Calculation of the Radionuclide Concentrations in Samples of Condiments by Using Gamma Spectroscopy System Qabas A. J. Yaseen Auday T. Subhi Ala A. Hadi Dept. of physics / College of Education For Pure Sciences ( Ibn Al-Haitham) / University of Baghdad Received in : 7January 2012, Accepted in : 5May 2013 Abstract The aim of this work is to evaluate concentrations of natural and artificial radionuclide in nine different samples of condiments from local markets. The concentrations of 238 U , 232 Th ,40k and 137Cs were measured by using gamma spectroscopy with a high- purity germanium detector. The concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th ,40k and 137Cs were found to be in a range of (21.4 - 91.13), (15.7 - 88.11) , (285.56 – 1100) and (5.1 - 27.5) Bq.kg-1 respectively. These concentrations are not hazardous to public health and the activities are within the allowed levels . Key words : artificial radioactivity , Natural radioactivity , condiments , Gamma spectroscopy . 115 | Physics @a@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ÚÓ‘Ój�n€a@Î@Úœäñ€a@‚Ï‹»‹€@·rÓ:a@Âig@Ú‹©@Ü‹127@@ÖÜ»€a@I1@‚b«@H2014 Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. Vol. 27 (1) 2014 Introduction Natural radionuclide concentrations in environmental samples varies according to geographical and geological factors [1] and appear at different levels in soil of each region in the world [2]. Natural sources of radioactivity in the environment are called naturally occurring radioactive materials, and categorized as being of terrestrial or cosmicorigin [3]. Humans are exposed to both internal and external radiation from these natural sources. Internal exposure occurs through the intake of terrestrial radionuclides through inhalation or ingestion. Inhalation exposure does result from the existence of dust particles in the air including radionuclides from 238 U and 232 Th decay series. The biggest contribution to inhalation exposure comes from short half life decay products of radon. Ingestion exposure dose mostly results from 238 U , 232 Th series radionuclides , 40k in drinking water and food stuff. In addition 137Cs is the most important fission product released to the environment as a result of nuclear activities, because this radionuclide rapidly passes to food stuffs and creates dose effect.[4,5] They tend to accumulate in various tissues of the human body, for instance, thorium accumulates in lung, liver and skeleton tissues, uranium in lungs and kidneys, and potassium in muscles.[6] Materials and Methods The samples were collected from the local markets; each of the samples was blended into powder and placed into a 0.5 L Marinelli- beaker. Activity measurement of the samples was done by using coaxial semiconductor detector with high- purity germanium crystal which has energy resolution (2.2)keV at 1.33 MeV 60Co and detection efficiency of 50%. The detector was shielded by (10cm) of lead to achieve a background level as low as possible, and also shielded with (1mm) aluminum, (1mm) of cadmium and (1mm) of iron. An empty Marinelli beaker (0.5L,capacity ) was counted for subtracting the background Energy calibration was performed by using 152Eu source to measure the efficiency of radionuclides. The activity of the sample (A) was measured by using the following equation : S.A (Bq.kg -1) = C ε .M .Pɤ Where C is the gamma ray count (number per second), ε is the detector efficiency of the specific gamma ray,Pɤ is the absolute transition probability of gamma decay and M(kg) is the mass of the sample.[7] Results and Discussion For the studied samples, the gamma transitions at energies 352 keV 214Pb , 609.3 keV 214Bi were used to determine the concentrations for the 238U series. The gamma transitions of energy at(238)keV 212Bi was used to determine the concentration of the 232Th series. Also 1460 keV gamma transitions of 40k and 662.keV gamma transitions of 137Cs in all of the samples were considered. Table-1 shows the natural and artificial radionuclide activity concentrations measured in samples of condiments consumed in the regions of Iraq which are frequently consumed by local residents. The highest concentration in the samples studied for a series of U-238 was in the form of Cumin up to 91.13 Bq.kg -1 due to geographical and geological factors of the soil and less concentration in the form of the Fenugreek by 21.4 Bq.kg -1 and the average of these 116 | Physics @a@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ÚÓ‘Ój�n€a@Î@Úœäñ€a@‚Ï‹»‹€@·rÓ:a@Âig@Ú‹©@Ü‹127@@ÖÜ»€a@I1@‚b«@H2014 Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. Vol. 27 (1) 2014 concentrations by 55.86 Bq.kg-1, either for a series of Th-232 was the highest concentration is in the form of Curcuma by 88.11 Bq.kg -1 and the lowest concentration in the form of the Fenugreek by 15.7 Bq.kg -1 and the rate was up to 44.29 Bq.kg -1 , for either nuclide K-40 was the highest concentration in the form of black pepper by 1100 Bq.kg -1 and less concentration in the sample cloves up 285.56 Bq.kg -1 at a rate of 874.06 Bq.kg -1 , the highest concentration of the nuclide Cs-137 was in the form of Curcuma increased by 27.5 Bq.kg -1 and less concentration in the sample Fenugreek by 5.1 Bq.kg -1 and the rate was up to 14.04 Bq.kg -1. Conclusion Calculation of the concentration for natural and industrial radioactive elements samples condiments the consumed frequently in the local markets in Iraq , the results of concentrations that is found in the proportion of medium and within the allowable limits , and figures from 1 to 4 show concentrations for 238 U, 232Th,40k and 137Cs in the samples . References 1. Badran, H.M. ; Sharshar, T. and Elnimer ,T. (2003) , levels of 137Cs and 40k in edible parts of some vegetables consumed in Egypt , J. Radioanal Nucl. Chem. , 67 ,181-190 . 2. Jevremovic, M. ; Lazarevic, N. ; Pavlovic, S. and Orlic, M. (2011) , Radionuclide concentrations in samples of medicinal herbs and effective dose from ingestion of 137Cs and natural radionuclides in herbal tea products from Serbian market ,Isotopes in environmental and health studies ,47(1):87-92 . 3. Kathren, R.L. (1998) , NORM Sources and their origins , Appl. Radiat. Isot. 49 (3) :149- 168 . 4. Unscear , (2000) , sources and effects of ionizing radiation report of the United Nations scientific committee on the effects of atomic radiation to the General Assembly , with scientific annexes United Nations , New York . 5. Cumhur, C.L. and Mahmut, D.H. (2013) preliminary study on 226Ra , 232Th , 40K , and 137Cs activity concentrations in vegetables and fruits frequently consumed by inhabitants of Elazig Region ,Turkey , J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., V(295) , P (1245-1249). 6. Akhter, P. ; Rahman, K.; Orfi, S.D. and Ahmed, N. (2007) Radiological impact of Dietary intakes of naturally occurring radionuclides on Pakistani adults , J. Food chem. Toxical , V(45) , P(272-277) . 7. Baykara, O. and Dogru, M. (2009) , Determination of Terrestrial gamma , 238U , 232Th and 40k in soil a long fracture zones , Radiat. Meas. , 44,116-121 . 117 | Physics @a@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ÚÓ‘Ój�n€a@Î@Úœäñ€a@‚Ï‹»‹€@·rÓ:a@Âig@Ú‹©@Ü‹127@@ÖÜ»€a@I1@‚b«@H2014 Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. Vol. 27 (1) 2014 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Jevremovic%20M%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=21390990 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Lazarevic%20N%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=21390990 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Pavlovic%20S%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=21390990 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Orlic%20M%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=21390990 Table No. (1) : Concentrations of radioactive elements 238U , 232Th , 40k and 137Cs in sample of condiments Sample No. Sample Origin S.A (Bq.kg -1) 238U 232Th 40K 137Cs 1 Rosemary Syrian 67.92 72 887.8 12.78 2 Cinnamon Syrian 61 19.5 571.13 8.57 3 Curcuma Indian 51.05 88.11 1078.2 27.5 4 Coriander Iraqi 57.17 69.9 934.5 20.1 5 Cumin Iraqi 91.13 20.64 1099.5 12.85 6 Cloves Iraqi 55.07 25.66 285.56 12.78 7 Nutmeg Syrian 32.69 64.04 778.81 18.77 8 Fenugreek Iraqi 21.4 15.7 771.02 5.1 9 Black-pepper Indian 65.39 23.09 1100 7.99 average 55.86 44.29 874.06 14.04 Figure No. (1) The concentration of 238U for the samples of condiments. Figure No. (2) The concentration of 232Th for the samples of condiments 0 20 40 60 80 100 S. A . of 2 38 U ( B q. kg -1 ) Sample 0 20 40 60 80 100 S. A . of 2 32 T h ( B q. kg -1 ) sample 118 | Physics @a@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ÚÓ‘Ój�n€a@Î@Úœäñ€a@‚Ï‹»‹€@·rÓ:a@Âig@Ú‹©@Ü‹127@@ÖÜ»€a@I1@‚b«@H2014 Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. Vol. 27 (1) 2014 Figure No. (3) The concentration of 40K for the samples of condiments Figure No. (4) The concentration of 137Cs for the samples of condiments 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 S. A . of 4 0 K (B q. kg -1 ) Sample 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 S. A . of 1 37 C s (B q. kg -1 ) Sample 119 | Physics @a@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ÚÓ‘Ój�n€a@Î@Úœäñ€a@‚Ï‹»‹€@·rÓ:a@Âig@Ú‹©@Ü‹127@@ÖÜ»€a@I1@‚b«@H2014 Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. Vol. 27 (1) 2014 مطیافیة اشعة حساب تراكیز النویدات المشعة في نماذج من التوابل باستعمال كاما قبس عبد الجبار یاسین عدي طارق صبحي عالء عبد ھادي / جامعة بغداد) ابن الھیثم (قسم الفیزیاء / كلیة التربیة للعلوم الصرفة 2013، قبل البحث في ایار 2012كانون الثاني 7استلم البحث في الخالصة تم في ھذه الدراسة حساب تراكیز النویدات المشعة الطبیعیة والصناعیة في تسعة نماذج من التوابل الموجودة في االسواق المحلیة. لقیاس تراكیز HpGe)استخدمت لھذا الغرض منظومة مطیافیة اشعة كاما مع كاشف الجرمانیوم العالي النقاوة ( في التوابل . 137Csو 40Kو 232Th و 238U النویدات المشعة بكرل / (88.11-15.7) بین 232 –بكرل / كغم ، و للثوریوم (91.03-21)تتراوح بین 238 -كانت تراكیز الیورانیوم كغم . كغم /بكرل (27.5 - 5.1)بكرل / كغم ، وللسیزیوم (1100 - 285.56)بین 40 –وللبوتاسیوم مستویات اشعاعیھ التشكل خطورة على الفرد العراقي وكانت ضمن المستویات المسموحة .نستنتج من ھذه القیم ، انھا .النویدات المشعة الصناعیة ، النویدات المشعة الطبیعیة ، مطیافیة كاما ، التوابل -الكلمات المفتاحیة : 120 | Physics @a@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ÚÓ‘Ój�n€a@Î@Úœäñ€a@‚Ï‹»‹€@·rÓ:a@Âig@Ú‹©@Ü‹127@@ÖÜ»€a@I1@‚b«@H2014 Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. Vol. 27 (1) 2014