Distribution of natural and artificial radioactivity in soils, water and tuber crops
Distribution of natural and artificial radioactivity in soils, water and tuber crops
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Date
2015
Authors
Opoku, Gyamfi
Godfred, Darko
Augustine, Faanu
Osei, Akoto
Akwasi, Acheampong
Eric Jude, Goode
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Environ Monit Assess (2015)
Abstract
Activity concentrations of radionuclides in
water, soil and tuber crops of a major food-producing
area in Ghana were investigated. The average gross
alpha and beta activities were 0.021 and 0.094 Bq/L,
respectively, and are below the guidelines for drinking
water and therefore not expected to pose any significant
health risk. The average annual effective dose due to
ingestion of radionuclide in water ranged from 20.08 to
53.45 μSv/year. The average activity concentration of
238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs in the soil from different
farmlands in the study area was 23.19, 31.10, 143.78
and 2.88 Bq/kg, respectively, which is lower than world
averages. The determined absorbed dose rate for the
farmlands ranged from 23.63 to 50.51 nGy/year, which
is within worldwide range of 18 to 93 nGy/year. The
activity concentration of 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs in
cassava ranges from 0.38 to 6.73, 1.82 to 10.32, 17.65 to
41.01 and 0.38 to 1.02 Bq/kg, respectively. Additional ly, the activity concentration of 238U, 232Th, 40K and
137Cs in yam also ranges from 0.47 to 4.89, 0.93 to 5.03,
14.19 to 35.07 and 0.34 to 0.89 Bq/kg, respectively. The
average concentration ratio for 238U, 232Th and 40K in
yam was 0.12, 0.11 and 0.17, respectively, and in cas sava was 0.11, 0.12 and 0.2, respectively. None of the
radioactivity is expected to cause significant health
problems to human beings.
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Citation
Darko, G., Faanu, A., Akoto, O., Acheampong, A., Goode, E. J., & Gyamfi, O. (2015). Distribution of natural and artificial radioactivity in soils, water and tuber crops. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187, 1-11.