title: Transfer factor of the radionuclides in food crops from high-background radiation area of south west India.
abstract: It is necessary to obtain the transfer factor (TF) of long-lived radionuclides because soil type and vegetation can affect TF. We studied the food crops commonly consumed by the general public of Kanyakumari district of south India. The main focus was on rice, fruits, vegetables and tapioca because the consumption of these is high. The soil to rice TF for the radionuclides, (226)Ra, (232)Th, (238)U and (40) K are 8.8×10(-2), 14.2×10(-2), 5.8×10(-2) and 6.3×10(-2), respectively. The TF of tapioca for (226)Ra, (232)Th, (238)U and (40) K are 6.2×10(-2) , 11×10(-2), 1.9×10(-2) and 8.9×10(-2), respectively. For fruits and vegetables, the TFs are low. In the majority of the crops the non-edible parts accumulate more radionuclides than the edible parts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Women's Christian College, Nagercoil 629001, India. shanthidickson@gmail.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shanthi
authors.forename: J Thampi
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Thanka Kumaran
authors.forename: G Allen
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Gnana Raj
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Maniyan
mesh_terms: D001417:Background Radiation; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005507:Food Contamination, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D002365:Manihot; D012275:Oryza; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000378:metabolism*; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis*; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium; D013910:Thorium; D011883:Radium