Radioactivity assessment of selected samples of foodstuffs in the local market

Abstract

The research aims to evaluate the radioactivity of samples of foodstuffs Consumables  in the local  markets thirteen items were selected which are rice, tea, drinking water, lentils, chickpeas, flour, red bean, crushed chickpeas and milk powder  where the concentrations of the specific activity of the chains of uranium (²³⁸U), thorium (²³²Th) and potassium (⁴⁰K) were measured using a gamma ray spectra analysis system with a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector using a program (Genie 2000) developed, where the results showed that potassium concentrations are clear, and the measurements showed low values ​​for the concentrations of uranium and other natural isotopes, and no values ​​were indicated for the presence of the industrial isotope cesium (¹³⁷CS), where it was found that the specific activity, which is measured by the unit (Bq/kg) of potassium ((⁴⁰K) in The studied samples ranged from (BDL -397.977 ± 25.894 ) with a rate of (143.559 ± 10.616), and for uranium ²³⁸U (BLD -7.114 ± 0.877) with a rate of (1.904 ± 0.214) and thorium (²³²Th) B.L.D (Below the detection level ) the radium equivalent Raeq, which is measured by the unit (Bq/kg) whose value ranges from (BDL -37.758) and the rate of (12.959), and the internal hazard index Hin, which is measured by the unit (Bq/kg)  (BDL -0.121) was calculated and with rate (0.040), and the annual effective dose of potassium (40K) measured in μSv/y whose values ​​range (BDL -1357.102 ) and an average (489,539) as a result of eating these foodstuffs that were within the permissible level per person in the general public during a year and according to the recommendations of the committee UNSCEAR, where the permissible exposure per person is (1mSv/y).