Radioactivity in honey of the central Italy

Abstract

Natural radionuclides and 137Cs in twenty seven honeys produced in a region of the Central Italy were determined by alpha (235U, 238U, 210Po, 232Th and 228Th) and gamma spectrometry (137Cs, 40K, 226Ra and 228Ra). The study was carried out in order to estimate the background levels of natural (40K, 238U and 232Th and their progeny) and artificial radionuclides (137Cs) in various honey samples, as well as to compile a data base for radioactivity levels in that region. 40K showed a mean activity of 28.1±23.0Bqkg−1 with a range of 7.28–101Bqkg−1. The mean of 210Po activity resulted 0.40±0.46Bqkg−1 with a range of 0.03–1.98Bqkg−1. The mean of 238U activity resulted 0.020±0.010Bqkg−1. 226Ra and 228Ra resulted always <0.34 and <0.57Bqkg−1 respectively, 235U, 228Th and 232Th were always <0.007Bqkg−1. 137Cs resulted <0.10Bqkg−1 in all samples. The committed effective doses due to 210Po from ingestion of honey for infants, children and adults account for 0.002–5.13% of the natural radiation exposure in Italy. The honeys produced in Central Italy were of good quality in relation to the studied parameters, confirming the general image of a genuine and healthy food associated to this traditional products.