Assessment of Radionuclides in Some Fruits from Niger Delta, Nigeria and Its Health Risks

Abstract

Determination of radionuclides’ activity concentration in fruits is essential for the protection of human health. Fruits can be radioactive due to the present of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) and technically enhanced radioactive materials (TENORMs) in the environment. The Assessment of Radionuclide activity concentration in Some Fruits from Niger Delta, Nigeria and its Health Risks were carried out using gamma ray spectroscopy. The study measured the activity concentration of radionuclides in fruits and the results showed that the total activity concentration of 40K, 232Th and 226Ra in fruits were 578.24 Bqkg-1, 263.84 Bqkg-1 and 128.35 Bqkg-1 respectively. The study found out that 40K has the highest value of activity concentration while apricot has the highest value of radionuclide concentration compared to other fruits. The statistical analysis of data was also done using statistical packages.  The average estimated AED for Infants, Children and Adults due to the radioactivity in Avocado, Apricot, Guava and Pear were; 829.02 µSvy-1, 565.865 µSvy-1, and 838.725 µSvy-1,  2737.665 µSvy-1,  4361.4875 µSvy-1 and  2497.9025 µSvy-1, 651.20833 µSvy-1, 1202.6767 µSvy-1 and 813.22167 µSvy-1, and 1164.7883 µSvy-1, 1724.2933 µSvy-1 and 1088.8933 µSvy-1 respectively. The estimated AED due to the consumption of various fruits are above the world value. However, the estimated excess lifetime cancer risks for the various fruits are far below the world (WHO) limit. The study concluded that there is no cancer risk associated with the consumption of fruits in the study area and that the fruits that have tap root systems recorded highest value of radionuclides’ activity concentration.