Nuclear Technology & Radiation Protection Journal


NT & RP Journal	ACTIVITY CONCENTRATIONS OF ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, AND ⁴⁰K RADIONUCLIDES IN SOME SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICINAL HERBS AND THEIR EFFECTIVE INGESTION DOSES
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Vol. XXXVIII, No. 1, Pp. 1-70 March 2023 UDC 621.039+614.876:504.06 ISSN 1451-3994 Back to Contents	Pages: 48-52 Authors: Bamise Adeleye and Naven Chetty Abstract Measurements of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K activity concentrations in some commonly used medicinal plant parts have been performed for radiation hazard assessment and as baseline data for health risk monitoring in South Africa and other countries. The mean activity of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K was found to be 43.3 Bqkg^-1, 33.7 Bqkg^-1, and 180 Bqkg^-1 in Sclerocarya birrea; 85.0 Bqkg^-1, 75.3 Bqkg^-1, and 316.7 Bqkg^-1 in Cymbopogon citratus; 47.3 Bqkg^-1, 37.0 Bqkg^-1, and 773.3 Bqkg^-1 in Neorautanenia ficifolia; 25.7 Bqkg^-1, 30.0 Bqkg^-1, and 510 Bqkg^-1 in Kigelia africana, respectively. The estimated annual effective dose due to ingestion ranged from 0.013 mSv (Kigelia africana) to 0.032 mSv (Cymbopogon citratus), well within recommended limits for the members of the public. Although the values revealed no hazards from a radiological point of view, it represents a valuable database for regulatory functions. Key words:effective dose, medicinal plant, radiation hazard, South Africa FULL PAPER IN PDF FORMAT (239 KB)
Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences :: Designed by milas :: July 2007 Operated by acapanic :: Last updated on August, 2023

Pages: 48-52

Authors: Bamise Adeleye and Naven Chetty

Abstract

Measurements of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K activity concentrations in some commonly used medicinal plant parts have been performed for radiation hazard assessment and as baseline data for health risk monitoring in South Africa and other countries.
The mean activity of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K was found to be 43.3 Bqkg^-1, 33.7 Bqkg^-1, and 180 Bqkg^-1 in Sclerocarya birrea; 85.0 Bqkg^-1, 75.3 Bqkg^-1, and 316.7 Bqkg^-1 in Cymbopogon citratus; 47.3 Bqkg^-1, 37.0 Bqkg^-1, and 773.3 Bqkg^-1 in Neorautanenia ficifolia; 25.7 Bqkg^-1, 30.0 Bqkg^-1, and 510 Bqkg^-1 in Kigelia africana, respectively. The estimated annual effective dose due to ingestion ranged from 0.013 mSv (Kigelia africana) to 0.032 mSv (Cymbopogon citratus), well within recommended limits for the members of the public. Although the values revealed no hazards from a radiological point of view, it represents a valuable database for regulatory functions.

Key words:effective dose, medicinal plant, radiation hazard, South Africa

FULL PAPER IN PDF FORMAT (239 KB)