Investigation of natural radionuclide and essential metal contents of ancient wheat einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) grown in Turkey

Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) is accepted as the oldest known wheat. In this study, the natural radionuclide and essential metal contents of siyez samples collected from 21 different cultivation areas in Kastamonu province located in the Western Black Sea region of Turkey were determined by using non-destructive analytical methods. The average activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th measured in siyez samples using a gamma-ray spectrometry were found as 181.3 ± 4.1, 10.0 ± 0.7 and 6.1 ± 0.2 Bq kg−1, respectively. The average annual effective radiation dose that the people are exposed to due to the consumption of siyez samples was estimated as 68.2 ± 3.1 µSv y−1. The average concentrations of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn essential trace metals analyzed in einkorn samples using EDXRF spectrometry were found as 3.6 ± 0.2, 89.2 ± 1.2, 208.5 ± 62.6, 16.8 ± 0.6, 12.1 ± 0.1, 8.3 ± 0.2 and 65.3 ± 2.5 mg kg−1, respectively.