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Güven A, Bilgici Cengiz G, Çağlar İ, Ateş S. Evaluation of radioactivity levels and radiological hazards of some endemic plants used as medicine in Ankara, Turkey. Appl Radiat Isot 2023; 200:110939. [PMID: 37536028 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.110939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
In this study, natural radioactivity levels (226Ra, 232Th, and 4 K) of some medicinal plant samples with known anti-oxidative properties, which are frequently consumed by animals and humans, were obtained from Ankara province and its surroundings (Mamak, Kızılcahamam, Beypazarı, Kahramankazan, and Polatlı districts) were determined using a thallium-doped sodium iodide NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometry. By using the determined natural radioactivity concentrations in the collected plant samples, the number of radiological doses that people could be exposed by consuming these plants was calculated. As a result of the study, 226Ra, 232Th, and 4 K radioactivity concentration ranges of the plant samples were found be 14.69 ± 1.27-59.08 ± 3.12 Bq kg-1, 1.78 ± 0.04-50.05 ± 2.76 Bq kg-1 and 207.24 ± 34.09-826.13 ± 25.40 Bq kg-1, respectively. The highest 226Ra, 232Th, and 4 K activity concentrations were measured in Astragalus densifolius subsp. ayashensis (Kahramankazan), Astragalus kochakii (Kahramankazan) and Rumex patientia (Patience Dock) (Kahramankazan) plants, respectively. The lowest 226Ra, 232Th and,4 K activity concentration plants were determined respectively as Rumex patientia (Mamak), Lavandula angustifolia (Kızılcahamam), and Astragalus acikirensis (Polatlı). The establishment and routine repetition of environmental radioactivity monitoring programs in each region are important for human and animal health, and the results of this study gain importance for Ankara and its surroundings in terms of environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysel Güven
- Başkent University, Vocational School of Healthcare Services, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Gülçin Bilgici Cengiz
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Letters, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey.
| | - İlyas Çağlar
- Department of Electricity and Energy, Kazım Karabekir Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey.
| | - Simge Ateş
- Başkent University, Vocational School of Healthcare Services, Ankara, Turkey.
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Saudi HA, Abedelkader HT, Issa SAM, Diab HM, Alharshan GA, Uosif MAM, Bashter II, Ene A, Ghazaly ME, Zakaly HMH. An In-Depth Examination of the Natural Radiation and Radioactive Dangers Associated with Regularly Used Medicinal Herbs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19138124. [PMID: 35805783 PMCID: PMC9266100 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19138124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The specific activity of U-238 and Th-232, as well as K-40 radionuclides, in twenty-nine investigated medicinal herbs used in Egypt has been measured using a high-purity germanium (HP Ge) detector. The measured values ranged from the BDL to 20.71 ± 1.52 with a mean of 7.25 ± 0.54 (Bq kg−1) for uranium-238, from the BDL to 29.35 ± 1.33 with a mean of 7.78 ± 0.633 (Bq kg−1) for thorium-232, and from 172 ± 5.85 to 1181.2 ± 25.5 with a mean of 471.4 ± 11.33 (Bq kg−1) for potassium-40. Individual herbs with the highest activity levels were found to be 20.71 ± 1.52 (Bq kg−1) for uranium-238 (H4, Thyme herb), 29.35 ± 1.33 (Bq kg−1) for thorium-232 (H20, Cinnamon), and 1181.2 ± 25.5 (Bq kg−1) for potassium-40 (H24, Worm-wood). (AACED) Ingestion-related effective doses over the course of a year of uranium-238 and thorium-232, as well as potassium-40 estimated from measured activity concentrations, are 0.002304 ± 0.00009 (minimum), 0.50869 ± 0.0002 (maximum), and 0.0373 ± 0.0004 (average)(mSv/yr). Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), absorbed gamma dose rate (Doutdoor, Dindoor), gamma representative level index (I), annual effective dose (AEDtotal), external and internal hazard index (Hex, Hin), and excess lifetime cancer risk were determined in medicinal plants (ELCR). The radiological hazards assessment revealed that the investigated plant species have natural radioactivity levels that are well within the internationally recommended limit. This is the first time that the natural radioactivity of therapeutic plants has been measured in Egypt. In addition, no artificial radionuclide (for example, 137Cs) was discovered in any of the samples. Therefore, the current findings are intended to serve as the foundation for establishing a standard safety and guideline for using these therapeutic plants in Egypt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba A. Saudi
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (Girls Branch), Nasr City, Cairo 11884, Egypt;
| | - Heba T. Abedelkader
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt; (H.T.A.); (I.I.B.)
| | - Shams A. M. Issa
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit 71524, Egypt; (S.A.M.I.); (M.A.M.U.)
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 47512, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanan M. Diab
- National Center for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo 11787, Egypt;
| | - Gharam A. Alharshan
- Physics Department, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint, Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohamed A. M. Uosif
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit 71524, Egypt; (S.A.M.I.); (M.A.M.U.)
- Physics Department, College of Science, Jouf University, P.O. Box 2014, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim I. Bashter
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt; (H.T.A.); (I.I.B.)
| | - Antoaneta Ene
- INPOLDE Research Center, Department of Chemistry, Physics and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, 47 Domneasca Street, 800008 Galati, Romania
- Correspondence: (A.E.); (H.M.H.Z.)
| | - M. El Ghazaly
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt;
| | - Hesham M. H. Zakaly
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit 71524, Egypt; (S.A.M.I.); (M.A.M.U.)
- Institute of Physics and Technology, Ural Federal University, 620002 Ekaterinburg, Russia
- Correspondence: (A.E.); (H.M.H.Z.)
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