title: Evaluation of radionuclides transfer from soil-to-edible flora and estimation of radiological dose to the Malaysian populace.
abstract: Malaysia, a rapidly growing industrial country, is susceptible to pollution via large-scale industrial engagements and associated human activities. One particular concern is the potential impact upon the quality of locally resourced vegetables, foodstuffs that contain important nutrients necessary for good health, forming an essential part of the Malaysian diet. As a part of this, it is of importance for there to be accurate knowledge of radioactive material uptake in these vegetables, not least in respect of any public health detriment. Herein, using HPGe γ-ray spectrometry, quantification has been performed of naturally occurring radionuclides in common edible vegetables and their associated soils. From samples analyses, the soil activity concentration ranges (in units of Bq/kg) for (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K were respectively 1.33-30.90, 0.48-26.80, 7.99-136.5 while in vegetable samples the ranges were 0.64-3.80, 0.21-6.91, 85.53-463.8. Using the corresponding activities, the transfer factors (TFs) from soil-to-vegetables were estimated, the transfers being greatest for (40)K, an expected outcome given the essentiality of this element in support of vigorous growth. The TFs of (226)Ra and (232)Th were found to be in accord with available literature data, the values indicating the mobility of these radionuclides to be low in the studied soils. Committed effective dose and the associated life-time cancer risk was estimated, being found to be below the permissible limit proposed by UNSCEAR. Results for the studied media show that the prevalent activities and mobilities pose no significant threat to human health, the edible vegetables being safe for consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: mu_khandaker@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mayeen Uddin
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Khandaker
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Noor Liyana
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Mohd Nasir
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asaduzzaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Michael Adekunle
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Olatunji
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yusoff Mohd
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hasan Abu
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kassim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Research, Department of Physics, Fatima Mata National College, Kollam 691001, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jojo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Khaldia, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Tareq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alrefae
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D013910:Thorium; D011883:Radium
keywords: Associated soils; Cancer risk; Committed effective dose; Edible vegetables; Radionuclides activity; Transfer factors