Committed effective dose and lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of natural radionuclides in grains grown in an area of high background radiation

• Published in: Applied radiation and isotopes Vol. 172; p. 109656
• Main Authors: Silva, Leandro B., Lopes, José M., Pereira, Wagner S., Garcêz, Ricardo W.D., Silva, Ademir X., Talhofer, Jardel L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2021
• Subjects: Annual intake; Lifetime cancer risk; Naturally occurring radionuclides; Naturally occurring radionuclides; Annual intake; Lifetime cancer risk
• ISSN: 0969-8043; 1872-9800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109656

The current study aimed at estimating committed effective dose and cancer risk due to the intake of K-40, Ra-226, Ra-228 and Th-228 present in grains grown in an HBRA. The highest activity concentrations found were (606.2 ± 25.13), (8.07 ± 6.37), (10.01 ± 1.45), (43.97 ± 5.54) Bq.kg−1 for K-40, Ra-226, Ra-228 and Th-228, respectively. The committed effective dose estimated was 0.5 mSv.y−1, and the estimated cancer risk suggested that uninterrupted and unrestricted consumption of beans grown in this HBRA is not desirable.
•Radius isotopes contributing to almost 50% of the dose.•The committed effective dose found for the boundary conditions established in the current study was 0.5 mSv·y−1.•The highest contributions to lifetime cancer risk are due to AC for K-40 and Ra-228.•It can be stated that there are no imminent risks for the consumption of grains grown in the city of Poços de Caldas.