Radionuclide Concentrations in Some Fruit Juices Produced and Consumed in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

A total of seven samples of bottled fruit juice produced and consumed in Nigeria were used for the study. The average concentrations of radionuclides contained in some bottled fruit juice produced and consumed in Nigeria and also exported to neighboring countries have been estimated by means of scintillation detector which is sodium Iodide activated with thallium (Na (Ti)). The radionuclides observed with reliable regularity belonged to the series-decay naturally occurring radionuclides headed by 238 U and 232 Th as well as the non-series decay type, 40 K. The average specific activity values obtained for 226 Ra, 228 Ra and 40 K, respectively, were 16.44 ± 5.91, 13.64 ± 3.99 and 163.21 ± 49.00 Bq/kg. It was observed that man made radionucldes suchas 137 Cs and 90 Sr were not detected in any of the bottled fruit juices which might be due to the countermeasures applied. The activity concentrations of each of the naturally occurring radionucldes in the bottled fruit juice were much lower than those recommended by the regulatory bodies. Thus, the contribution from these radionuclides does not pose any significant radiological health problem to the consumers.