A practical study to determine the percentage of radiation in medicinal herbs used in the Iraqi market

Abstract

Some commonly used medicinal plants have been chosen to find out the radioactivity concentration and their annual effective dose for 10 samples, Because of that naturally arising radionuclides of 238U, 232Th and 40K., Have used Gamma ray spectroscopy was used to find activity concentrations and the results of the analysis indicated that the average activity concentration of 238U, 232Th and 40K in the medicinal plants, where the results was 38.12 ± 1.619 Bq kg-1, 12.95 ± 0.896 Bq kg-1 and 570.70 ± 31.453 Bq kg−1 correspondingly. Chamomile noted ha the greatest concentration of activity to the 238U and 40K Whereas the maximum concentrations of radioactivity for 232Th in Officinalis Borago were noted. The values of the radium corresponding mean (62.715) Bq.kg−1. (Outdoor and indoor absorbed dose, Outdoor annual effective dose equivalent, Indoor annual effective dose equivalent and Total annual effective dose equivalent). Where the effective committed annual dose value was less than the world average (0.3 for ingestion of probable radionuclides contained in the UNSCEAR 2000 report. Also Well we found a risk factor was (1.4325*10−5) significantly less than the ICRP cancer risk, all values were below the internationally allowed limits, the results provide baseline values that may be useful in developing radiation protection rules and regulations in addition to setting ideals and rules for the usage of therapeutic plants or herbal to the competent establishments.