Activity concentration and radiological hazard indices from consumer products in Nigeria

Abstract

This study focuses on the evaluation of the natural radioactivity levels in twenty-five samples of consumable products (Fruit juice, soap/detergent, toothpaste, body cream and face powder) that are available in Port Harcourt markets. The specific activities of radium, thorium and potassium using gamma spectroscopy and radiation hazard indices using radiation models were determined. The results of the mean activities of radionuclides (40K, 226Ra and 232Th) for fruit juices, soap/ detergent powders samples, toothpastes samples, body creams and face powder samples were found to be (328.73 ± 19.08) Bq/l , (423.79 ± 22.73) Bq/kg, (349.45±18.05) Bq/kg, (236.95±17.87) Bq/kg and (325.63±14.20)Bq/kg respectively for 40K while the mean specific activities of 226Ra were (14.21 ± 6.28) Bq/l , (15.70 ± 17.56) Bq/kg , (11.47±4.50)Bq/kg, (15.95± 6.77) Bq/kg and (18.65±6.94)Bq/kg respectively and the mean specific activity of 232There were (282.29 ± 6.07) Bq/l, (286.13 ± 4.164) Bq/kg, (336.37±16.09) Bq/kg, (192.91±13.96) and (341.56±18.24) Bq/kg respectively. The annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk estimated for infants, children, teenagers and adults that drinks fruit juices sampled showed that infant and teenagers will be impacted having the mean values of 3.43 mSvy-1 and 2.444 mSvy^-1 respectively. The excess lifetime cancer risk values exceeded their safe limits for all the age brackets while radium equivalent activity, the external hazard index and the internal hazard index due to natural radioactivity in soap/detergents, toothpastes, body cream and face powder samples estimated above the regulatory standard recommended which are 370 Bq/kg and 1 respectively. The results showed that the consumable products studied except the fruit juice do not have harmful radiological impact on the consumer.

Key words: Radioactivity, detergents, Fruit juice, spectroscopy, Port Harcourt market