Intake of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th through the consumption of foodstuffs by tribal populations practicing slash and burn agriculture in an extremely high rainfall area.
The concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides ²³²Th, ²³⁸U was determined using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) in different food groups namely cereals, vegetables, leafy vegetables, roots and tubers cultivated and consumed by tribal population residing around the proposed uranium mine. The study area is a part of rural area K. P. Mawthabah (Domiasiat) in the west Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, India located in the tropical region of high rainfall that remains steeped in tribal tradition without much outside influence. Agriculture by Jhum (slash and burn) cultivation and animal husbandry are the main occupation of the tribal populations. A total of 89 samples from locally grown food products were analyzed. The concentration of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in the soil of the study area was found to vary 1.6-15.5 and 2.0-5.0 times respectively to the average mean value observed in India. The estimated daily dietary intake of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th were 2.0 μg d⁻¹ (25 mBq d⁻¹) and 3.4 μg d⁻¹ (14 mBq d⁻¹) is comparable with reported range 0.5-5.0 μg d⁻¹ and 0.15-3.5 μg d⁻¹ respectively for the Asian population.
Environmental Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai-400085, India. skjha@barc.gov.in
S K
SK
Jha
S
S
Gothankar
P S
PS
Iongwai
B
B
Kharbuli
S A
SA
War
V D
VD
Puranik
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000737:chemistry*; D005390:Fires; D007194:India; D008906:Mining; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D011891:Rain; D012424:Rural Population; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis*; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*
D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D012987:Soil; D014501:Uranium; D013910:Thorium