Exposure to super(226)Ra from Consumption of Vegetables in the High Level Natural Radiation Area of Ramsar-Iran

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity Vol. 66; no. 3; p. 215
• Main Authors: Ghiassi-Nejad, M, Beitollahi, M M, Asefi, M, Reza-Nejad, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2003
• ISSN: 0265-931X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0265-931X(02)00108-X

Scientists examined the vegetable-to-soil concentration ratio (CR) for radium 226 and the assocaited effective dose in the region of Talesh-Mahalleh, Iran. This district of the city of Ramsar is characterized by a high level of natural radiation. Techniques used to determine maximum and minimum values for CR in samples of leafy and root vegetables are described. Findings from the study indicated that the mean effective dose associated with super(226)Ra exposures resulting from the consumption of edible vegetables by adults in the critical group studied in the area was approximately 72.3 mu Sv/year. This dose level is roughly 12 times larger than the average effective dose resulting from this radionuclide due to the combined intake of all foods and drinking water from areas characterized by normal background levels of the radionuclide.