Total Annual Effective Dose Research Articles

Development of a corrective model of short-term radon concentrations to estimate annual effective doses in the primary schools of the Doukkala-Abda region, Morocco

In order to assess the radiological impact of radon on >250,000 students, the total annual effective dose was estimated inside 204 Moroccan primary schools sampled in the Doukkala-Abda region. The measurement of indoor radon concentrations was conducted using the LR115 detector for each month, each season and throughout the year. The evolution of indoor radon concentrations showed a decrease in annual average radon concentrations of 20–26% and 10–14%, respectively, compared to the monthly and seasonal annual average radon concentrations. For this purpose, a corrective model of short-term radon concentrations was developed to calculate the seasonal correction factors in order to estimate the annual indoor radon concentrations. For the qualitative evaluation of these factors, a percentage of deviation between the measured and estimated annual radon concentrations was calculated. Almost half of the estimated annual concentrations were 10% less than the measured concentration and the majority of these estimated values were within 40%. The estimated total annual effective doses received by students, except those in the Sidi Bennour city, were higher than the world average (1.15 mSv/y). Nevertheless, all these doses remained below the permissible limit recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (3–10 mSv/y).

Radiation exposure in a region with natural high background radiation originated from rare earth element deposits at Bat Xat district, Vietnam.

Surface deposits of rare earth element (REE) were identified in the Bat Xat district, Northern Vietnam. As the area is inhabited, an in-depth investigation was carried out to assess the radioactivity levels and to evaluate the radiation exposure and radiological risks for the population. Samples of REE ore, soils, water and several foods locally produced were collected and analyzed by gamma spectrometry for determination of 232Th, 226Ra, and 40K. Radon (222Rn and 220Rn) measurements were carried out in dwellings at the villages located near by the REE deposit area, and in Hanoi for comparison. Based on the measured radionuclide concentrations, several radiological parameters were calculated to evaluate the radiological risks for the population and to compare with worldwide values. Results indicate that the representative person of the most exposed group living near the REE deposits may receive a total annual effective dose as high as 37.9 ± 10.6mSv, i.e., approximately 16 times the world average dose of 2.4mSv y-1. Consequently, this area should be considered a high background radiation area. Exposure to external radiation and internal radiation from ingestion and inhalation of radionuclides were assessed separately. Radon inhalation contributed to approximately 70% of the total annual effective dose, with both radon isotopes contributing significantly, while the ingestion of local foods and water gave minor contributions to the total effective dose. Several measures were considered to improve the radiation safety and recommendations are given to relocate the most exposed members of the population.

Gross beta and alpha activities in the selected commercial freshwater fish species in Vietnam.

The baseline data of radioactivity levels in food is one of the main factors for the assessment of resident's health risk. Gross beta and alpha activity was identified for selected commercial freshwater fish species, including 29 types of fish species by a gas-flow proportional detector. The samples were collected from wholesale markets in Hanoi city, Vietnam. The highest gross alpha activity was recorded in blotched snakehead, a pelagic and carnivorous species, and the lowest one was recorded in common carp, a demersal and omnivorous species. Meanwhile, the gross beta activity was much higher than the gross alpha activity with the highest value of gross beta, observed in Wels catfish, a demersal and carnivorous species, and the lowest one found in Mudskipper a demersal, herbivores species. Regarding feeding types, the gross alpha activity was observed in the order of Alcarnivores > Alomnivores > Alherbivores whereas the gross beta was non-distinction. In terms of living behavior, the gross alpha activity in pelagic species was much higher than that in demersal species (Alpelagic > > Aldemersal) and indifferent for gross beta. There was an insignificant relationship between the trophic level with gross beta and alpha activities in freshwater fish species. The calculated annual effective dose ​​ranged from 0.19 to 1.88 and 0.78mSv.y-1 on average, being within the limited dose for the public as reported by UNSCEAR in which gross beta activity has a strong correlation with the total annual effective dose.

Radon concentration measurement and effective dose assessment in drinking groundwater for the adult population in the surrounding area of a thermal power plant

Radon in the household water collected from hand pumps is measured using a continuous radon monitor. Water samples are collected from 25 villages from the surrounding regions of the National Capital Power Cooperation (NTPC), Dadri. The radon concentration ranges from 17±1 to 68±3 Bql-1 with a mean value of 33±13 Bql-1. The measured radon concentration in all collected samples lies well within the limit of 100 Bql-1as set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The mean values of the annual effective dose due to ingestion of radon and due to the inhalation of radon released from water are 84±33 and 167±65 μSvy-1, respectively. In addition, the mean values of estimated total annual effective doses are found to be 167±65 μSvy-1. The mean value of total annual effective doses is found to be higher than the reference dose level of 100 μSvy-1 recommended by the WHO and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The mean values of effective doses per annum to the lungs and stomach are 9.9±3.9 and 10.1±3.9 μSv, respectively.

Estimation of population exposure to terrestrial gamma rays in Canada

Based on ground gamma ray spectrometry surveys conducted from 2007 to 2010 in populated areas across Canada (i.e. in southern Canada, excluding the northern territories), and with consideration of the exposure outdoors and indoors in various types of buildings as well as exposure to radionuclides in building materials (assuming most building materials are of local origin), the population-weighted annual effective dose from exposure to terrestrial gamma rays was estimated to be 167 ± 43 μSv. Under Canadian-specific average occupancy times, indoor exposures at home contribute 69% of the total annual effective dose, followed by 19% from indoor exposures other than at home, 6.2% from outdoor exposures and 5.8% from exposures inside vehicles. This assessment with measurements in a total of 1057 sites in populated areas across Canada is in general agreement with earlier assessments based on airborne gamma surveys mostly over unpopulated areas of Canada and truck-borne radiometric surveys along paved urban roads in four cities.

Modelling of Radiological Health Risk in Water from Abstraction Well Close to a Hypothetical Radioactive Waste Repository in the Accra Plains

This study evaluated the integrity of the geosphere of the Accra Plains to host a radioactive waste disposal facility for Ghana’s radioactive waste materials. The study thus assessed the migration of radioactive contaminant from a hypothetical radioactive waste disposal facility through the geosphere to the biosphere in the Accra Plains. The Accra Plains is predominantly underlain by schist rocks, hence the hydrogeologic parameters of schist rock from literature were used as input data. AMBER software was used to develop a model to estimate the peak total annual effective dose from all the radionuclides at various receptor locations. The endpoint of interest was the dose received by a receptor for ingesting water from an abstraction well located at distance; 100 m, 200 m, 500 m, 1 km, 2 km, 3 km, 4 km and 5 km from the hypothetical repository. From the simulation, the annual effective dose values ranged from 2.07E-25 Sv/y to 6.45E-17 Sv/y which are all below the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) dose constraint of 0.3 mSv/y. The lifetime cancer risk for ingesting water from the abstraction wells were then calculated from the annual effective dose values. The resulting values ranged from 1.06E-24 to 3.30E-16 thus indicating that the potential cancer risk for ingesting water from the abstraction wells located within 100 m to 5 km from the hypothetical disposal facility is negligible. The model results demonstrate that, siting a disposal facility in the study area might not pose any significant risk to the sprawling population and the environment.

Assessment of Age-Dependent Effective Dose and Toxicity Risks Due To Ingestion of 226RA and 228RA in River Water Samples in a Part of Bitumen Belt, Ondo State. Nigeria

Exposure to naturally occurring radioactive chemical elements in food and water is attracting the attention of many researchers in recent times because of its deleterious health effects. In this study, the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in some river waters in southwestern Nigeria were measured using high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. They ranged from 0.12 to 2.31, 0.17 to 2.85, and 7.86 to 65.51 Bql-1 for 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K respectively. Mean of the total annual effective dose were 9.86, 2.46, 1.71, 2.43, 5.74, and 0.99 mSvy-1 for age groups ≤1y, 1-2y, 2-7y, 7-12y, 12-17y, and >17y respectively. Estimated mass concentration of 226Ra and 228Ra in the samples ranged from 3.29x10-6 to 59.71x10-6 µgl-1 with a mean of 35.04x10-6 µgl-1 and 1.69x10-8 to 28.30x10-8 µgl-1 with a mean of 14.30x10-8 µgl-1 respectively. Mortality and morbidity risks ranged from 0.04x10-3 to 0.77x10-3 with a mean of 0.42x10-3 and 0.04x10-3 to 0.80x10-3 with a mean of 0.44x10-3 respectively for 226Ra while they ranged from 0.11x10-3 to 1.89x10-3 with a mean of 0.96x10-3 and 0.16x10-3 to 2.66x10-3 with a mean of 1.38x10-3 respectively for 228Ra. Lifetime average daily dose (LADD) of 226Ra and 228Ra ranged from 9.39x10-14 µgkg-1d-1 to 181.01x10-14 µgkg-1d-1 with a mean of 100.06x10-14 µgkg-1d-1 and 4.82x10-16 µgkg-1d-1 to 80.70x10-16 µgkg-1d-1 with a mean of 40.90x10-16 µgkg-1d-1 respectively. The hazard quotient (HQ) for 226Ra and 228Ra ranged from 8.38x10-14 to 161.61x10-14 with a mean of 89.33x10-14 and 4.30x10-16 to 70.09x10-16 with a mean of 36.50x10-16 respectively. Radiological hazard indicator of radium is of concern in these river water samples.

Measurement and Analysis of Specific Activities of Natural and Anthropogenic Radionuclides in Fresh Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) from Lan Khoi Sub-district, Pa Phayom District, Phatthalung

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is one of the popular medicinal plants that is widely used and consumed in Thailand. In particular, it is taken to mix with curry and used as an herbal medicine for the general public. In this study, the specific activities of natural (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) and anthropogenic (137Cs) radionuclides that had accumulated in the rhizomes of fresh turmeric plants were measured and analyzed using a high purity germanium detector (HPGe) and gamma spectrometric analysis system. A total of 20 samples of fresh turmeric were collected from Lan Khoi Sub-district, Pa Phayom District, Phatthalung Province and were then prepared according to the standard method described in the IAEA manual. It was found that the range of values of 226Ra,232Th, 40K and 137Cs were <1.48-4.36, 7.78 - 17.65, 719.52 - 974.43, and < 1.40 - < 2.31 Bq/kg, respectively. The average values of those ranges were 1.99±0.07, 10.30 ± 0.40, 818.03 ± 22.85, and <1.82 ± 0.25 Bq/kg, respectively. According to the asymmetrical distribution of specific activities of all required radionuclides, the median values of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were used to evaluate some related radiological hazard indices which were annual radionuclide intake (Da), annual effective dose (Deff), total annual effective dose (Dtotal), and Lifetime Cancer Risk (LCR). Furthermore, the results were presented and compared to national and international recommended data. Moreover, the measured and evaluated values fell under the recommended limits of the UNSCEAR and IAEA.

Determination of natural radionuclides in phosphogypsum samples from phosphoric acid production industry in Senegal

In this study, the activity concentration of natural radionuclides (238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, 232Th, and 40K) in phosphogypsum were measured using a low-background digital gamma-ray spectrometer equipped with Broad Energy Germanium (BEGe) detector. The mean activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, and 232Th were found to be 88.5 ± 19.5 Bq kg−1, 879.6 ± 20.3 Bq kg−1, 755.4 ± 17.1 Bq kg−1, 4.5 ± 0.3 Bq kg−1, and below the detection limit respectively. The estimated radium equivalent activity was found to be higher than the world recommended value of 370 Bq kg−1 but is within the recommended limit of 2220 Bq kg−1 for the use of phosphogypsum in the construction of roads, bridges, and foundations of non-residential buildings. The total annual effective doses received by workers and members of the public were found to be lower than the annual limit of 1 mSv y−1, except for the scenario of a person living in a house built with building material containing phosphogypsum.

Natural and anthropogenic radioactivity in some vegetables and fruits commonly consumed in the Western Black Sea region of Turkey

Abstract In this study, the activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs in some vegetable and fruit samples frequently consumed in Kastamonu province located in the West Black Sea region of Turkey were determined using a gamma-ray spectrometer. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K varied from 0.8 ± 0.1 to 32.8 ± 1.3, 0.7 ± 0.1 to 41.3 ± 21 and 391.8 ± 18.3 to 4679.0 ± 311.4 Bq kg−1 (dw), respectively, in twenty-eight vegetables and 1.3 ± 0.1 to 12.6 ± 0.4, 1.4 ± 0.1 to 15.0 ± 0.5 and 133.0 ± 84 to 777.0 ± 69.4 Bq kg−1 (dw), respectively, in seven fruit samples. The highest activity concentration of 226Ra and 232Th was measured in the garlic sample, while the highest activity concentration of 40K was measured in the spinach sample. Artificial radionuclide 137Cs was measured only in four vegetable samples; its activity concentration in garlic, eggplant, cucumber and carrot samples was determined as 9.6 ± 0.3, 3.1 ± 0.1, 3.1 ± 0.1 and 2.2 ± 0.1 Bq kg−1 (dw), respectively. The results obtained were compared with the results of similar studies in the literature. Annual effective radiation dose to adults due to the internal irradiation caused by ingestion of the investigated vegetable and fruit samples, and the corresponding excess lifetime cancer risk were estimated as 201 µSv and 8.9 × 10−5, respectively. The contribution of 40K to the total annual effective radiation dose was found as approximately 70%.

Radiological assessment subjected to outdoor radon and thoron concentrations and terrestrial gamma radiation measurements in Perak Malaysia

The concentrations of radon, thoron and terrestrial gamma radiation were measured to evaluate the outdoor effective dose. The outdoor radon activity concentration ranged from 5.79 to 5110 ± 46.36 Bq m−3, with a mean of 320.03 Bq m−3 which is higher than the EPA level of 14.8 Bq m−3. The range of the thoron activity concentration outdoor was from 0.00 to 4226.7 ± 58.5 Bq m−3, with a mean of 226.1 Bq m−3 which was above the UNSCEAR recommended level of 10 Bq m−3. The terrestrial gamma radiation dose rates range was from 98.31 to 3769.71 nGy h−1 with a mean of 446.27 nGy h−1. The effective dose contribution from radon exposures in the study was estimated to be 3.2 ± 0.5 mSv y−1 is about 84% total annual effective dose received by the population in those areas. The estimated thoron and gamma dose contributions (15%, and 1% respectively) were not significant. The outdoor doses for thoron and gamma were lower than the ICRP (2007) value of 1 mSv. The total annual outdoor effective dose with an occupancy factor of 1825 h (5 h day−1) was estimated to be within the range of 0.30–551.41 ± 0.65 mSv, with a mean of 3.75 mSv which is a little higher than the world average of 2.4 mSv.

Water radon risk in Susunia hill area: an assessment in terms of radiation dose.

Radiological impact of radon in air is a global issue whereas radon in water has local consequences. Considering its importance, we have conducted a study on radon activity measurements in 316 tube-well water samples collected from Susunia hill area in Bankura district of West Bengal, India during the period of 25th December 2018-2nd February 2020. Radon contents are measured using AlphaGUARD radon monitor. The obtained radon activities in drinking water samples lie between 1.78 ± 0.07 and 3213.50 ± 77.32 Bq/l with an average of 128.30 ± 14.09 Bq/l. This study reveals that 93% of the samples have radon levels in excess of the USEPA proposed maximum contamination level (MCL) of 11.1 Bq/l while radon levels of 40% samples have exceeded the WHO and EU Council Directive recommended reference level of 100 Bq/l. The total annual effective dose of the samples have been estimated by considering the per day water intake of 3 l. The calculated total annual effective dose widely fluctuates between 10.39 and 18649.55 μSv/year with an average value of 744.59 μSv/year. 269 water samples have exceeded the WHO and EU Council Directive recommended reference level of 100 μSv/year. However, if we consider the UNSCEAR prescribed annual water intake of 60 l, the average dose becomes 279.82 μSv/year. The situation demands attention of the local authorities. Local people are advised to take some easy preventive measures for their radiological protection against such contamination.

210Po and 210Pb in King Bolete (Boletus edulis) and Related Mushroom Species: Estimated Effective Radiation Dose and Geospatial Distribution in Central and Eastern Europe.

210Po and 210Pb occur naturally and are the most radiotoxic isotopes of the uranium (U) decay chain. Samples of Boletus edulis and related mushroom species, including B. pinophilus, B. reticulatus, B. luridus and B. impolitus, collected from Poland and Belarus were investigated for the activity concentrations of these isotopes and also for their potential health risk through adult human consumption. The results showed that spatially, the occurrence of 210Po and 210Po was heterogeneous, with activities varying from 0.91 to 4.47 Bq∙kg−1 dry biomass and from 0.82 to 5.82 Bq∙kg−1 db, respectively. Caps and stipes of the fruiting bodies showed similar levels of contamination. Consumption of boletes foraged in Poland could result in exposure to a combined radiation dose of 10 µSv∙kg−1 db from both isotopes. This dose is not significant compared to the total annual effective radiation dose of 210Po and 210Pb (54–471 µSv∙kg−1) from all sources, suggesting that these mushrooms are comparatively safe for human consumption.

Estimation of the annual effective doses from direct ingestion of 226Ra and 228Ra in the Disi groundwater for different age groups

The total annual effective doses (TAED) from ingestion of naturally occurring radionuclides (NOR) in Disi groundwater for infants, children, and adults have been calculated,The ranges of the estimated annual effective dose reported in this study from direct ingestion of radium (226Ra and 228Ra) were found to be from 0.085±0.021 to 0.532±0.205 mSv y–1, with a mean value of 0.322 ± 0.095 mSv y–1 for infants, from 0.144±0.011 to 0.828±0.203 mSv y–1, with a mean value of 0.519 ± 0.102 mSv y–1 for children and from 0.087±0.024 to 0.383±0.130 mSv y–1, with a mean value of 0.252 ± 0.067 mSv y–1 for adults. The present results of this study were compared with the minimum recommended limits (MRL) reported by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2008) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP, 2000), and the previously published data in different countries. The mean annual effective dose from direct consumption of Disi groundwater for infants and adults found to be about three times higher than the MRL of 0.1 mSv/y suggested by WHO, 2008. The average TAED for children found to be five times higher than that recommended limits by WHO, 2008.

ASSESSMENT OF RADIATION DOSE LEVEL AT KABBA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, DIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA

Background radiation involves the measure of the level of ionizing radiation present in the environment at a particular location. This research seek to generate data of the natural background radiation level of some selected Sections at Kabba College of Agriculture, using RadEye G20 survey meter. A total of 15 sections of the College were randomly selected and the background radiation dose rate of the sections were measured. The indoor dose rate ranged from (0.09 – 0.13) 𝜇Sv/yr, while the outdoor dose rate ranged from (0.07 - 0.10) 𝜇Sv/yr. The indoor annual effective dose were observed to be greater than the outdoor annual effective dose in all the College Sections measured. The lowest total annual effective dose 0.75 𝑚𝑆𝑣/𝑦𝑟 was found at the Academic staff block. The highest total annual effective dose of 1.09 𝑚𝑆𝑣/𝑦𝑟 was found at the livestock building, this might be due to the high-altitude nature of the area and the rocky materials used in the construction of the building. The highest total annual effective dose of the study area was slightly above the recommended limit of 1.0 𝑚𝑆𝑣/𝑦𝑟. The result obtained from this research may not constitute immediate health risk to the staff and student of the college

Association of 241Am and 137Cs in finer size-fractioned saltmarsh sediments from north-west England, UK and potential health risk to coastal population

ABSTRACT This study provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between radionuclide and particle size-class abundance through an investigation of radionuclide distribution in finer sediments within surface core samples collected from two contaminated upper saltmarsh areas of the Dee estuary and Biggar marsh in north-west England. The particle size fractionation (PSF) analysis was carried out following gravitational settling and pipette method to separate all samples into six size-fractioned groups ranging from 63 to <2 µm (very coarse silt to clay), and radioactivity analysis was performed using a well-type High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The highest 241Am and 137Cs activities in PSF samples were found to be 291 ± 5 and 2071 ± 16 Bq kg−1, respectively, for the Dee estuary saltmarsh and 3832 ± 14 and 4840 ± 23 Bq kg−1, respectively, for Biggar saltmarsh and found in the clay fractions for both sites. Correlation of radioactivity concentration data of three size groups ranging from 63 to <2 µm (very coarse silt to clay) confirms a strong and increasing association of radioactivity with fine particles from coarse to fine clay-size particles. Also, examination of textural and radionuclide data of all bulk core and size-fractioned samples revealed that upper saltmarshes are made up of both contaminated and uncontaminated sediments. Furthermore, the annual outdoor external effective dose range for all short core data (0.001–0.11 mSv y−1) and for PSF sample data (0.001–0.08 mSv y−1) reveal that some values exceed the world average value of 0.07 mSv y−1as reported in UNSCEAR [43], for outdoor, which are non-negligible. Thus, the total annual external effective dose associated with existing contaminated saltmarsh sediments represents a possible health risk to saltmarsh users and coastal populations living nearby these saltmarshes.

Investigation of 238U, 234U And 210Po Content in Selected Bulgarian Drinking Water

The radioactivity of selected sources of drinking water in Southern Bulgaria was investigated using 238U, 234U and 210Po activity measurements and dose calculation, respectively. The activities of 238U, 234U and 210Po varied from 226 to 826 mBq/L, 274 to 1623 mBq/L and &lt; 0.6 to 25.5 mBq/L, respectively, being lower then derived concentrations for radioactivity in water intended for human consumption of the considered radionuclides, given in EC Directive 2013/51/EURATOM. In some drinking waters the mass concentration of natural uranium exceeded the set maximum chemical concentration level of 0.030 mg/L. A radioactive disequilibrium between 234U and 238U in water was detected. Based on the radionuclide activity concentrations total annual effective ingestion doses for adults, as well as contribution of each particular radionuclide to the total doses, were assessed and discussed. Тhe lowest contribution to the annual effective doses was found for 210Po and the highest for 234U. The results show that the annual effective doses of residents are below the reference level of 100 μSv/y according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization. The obtained new results are used to assess the radiation status of the investigated water.

Activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, 226Ra 137Cs and 40K radionuclides in honey samples from Romania. Lifetime cancer risk estimated

Romania is on the first place in Europe with an annual production of honey of 30.9 thousand tons in 2018, while the European Union is on the second place in the world with a total of 283 thousand tons. The most part of the honey production from Romania is exported.The aim of this study was to estimate internal radiation doses and lifetime cancer risk from honey ingestion sampled from several locations on the Romanian territory.The activity concentration of 137Cs and 238U is found to be below the detection limit of the method. The activity of 226Ra ranged from lower than the minimum detectable value (<1.08 Bq·kg−1) to 7.35 ± 1.73 Bq·kg−1. For 232Th and 40K the average recorded values were 1.51 ± 0.74 and 24.08 ± 4.37 Bq·kg−1, respectively.The annual effective dose due to the intake of 232Th, 226Ra, 40K has been assessed ranging from 0.08 to 0.47 (μSv·y−1), 0.35 to 1.65 (μSv·y−1) and 0.04 to 0.33 (μSv·y−1), respectively. 26Ra gives the largest contribution (56–82%) to the total annual effective dose due to ingestion received by consumption of honey, in the samples where it was identified. In the other samples (where 226Ra was below the detection limit), the largest contribution to annual effective dose is due to 232Th (45–85%).The values obtained from the lifetime cancer risk calculation range in the domain from 2.85·10−7 to 1.78·10−6 for 232Th, 1.33·10−6 to 6.22·10−6 for 226Ra and 1.38·10−7 to 1.25·10−6 for 40K. For 137Cs, only one value was recorded 2.20·10−8.The 232Th, 226Ra, 40K and 137Cs activities measured in the present work were comparable with completion of others activated values of honey samples around Europe.

Lifetime Cancer Risk Due to Alpha Emitters in Water Samples for Some Marshes in Dhi-Qar Governorate, Iraq

Abstract Background: Radon (222Rn), radium (226Ra), and uranium (238U) concentrations in the samples of marshes’ water have been measured. The samples were collected from various places at the marshes, in Dhi-Qar governorate. Also, the annual effective dose (AED), with lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of 222Rn and 226Ra in drinking water were calculated. Materials and Methods: Solid State Nuclear Tracks Detectors (SSNTD ) type CR-39 in present study was used. Results: The average values of 222Rn, 226Ra and uranium 238U concentration in water samples were found to be 0.282±0.03 Bq/l, 0.46±0.05 Bq/l, and 0.59±0.08 mg/kg respectively. The average values of AED caused by ingestion of 222Rn and 226Ra in the samples of the study were found to be 0.018±0.002 mSv/y and, 0.091±0.012 mSv/y, respectively. The average values of total AED and lifetime cancer risk values were calculated to be 0.11±0.01 mSv/y and (4.26±0.60)×10-4, respectively. Conclusions: The average concentration values of 222Rn and 226Ra were found to be within the global average limitations (0.4 Bq/l), and (1 Bq/l) that are recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) 1993 and 2011, while the average of 238U concentrations were within the global average limitation (0.566 mg/kg) that was recommended by Environmental Protection Agency EPA. When some results of AED due to 222Rn and 226Ra concentrations, in the samples under study, were compared with the worldwide median value, that is recommended by WHO 2011; it was found that the lifetime cancer risk in all samples of the present study were higher than the safety limit for the healthy drinking water. Therefore, the water of Marshes that consume in the Dhi-Qar governorate- Iraq, for drinking no healthy.

Determination of Radioactivity Levels in Different Mushroom Species from Turkey

Radioactivity in the environment occur due to natural, terrestrial, extra-terrestrial factors or caused by the human activity. Food stuffs that grown in the soil which containing radioactive elements may get deposited or absorbed in the foods. Wild growing mushrooms can accumulate many types of toxicological, nutritional and radioactive elements. So, mushrooms are considered as good bio-indicators to determine the environmental pollution caused by radiations. Knowing the levels of radioactivity in the food stuffs is of great importance for the protection of human health. In this study, the active concentrations of the naturally occurring 238U, 232Th, 40K nuclides and artificially occurring 137Cs nuclide were determined and annual effective doses and excess lifetime cancer risk values were calculated in mushrooms commonly consumed by the Turkish people. 15 types of mushroom samples were collected from different locations of Turkey. The results show that the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs varied from 9.2±1.6 to 75.4±8.8 Bq kg-1, 10.9±1.6 to 76.3±8.9 Bq kg-1, 925.9±29.0 to 3848.0±73.2 Bq kg-1 and 6.1±1.1 to 2824.8±79.8 Bq kg-1, respectively. The mean total annual effective dose was found to be 11.5 μSv y-1. 40K radionuclide was the highest contributor to the total annual effective dose (5.35 μSv y-1). According to these values obtained, the mean excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) of mushrooms was determined as 4.6 x10-5 %.