NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES CONCENTRATIONS IN SOME STAPLE FOOD SAMPLES SOLD IN SAPELE, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
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Abstract
Food is an important requirement for man to surviveand as such, its safety must be accorded serious attention. The present study therefore examines the levels of natural radionuclides, 40K, 238U and 232Th, in some samples of food sold in Sapele, Delta state. Results of measured activity concentration in Bqkg–1, of the radionuclides indicated a range of 548.74 110.53 in Lemon Grass to 1095.94 210.91 in Okro for 40K, 21.17 3.59 in Plantain to 67.26 ± 12.28 in Cassava for 232Th, and 25.22 2.47 in Pepper to 42.36 4.15 in Okro for238U. The estimated mean concentration across the foodstuffs was 797.61 192.98, 40.75 17.84, 32.51 5.35 Bqkg–1for40K,232Th and 238U, respectively, which follows this order, 40K >232Th >238U.40K contributed highest percentage to the total radioactivity content of the sampled foodstuffs.The noticed high concentration of 40K in the samples may be attributed to the natural endowment of potassium radionuclide in the earth as well as the possible use of potassium enriched fertilizers by the farmers during the planting period so as to achieve reasonable crop yield