Ingestion dose due to 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K in the plant origin food materials grown around BARC, Visakhapatnam

Abstract

Naturally occurring radionuclides of uranium, thorium series, and potassium are significant contributors of ingestion dose. Radioactive concentrations of 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K in plant origin food cultivated around BARC, Visakhapatnam, were determined and the assessment of the ingestion dose through food consumption to different groups of population was estimated. Radionuclides in the samples analyzed were measured by high purity germanium gamma spectrometry system. The estimated annual effective dose from the ingestion of cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, and leafy vegetables due to 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K radionuclides is 0.32 mSv. In this paper the estimated annual effective dose in the study area is compared to the ingestion dose due to intake of different food materials by various natural radionuclides reported in various parts of India and world. The data generated will be a useful baseline studies for the upcoming BARC facilities at Visakhapatnam, India.