Measurement of radioactivity levels in powdered milk consumed in Algeria and estimation of annual effective doses

Linda Chabouni; Nesrine Hamitouche; Raouen Graichi; Ali Benbourenane; Omar Amri

doi:10.57056/ajet.v8i2.131

Authors

Linda Chabouni Radiological expertise department, Nuclear Research Center of Algiers, 02, Bd Frantz Fanon B.P. 399 Alger-Gare, Algeria
Nesrine Hamitouche Radiological expertise department, Nuclear Research Center of Algiers, 02, Bd Frantz Fanon B.P. 399 Alger-Gare, Algeria
Raouen Graichi Radiological expertise department, Nuclear Research Center of Algiers, 02, Bd Frantz Fanon B.P. 399 Alger-Gare, Algeria
Ali Benbourenane Radiological expertise department, Nuclear Research Center of Algiers, 02, Bd Frantz Fanon B.P. 399 Alger-Gare, Algeria
Omar Amri Radiological expertise department, Nuclear Research Center of Algiers, 02, Bd Frantz Fanon B.P. 399 Alger-Gare, Algeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57056/ajet.v8i2.131

Keywords:

Radioactivity, Radiation dose, Radionuclides, Powdered milk; Gamma spectrometry, HPGe detector

Abstract

The monitoring of radioactivity in food, especially in milk, has become a top priority in many countries. This paper presents the activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ¹³⁷Cs radionuclides measured in twenty-two samples of the powdered milk available in the Algerian market, sourced from different regions worldwide. The measurements were conducted using an HPGe detector by employing the gamma spectrometry method. The results show that the specific activity of ⁴⁰K,²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th in infant powdered milk samples varied from (133.57±1.75 to 195.95±2.56 Bq/kg), (1.35±0.03 to 2.70±0.07 Bq/kg) and (1.34±0.03 to 1.63±0.06 Bq/kg), respectively. In adult powdered milk samples, the activity concentration of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra ²³²Th and ¹³⁷Cs were varied from (110.52±1.49 to 687.89±8.94 Bq/kg), (1.38±0.04 to 2.59±0.10 Bq/kg), (1.25±0.03 to 2.63±0.09 Bq/kg) and (3.60±0.07 to 7.78±0.11 Bq/kg), respectively. The obtained results were subsequently compared with data from various studies conducted globally. The estimated annual ingestion dose resulting from the consumption of powdered milk was found to be 583.80 µSv/y infants (≤ 1y), and 56.85 µSv/y for adults (≥ 17y). These values indicate that powdered milk in Algeria does not have a significant radiological impact on the population, as they are below the dose limit recommended by the World Health Organization.

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