Natural Radioactivity Levels and Heavy Metal Contents in Selected Domestic Food Products in Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The current study is considered as the first baseline data for the natural radioactivity concentrations in vegetables, fruits and grain products from the Qassim region. Furthermore, the measurements of the heavy metals concentrations in the selected domestic food products were performed. In order to measure the radionuclides concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in vegetables, fruits, and grain products samples, γ-ray spectrometer NaI(Tl) was used. Before measurements, the samples required preparations. ARL Quant’X energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was also used for measurement of heavy metals concentrations in the domestic food products samples. In the present study, the average and range values of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in vegetables samples were 2.18 (0.32–5.68) Bq/Kg, 2.22 (0.47–8.16) Bq/Kg and 751.83 (258.0–1269.1) Bq/Kg. The radionuclides concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in fruits were 3.71 (0.18–8.05) Bq/Kg, 2.94 (0.84–7.83) Bq/Kg and 426.25 (156.4–905.9) Bq/Kg. Furthermore, the average and range of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in grain products samples were 1.57 (0.90–2.87) Bq/Kg, 1.53 (0.27–2.93) Bq/Kg and 730.0 (264.7–1172.8) Bq/Kg. Hence, the average annual effective doses resulting from intake of vegetables, fruits and grain products samples were 20.2 μSv·y−1, 31.6 μSv·y−1 and 152.1 μSv·y−1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K respectively. The average and range values of Fe were higher than tolerance value determined by FAO/WHO but its average value was within the range of other published studies. Regarding to annual ingestion dose, the present study shows that no risk to public health resulting from domestic products. Furthermore, heavy metals such as Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, As and Pb were measured and their values were not reported in the all samples.