Radioactivity levels and radiation health hazards in medicinal plants used in Rize Province, Turkey

Abstract

Natural and artificial radionuclide concentrations were determined and evaluated in 12 different medicinal plants used in Rize Province of Turkey. The levels of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs were specified in medicinal plants and a germanium detector with high-purity was used for these measurements. Mean activity values of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs in medicinal plants were obtained to be 4.48, 1.83, 259.2 and 0.70 Bq kg?1, respectively. The obtained values were compared with the values reached in similar studies conducted in different countries. All activity values of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K determined in the present study were found to be lower than the worldwide mean values. In addition, the following radiological parameters were determined in medicinal plants and compared with the recommended limits: radium equivalent activity (Raeq), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), absorbed gamma dose rate (D), exposure rate (ER), gamma representative level index (RLI), annual effective dose (AED), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). Pearson correlation coefficients were determined to assess the correlations between radioactive variables in medicinal plants. The radiological values determined in this study are within the recommended safety limit and the medicinal plants do not pose any significant radiological risk to human health. © 2020, © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.