Effective radium activity, radon exhalation rate and uranium concentrations in medicinal plants

Abstract

In the present work, effective radium activity, radon exhalation rates and uranium in medicinal plants have been measured,samples collected from Iraqi markets. Sealed cup technique containing CR-39 solid state nuclear detector was used. Radium concentration varies from (0.0297 ± 0.004) Bq/kg to (0.327 ± 0.126) Bq/kg with an average of (0.142 ± 0.025) Bq/kg. The radon exhalation rate in terms of area varies from (2.287 ± 0.384) μBq/m2.d to (25.193 ± 9.729) μBq/m2.d with an average of (10.986 ± 1.989) μBq/m2.d, while uranium concentrations were ranged from (0.018 ± 0.002) ppm to (0.202 ± 0.057) ppm with an average (0.087 ± 0.002) ppm. The values of radium concentration, exhalation rates and uranium in all the medicinal plants samples were less than the recommended by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), United Nations and Scientific Committee On The Effects Of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) respectively. The results have revealed that the radium and uranium concentration as well as exhalation rates in studied medicinal plants and the associated exhalation radon does not pose risk to human health.