Committed effective dose from naturally occuring radionuclides in shellfish
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2013
Abstract
Recognizing their importance in the average Malaysian daily diet, the radioactivity concentrations in mollusc- and crustacean-based food have been determined for key naturally occuring radionuclides. Fresh samples collected from various maritime locations around peninsular Malaysia have been processed using standard procedures; the radionuclide concentrations being determined using an HPGe γ-ray spectrometer. For molluscs, assuming secular equilibrium, the range of activities of 238U (226Ra), 232Th (228Ra) and 40K were found to be 3.28±0.35 to 5.34±0.52, 1.20±0.21 to 2.44±0.21 and 118±6 to 281±14 Bq kg−1 dry weight, respectively. The respective values for crustaceans were 3.02±0.57 to 4.70±0.52, 1.38±0.21 to 2.40±0.35 and 216±11 to 316±15 Bq kg−1. The estimated average daily intake of radioactivity from consumption of molluscs are 0.37 Bq kg−1 for 238U (226Ra), 0.16 Bq kg−1 for 232Th (228Ra) and 18 Bq kg−1 for 40K; the respective daily intake values from crustaceans are 0.36 Bq kg−1, 0.16 Bq kg−1 and 23 Bq kg−1. Associated annual committed effective doses from molluscs are estimated to be in the range 21.3 to 34.7 μSv for 226Ra, 19.3 to 39.1 μSv for 228Ra and 17.0 to 40.4 μSv for 40K. For crustaceans, the respective dose ranges are 19.6 to 30.5 μSv, 22.0 to 38.4 μSv and 31.1 to 45.5 μSv, being some several times world average values.
Keywords
Shellfish, Naturally occuring radionuclides, Activity concentrations, Radium equivalent activity, Estimated daily intake, Committed effective dose
Divisions
PHYSICS
Publication Title
Radiation Physics and Chemistry
Volume
88
Publisher
Elsevier