Distribution of heavy metals and annual effective doses from radiotoxic 210Po in different types of tobacco plant grown in Türkiye

In this study the radiotoxic ²¹⁰Po activity concentrations were measured, in 25 different tobacco samples grown in the Aegean, Eastern Black Sea, Southeastern Anatolia, and Mediterranean regions of Türkiye, using an alpha spectrometer. The measured ²¹⁰Po activity concentrations in tobacco samples determined by radiochemical processes ranged from a minimum of 2.7 ± 0.6 Bq kg⁻¹ to a maximum of 10.8 ± 1.5 Bq kg⁻¹. According to the ²¹⁰Po activity concentrations, the annual effective doses to which adults are internally exposed were calculated to be in the range of 9.5 µSv y⁻¹ to 45.0 µSv y⁻¹, while lung doses were calculated to be in the range of 65.8 µSv y⁻¹ to 312.2 µSv y⁻¹. It has been determined how dangerous the radiotoxic ²¹⁰Po in the tobacco plants is in terms of public health. The concentrations of elements (Al, P, Ni, Pb, Mn, Fe, Cd, Cu, Zn) in tobacco samples were also measured using ICP-OES. These data were compared with results from other similar studies around the world and with UNSCEAR limit values.