Radiological impact of composite food served at PINSTECH

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 47; no. 6; pp. 1205 - 1208
• Main Authors: Jabbar, T., Akhter, P., Khan, K., Jabbar, A., Saleem, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: 40K; Algorithms; Annual ingestion dose; Beta Particles; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Cafeteria; cafeterias; Cancer risk; Composite food; diet; dietary exposure; Food Analysis; Food Contamination, Radioactive - analysis; food safety; food service; foods; gamma radiation; Gamma Rays; half life; Humans; Medical sciences; neoplasms; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Nuclear Fission; Nuclear Reactors; Occupational Exposure; Occupations; Potassium Radioisotopes - analysis; radiation safety; Radioisotopes - analysis; Radiometry; radionuclides; Risk Assessment; risk factors; Toxicology; Pakistan; Radiometry; Composite food; 40K; Annual ingestion dose; Cancer risk; Oral administration; Malignant tumor; K; Ingestion; Radiography; Risk factor; Radiology; Dose; Cancer; Food
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2009.02.013

To determine radiological impact of composite food served at Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) on its worker, cooked meals were collected during 2000–2007 and analysed by gamma and beta radiometry techniques for naturally occurring radionuclides and fission fragments. The only measurable radionuclide was naturally occurring 40K. Its activity range was 40±1.5 to 182.4±3.8Bq kg−1 with cumulative average value of 89.4±35.1Bq kg−1. Based on annual meals taken by the worker in cafeteria, the measured value gives committed effective dose of 74μSv and estimated cancer risk factor of 1.5×10−4 that is a minor fraction of the total risk of 5×10−3. It depicts that food served at PINSTECH cafeteria is radiologically safe for consumption.