title: Radioactivity in honey of the central Italy.
abstract: Natural radionuclides and (137)Cs in twenty seven honeys produced in a region of the Central Italy were determined by alpha ((235)U, (238)U, (210)Po, (232)Th and (228)Th) and gamma spectrometry ((137)Cs, (40)K, (226)Ra and (228)Ra). The study was carried out in order to estimate the background levels of natural ((40)K, (238)U and (232)Th and their progeny) and artificial radionuclides ((137)Cs) in various honey samples, as well as to compile a data base for radioactivity levels in that region. (40)K showed a mean activity of 28.1±23.0Bqkg(-1) with a range of 7.28-101Bqkg(-1). The mean of (210)Po activity resulted 0.40±0.46Bqkg(-1) with a range of 0.03-1.98Bqkg(-1). The mean of (238)U activity resulted 0.020±0.010Bqkg(-1). (226)Ra and (228)Ra resulted always <0.34 and <0.57Bqkg(-1) respectively, (235)U, (228)Th and (232)Th were always <0.007Bqkg(-1). (137)Cs resulted <0.10Bqkg(-1) in all samples. The committed effective doses due to (210)Po from ingestion of honey for infants, children and adults account for 0.002-5.13% of the natural radiation exposure in Italy. The honeys produced in Central Italy were of good quality in relation to the studied parameters, confirming the general image of a genuine and healthy food associated to this traditional products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Urbino University "Carlo Bo", P.zza Rinascimento 6, 61029 Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Assunta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Meli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Urbino University "Carlo Bo", P.zza Rinascimento 6, 61029 Urbino, Italy. Electronic address: donatella.desideri@uniurb.it.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Desideri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Urbino University "Carlo Bo", P.zza Rinascimento 6, 61029 Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roselli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Urbino University "Carlo Bo", P.zza Rinascimento 6, 61029 Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feduzi
authors.affiliation: Health Agency Urbino (ASUR), Via Gramsci 29, 61029 Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benedetti
mesh_terms: D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D007558:Italy; D011851:Radioactivity; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes
keywords: Alpha and gamma spectrometry; Italian honeys; Natural and artificial radionuclides