IBM research, TRIM, Version 98.
Dang, H.S., Pullat, V.R., Pullai, KC, Jaiwal, D.D., Sunta, C.M. (1990) Daily intake of uranium by the urban Indian population, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 138, 67-72. CrossRef
Dang, H.S., Pullat, V.R., Pullai, K.C. (1992) Simultaneous determination of 232Th and 238U in biological samples Application to the estimation of their daily intake through diet, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 162, 163-169. CrossRef
Fisenne, I.M., Perry, P.M., Decker, K.M., Keller, H.W. (1987) The daily intake of 234, 235, 238U, 228, 230, 232Th and 226, 228Ra by New York City residents, Health Phys. 53, 357-363. CrossRef
Hafez, A.F., Naim, M.A. (1992) Plastic nuclear track detection methods for estimation of thorium to uranium ratio in thick natural materials, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. Phys. Res. B 69, 373-381. CrossRef
ICRP Publication 69 (1995) Age dependent doses to members of the public from intake of radionuclides: Part 3, Ingestion dose coefficients, Ann. ICRP 25(1).
Kuwahara, C., Koyama, K., Sugiyama, H. (1997) Estimation of daily uranium ingestion by urban residents in Japan, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 220, 161-165. CrossRef
Misdaq, M.A., Bourzik, W. (2002) Determination of committed effective doses from annual intakes of 238U and 232Th from the ingestion of cereals, fruits and vegetables by using CR-39 and LR-115 II SSNTD, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 254, 551-555. CrossRef
Misdaq, M.A., Bourzik, W. (2004) Evaluation of annual committed effective doses of the public in Morocco due to 238U and 232Th in various food materials, J. Radiol. Prot. 24, 391-399. CrossRef
Misdaq, M.A., Bakhchi, A., Ktata, A., Merzouki, A., Youbi, N. (1999) Determination of uranium and thorium contents inside differents materials using track detectors and mean critical angles, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 51, 209-215. CrossRef
Misdaq, M.A., Khajmi, H., Aitnouh, F., Berrazzouk, S., Bourzik, W. (2000) A new method for evaluating uranium and thorium contents in different natural material samples by calculating the CR-39 and LR-115 type II SSNTD detection efficiencies for the emitted α-particles, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. Phys. Res. B 171, 350-359. CrossRef
Misdaq, M.A., Ezzahery, H., Elabboubi, D. (2001) Determination of equivalent dose rates and committed effective doses in the respiratory system from the inhalation of radon decay products by using SSNTD and a dosimetric compartmental model, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 93, 347-355. CrossRef
Pietrzak-Flis, Z., Suplinska, M.M., Rosiak, L. (1997) The dietary intake of 238U, 234U, 230Th, 232Th, 228Th and 226Ra from food and drinking water by inhabitants of the Walbrzych region, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 222, 189-193. CrossRef
Singh, N.P., Burleigh, D.P., Ruth, H.M., Wrenn, M.E. (1990) Daily U intake in Utah residents from food and drinking water, Health Phys. 59, 333-337.
Shiraishi, K., Yamamoto, M. (1995) Dietery 232Th and 238U intakes for Japanese as obtained in a market basket study and contributions of imported foods to internal doses, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 196, 89-96. CrossRef
Shiraishi, K., Tagami, K., Muramatsu, Y., Yamamoto, M. (2000) Contributions of 18 food categories to intakes of 232Th and 238U in Japan, Health Phys. 78, 28-36. CrossRef
UNSCEAR (2000a) Comité scientifique des Nations-Unies pour l’étude des Effets des Rayonnements Ionisants, Assemblée générale : Documents officiels, Cinquante-cinquième session. Rapport supplément n° 46 (A/55/46).
UNSCEAR (2000b) Sources and effects of ionising radiation, Report to the General Assembly, Volume I.
Yu, K.N., Mao, S.Y. (1999) Assessment of radionuclide contents in food in Hong Kong, Health Phys. 77, 686-696. CrossRef
Ziegler J.F., Biersack J.P., Littmark U. (1985) The stopping and range of ions in solids, Pergamon, New York.