226Ra, 232Th, and 40K activity concentration in foodstuffs consumed in Egypt

الملخص EN

The activity concentrations in Bq/kg of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were measured using a high purity germanium detector with relative efficiency 70%.

The activity concentration ranges of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the Egyptian foodstuffs were found to be 5.2–21.53, nondetectable – 31.37, and 41.29–1829.55 Bq/kg, respectively.

Moreover.

The activity concentration of 40K was the highest among the radioisotopes measured for cacao samples.

The values of radium equivalent activity (Raeq), gamma absorbed dose rate (D), external and internal hazard indices (Hex, Hin), gamma index (Iγ) and alpha index were estimated to be 59.75Bq/kg, 28.6 nGy/h, 0.161, 0.195, 0.454 and 0.062respectively.

The annual effective dose was calculated to be 126.578 μSv/yr which is in the world wide range.

Success of determination of natural radioactivity by means of new comparator method for fast analysis achievements was discussed.