Analysis of Internal Exposure Associated with Consumption of Crops and Groundwater from the High Background Radiation Area of Mrima Hill, Kenya

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Date
2014-09
Authors
Chege, M.
Hashim, N.
Merenga, A.
Tschiersch, J
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Publisher
Oxford University Press
Abstract
Specific concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K were measured in cassava tubers, cassava leaves and groundwater obtained from the high background radiation area of Mrima hill and used in the evaluation of the ingested dose. Cassava tubers, cassava leaves and groundwater registered average (226)Ra concentrations of 60 ± 5, 141 ± 11 and 4.3 ± 0.3 Bq kg(-1), respectively. (232)Th was not detected in cassava leaves although it was present in cassava tubers as well as in groundwater in average concentrations of 35.3±61.5 and 2.0±0.1 Bq kg(-1), respectively. (40)K was present in all samples in average concentrations of 842±539 Bq kg(-1) in cassava tubers, 1708 ± 552 Bq kg(-1) in cassava leaves and 91.4 Bq kg(-1) in groundwater. The total annual effective dose due to ingestion was found to be 7.9 mSv y(-1) of which 2.4 mSv y(-1) was due to cassava tubers, 3.8 mSv y(-1) due to cassava leaves and 1.7 mSv y(-1) due to water.
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doi:10.1093/rpd/ncv261
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Citation
9th International Symposium on the Natural Radiation Environment (NRE-IX) September, 2014