Levels of natural radionuclides in some Nigerian cereals and tubers

J Environ Radioact. 2005;82(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2004.10.010.

Abstract

The activities of radionuclides in the two major groups of foodstuff widely consumed in Nigeria have been determined. The 40K concentration range from 9.9+/-3.6 Bq kg-1 to 298+/-14 Bq kg-1 (av. 130+/-8.12 Bq kg-1). (238)U concentration range from 1.47+/-0.91 Bq kg-1 to 39.5+/-9.9 Bq kg-1 (av. 11.5+/-3.86 Bq kg-1), and 232Th range from 3.50+/-1.85 Bq kg-1 to 10.5+/-2.13 Bq kg-1 (av. 6.78+/-2.13 Bq kg-1). 137Cs was not detected in any of the foodstuffs analysed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Fabaceae / chemistry
  • Fertilizers
  • Food Contamination, Radioactive / analysis*
  • Nigeria
  • Oryza / chemistry
  • Plant Tubers / chemistry
  • Potassium Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Spectrometry, Gamma
  • Thorium / analysis*
  • Time Factors
  • Uranium / analysis*

Substances

  • Fertilizers
  • Potassium Radioisotopes
  • Uranium
  • Thorium