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de Souza Pereira W, Kelecom A, Lopes JM, Charles-Pierre M, do Carmo AS, Paiva AK, Pelegrinelli SQ, Filho WSS, Silva LF, da Silva AX. Internal dose rate due to intake of uranium and thorium by fish from a dam reservoir associated with a uranium mine in Brazil. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2024; 63:97-107. [PMID: 38197922 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-023-01051-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Uranium mining can cause environmental impacts on non-human biota around mine sites. Because of this, the reduction in non-human biota exposure becomes an important issue. Environmental radioprotection results from the evolution of human radioprotection; it is based on dose rate to non-human biota and uses, as a biological target, and has harmful effects on populations. In the present study, a flooded impoundment created following dam construction in a uranium mine plant undergoing decommissioning was investigated. Internal dose rates due to activity concentration of natural uranium (Unat) and 232Th in omnivorous, phytophagous, and carnivorous fish species were estimated. Radionuclide activity concentrations were obtained by spectrophotometry with arsenazo III in the visible range. The dose rate contribution of 232Th was lower than that of Unat. There were no differences between the internal dose rates to studied fish species due to 232Th, but there were differences for Unat. A dose rate of 2.30·10-2 µGy∙d-1 was found due to the two studied radionuclides. Although this value falls below the benchmark for harmful effects, it is important to acknowledge that the assessment did not account for other critical radionuclides from uranium mining, which also contribute to the internal dose. Moreover, the study did not assess external doses. As a result, the possibility cannot be excluded that dose rates at the study area overcome the established benchmarks for harmful effects.
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Ugbede FO, Agbajor GK, Akpolile AF, Popoola FA, Okoye ONN, Akpobasahan EA, Umeche MA. Ingestion exposure of public to natural radionuclides and committed effective dose and cancer risk through tuber crops cultivated in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1385. [PMID: 37889342 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11992-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Internal exposure of public to radiation arising from ingestion of natural radionuclides in tuber crops of Ebonyi State origin was investigated in this study. Committed effective doses and lifetime cancer risk of 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th in cassava, cocoyam, water yam, and white yam were calculated. The average activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th determined by gamma spectrometric Na (TI) detector were, respectively, 199.15 ± 23.51, 77.57 ± 7.98, and 118.20 ± 10.72 Bq/kg in cassava; 146.62 ± 40.69, 43.42 ± 7.63, and 75.61 ± 2.89 Bq/kg in cocoyam; 162.81 ± 20.43, 63.17 ± 11.36, and 81.50 ± 10.27 Bq/kg in water yam; and 184.50 ± 20.22, 80.23 ± 10.93, and 116.29 ± 5.93 Bq/kg in white yam. The total committed effective dose via ingestion aligned in this order of cassava (7.05 mSv/year) > white yam (4.38 mSv/year) > water yam (0.42 mSv/year) > cocoyam (0.21 mSv/year) with overall average dose of 3.12 mSv/year. The values of dose were higher than world average of 0.29 mSv/year given by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The lifetime cancer risk values were above tolerance level of >10-4 prescribed by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), suggesting probable evolvement of radiogenic cancer morbidity. The data presented in this study contributes to baseline information on radiological characteristics of tuber crops in Ebonyi, which would be valuable to WHO/FAO food safety policy in Nigeria and rest of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Felix Adegoke Popoola
- Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Glorious Vision University (Formerly Samuel Adegboyega University), Ogwa, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Okechukwu N N Okoye
- Department of Industrial Chemistry, Evangel University, Akaeze, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
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Faria da Silva L, Dutra Garcêz RW, Fernandes TS, Lopes JM, Mello CR, Barbosa da Silva L, Kuster de Souza Paiva A, Xavier da Silva A. An assessment of committed effective dose and lifetime cancer risk due to the ingestion of infant milk. Appl Radiat Isot 2022; 190:110468. [PMID: 36179440 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Infant milk is a manufactured food designed for feeding babies and infants under 12 months of age. This product is indicated when, for some reason, the baby can not be fed by breast milk. It is used in case of intolerance to milk from farmed animals and is widely used for the nutrition of newborns in artificial lactation, in place of breastfeeding. It can be used as a complete or partial substitute for human milk. In the current study, the committed effective dose and lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of 4 K, 226Ra, and 228Ra were estimated using activity concentration obtained from high-resolution gamma spectrometry. Consumption data and dose coefficients were obtained from Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and data published by ICRP 119. Infant milk and water samples were collected in the Rio de Janeiro trade, placed in a polystyrene container, and then sealed to reach the secular radioactive equilibrium condition (at least 45 days). The samples were analyzed by gamma spectrometry using a High Purity Germanium (HPGE). Detection efficiency for each sample was obtained with LabSOCS software. For infant milk samples, the highest values of activity concentrations were (242 ± 9) Bq.kg-1 for 4 K, (5 ± 1) Bq.kg-1 for 228Ra and presented values below the detection limit for 226Ra. The higher values obtained for water samples were (10 ± 1) Bq.l-1, (5 ± 1) Bq.l-1, (5.3 ± 0.1) Bq.l-1 for 4 K, 226Ra and 228Ra, respectively. These values of committed effective dose are below the values stipulated by UNSCEAR (290 μSv.y-1) and by the ICRP (1 mSv.y-1). The values obtained for lifetime cancer risk are considered negligible, once they are below the limit considered for taking action (10-4). It can be concluded that the values calculated do not present a significant risk regarding the intake of infant milk in the first two years of the child's life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Faria da Silva
- Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos, 149, CT, Fundão, 21941-909, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | | | - Thais Santos Fernandes
- Amazônia Azul Tecnologias de Defesa S.A. - Amazul, Av. Corifeu de Azevedo Marques, 1847 - Butantã, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - José Marques Lopes
- Departamento de Física da Terra e do Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal da Bahia, UFBA, 40170-115, Salvador, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geoquímica (POSPETRO), Universidade Federal da Bahia, UFBA, 40170-110, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Camila Rodrigues Mello
- Amazônia Azul Tecnologias de Defesa S.A. - Amazul, Av. Corifeu de Azevedo Marques, 1847 - Butantã, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Leandro Barbosa da Silva
- Programa de Engenharia Nuclear, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Av. Horácio Macedo, 2030, Block G, Room 206, CT, Cidade Universitária, 21, 941-914, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Kuster de Souza Paiva
- Programa de Engenharia Nuclear, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Av. Horácio Macedo, 2030, Block G, Room 206, CT, Cidade Universitária, 21, 941-914, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Centro Universitário Arthur Sá Earp Neto, Av. Barão do Rio Branco, 1003 - Centro, Petrópolis - RJ, 25680-120, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ademir Xavier da Silva
- Programa de Engenharia Nuclear, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Av. Horácio Macedo, 2030, Block G, Room 206, CT, Cidade Universitária, 21, 941-914, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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