title: Annual committed effective dose from olive oil (due to 238U, 232Th, and 222Rn) estimated for members of the Moroccan public from ingestion and skin application.
abstract: Olive oil is traditionally refined and widely consumed by Moroccan rural populations. Uranium (238U), thorium (232Th), radon (222Rn), and thoron (220Rn) contents were measured in various locally produced olive oil samples collected in rural areas of Morocco. These radionuclides were also measured inside various bottled virgin olive oils consumed by the Moroccan populations. CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) were used. Annual committed effective doses due to 238U, 232Th, and 222Rn from the ingestion of olive oil by the members of the general public were determined. The maximum total committed effective dose due to 238U, 232Th, and 222Rn from the ingestion of olive oil by adult members of Moroccan rural populations was found equal to 5.9 µSv y-1. The influence of pollution due to building material dusts and phosphates on the radiation dose to workers from the ingestion of olive oil was investigated, and it was found that the maximum total committed effective dose due to 238U, 232Th, and 222Rn was on the order of 0.22 mSy y-1. Committed effective doses to skin due to 238U, 232Th, and 222Rn from the application of olive oil masks by rural women were evaluated. The maximum total committed effective dose to skin due to 238U, 232Th, and 222Rn was found equal to 0.07 mSy y-1 cm-2.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Physics and Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, University of Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco. misdaq@ucam.ac.ma
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Misdaq
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Touti
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000512:Alpha Particles / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005507:Food Contamination, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D006283:Health Physics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D012424:Rural Population; D013910:Thorium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014501:Uranium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D014501:Uranium; D013910:Thorium; D011886:Radon