Radioactivity levels in the mostly local foodstuff consumed by residents of the high level natural radiation areas of Ramsar, Iran

Publication date: April 2017
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volumes 169–170
Author(s): Nasrin Fathabadi, Ali Akbar Salehi, Kazem Naddafi, Mohammad Reza Kardan, Masud Yunesian, Ramin Nabizadeh Nodehi, Mohammad Reza Deevband, Molood Gooniband Shooshtari, Saeedeh Sadat Hosseini, Mahtab Karimi
Among High Level Natural Radiation Areas (HLNRAs) all over the world, the northern coastal city of Ramsar has been considered enormously important. Many studies have measured environmental radioactivity in Ramsar, however, no survey has been undertaken to measure concentrations in the diets of residents. This study determined the ²²⁶Ra activity concentration in the daily diet of people of Ramsar. The samples were chosen from both normal and high level natural radiation areas and based on the daily consumption patterns of residents. About 150 different samples, which all are local and have the highest consumption, were collected during the four seasons. In these samples, after washing and drying and pretreatment, the radionuclide was determined by α-spectrometry. The mean radioactivity concentration of ²²⁶Ra ranged between 5 ± 1 mBq kg⁻¹ wet weight (chino and meat) to 725 ± 480 mBq kg⁻¹ for tea dry leaves. The ²²⁶Ra activity concentrations compared with the reference values of UNSCEAR appear to be higher in leafy vegetables, milk and meat product. Of the total daily dietary ²²⁶Ra exposure for adults in Ramsar, the largest percentage was from eggs. The residents consuming eggs from household chickens may receive an elevated dose in the diet.



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