Search Results (5)

In this article, an investigation into the natural radioactivity content in natural inorganic pigments was carried out, together with the assessment of the radiological health risk for the public related to external exposure to ionizing radiations, via High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometry measurements and the calculation of several indices like the absorbed γ-dose rate (D), the annual effective dose equivalent outdoor (AEDE_out) and indoor (AEDE_in), and the activity concentration index (I). From the obtained results, it was possible to reasonably exclude radiological hazard effects. In addition, Pearson’s correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were carried out with the aim of determining correlations between natural radioactivity content and radiological indices and with the analyzed samples. As a result, five clusters of the investigated pigments were recognized at the highest level of detail based on their chemical composition and mineralogical nature. Full article

This article reports the results of an investigation into the activity concentration of natural radionuclides in raw building materials for underground parking lots, together with the assessment of the radiation hazard for the public related to exposure to ionizing radiations. To this purpose, high-purity germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometry was employed in order to quantify the average specific activity of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K natural radioisotopes. With the aim to assess any possible radiological health risk for the population, the absorbed γ-dose rate (D), the annual effective dose equivalent outdoor (AEDE_out) and indoor (AEDE_in), the activity concentration index (I), and the alpha index (I_α) were also estimated, resulting in values that were lower than the maximum recommended ones for humans. Finally, the extent of the correlations existing between the observed radioactivity and radiological parameters and of these parameters with the analyzed samples was quantified through statistical analyses, including Pearson’s correlation, a principal component analysis (PCA), and a hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). As a result, three clusters of the investigated samples were recognized based on their chemical composition and mineralogical nature. Noteworthily, this paper covers a certain gap in science since its topic does not appear in literature in this form. Thus, the authors underline the importance of this work to global knowledge in the environmental research and public health fields. Full article

The aim of this study was to assess the potential health risks of radioactive elements and heavy metals ingested through the consumption of various types of tea imported to the Polish market (black, green, red, oolong and white). The concentrations [Bq/kg] of radionuclides (⁴⁰K, ¹³⁷Cs, ²²⁶Ra, ²¹⁰Pb and ²²⁸Th) in tea leaves before and after brewing were measured using γ-ray spectrometry with high-purity germanium (HPGe). The concentrations [mg/kg] of the studied elements (Fe, Cr, Cu, Mo, Al, Mn, Ni, P, V, Cd and Pb) were determined using a microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometer (MIP-OES). The results presented here will help to expand the database of heavy metals and radioactivity in teas. With regard to the potential health risk, the percentage of leaching of individual elements in different types of tea infusions was determined, and the assessment of the consumption risk was estimated. Since the calculated exposure factors, namely the HQ (Hazard Quotient) and THQ (Target Hazard Quotient), do not exceed critical levels, teas can still be considered health-beneficial products (most of the radionuclides as well as elements remain in the leaves (65–80%) after brewing). Full article

In the present paper, an investigation on the natural and anthropic radioactivity and heavy metals content in a basalt aggregate for concrete from Sicily, Southern Italy, was performed as a case study. In particular, the evaluation of the specific activity of radium-226, thorium-232, potassium-40 and caesium-137 radionuclides was performed by using High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometry, together with the estimation of several indexes developed to evaluate the radiological risk for the population related to radiation exposure, i.e., the alpha index (I_α), the radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), the absorbed γ-dose rate (D) and the annual effective dose equivalent outdoor (AEDE_out) and indoor (AEDE_in). Moreover, measurements of the average heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, thallium and zinc) concentrations in the analyzed sample were performed by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Furthermore, with the aim to investigate any possible chemical pollution, the Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation Index (I_geo), Contamination Factor (CF) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) were assessed. Finally, the identification of the source of the aforementioned radioisotopes of natural origin was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thus identifying the major mineralogical phases present in the investigated basalt aggregate for concrete. Full article

Considering the probable health risks due to radioactivity input via drinking tea, the concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th,⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs radionuclides in the soil and the corresponding tea leaves of a large tea plantation were measured using high purity germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometry. Different layers of soil and fresh tea leaf samples were collected from the Udalia Tea Estate (UTE) in the Fatickchari area of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The mean concentrations (in Bq/kg) of radionuclides in the studied soil samples were found to be 34 ± 9 to 45 ± 3 for ²²⁶Ra, 50 ± 13 to 63 ± 5 for ²³²Th, 245 ± 30 to 635 ± 35 for ⁴⁰K and 3 ± 1 to 10 ± 1 for ¹³⁷Cs, while the respective values in the corresponding tea leaf samples were 3.6 ± 0.7 to 5.7 ± 1.0, 2.4 ± 0.5 to 5.8 ± 0.9, 132 ± 25 to 258 ± 29 and <0.4. The mean transfer factors for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K from soil to tea leaves were calculated to be 0.12, 0.08 and 0.46, respectively, the complete range being 1.1 × 10⁻² to 1.0, in accordance with IAEA values. Additionally, the most popularly consumed tea brands available in the Bangladeshi market were also analyzed and, with the exception of ⁴⁰K, were found to have similar concentrations to the fresh tea leaves collected from the UTE. The committed effective dose via the consumption of tea was estimated to be low in comparison with the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) reference ingestion dose limit of 290 μSv/y. Current indicative tea consumption of 4 g/day/person shows an insignificant radiological risk to public health, while cumulative dietary exposures may not be entirely negligible, because the UNSCEAR reference dose limit is derived from total dietary exposures. This study suggests a periodic monitoring of radiation levels in tea leaves in seeking to ensure the safety of human health. Full article