HighlightsThirteen food crops were analysed for aluminium, arsenic, cadmium and lead.Mean concentrations were used to calculate EDI, THQ and HI.TCR was calculated for arsenic for all food crops.The THQ and HI were <1 for all food crops; target cancer risk did not exceed 10−4.The food crops evaluated pose no undue risk to the consumer.

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The activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K were determined using gamma spectrometry (HPGe detector) and their radiological hazards are presented in this study for shore sediment samples from the North Dune beach of Henties Bay, Namibia. The activity concentrations were found to range from 25.32 ± 1.24 Bq.kg À1 to 232.33 ± 0.62 Bq.kg À1 with an average value of 175.59 ± 0.92 Bq.kg À1 for 238 U, BDL to 77.99 ± 45 Bq.kg À1 with an average value of 40.17 ± 27 Bq.kg À1 for 232 Th and 222.39 ± 8 Bq.kg À1 to 482.16 ± 10 Bq.kg-1 with an average value of 349.66 ± 8 Bq.kg À1 for 40 K. In order to assess the radiological hazard of the shore sediment samples, the radiological hazard indices such as absorbed dose rates (ADR), radium equivalent (R eq) annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the hazard indices (H ex and H in), and the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were calculated. The values obtained in the present study were compared with world acceptable limits and it was found that the average values of radium equivalent (Req) and external hazard index (Hex) were below the world allowable limits. However, the average values of absorbed dose rates (ADR), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) (outdoor and indoor), internal hazard index (H in) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) exceeded the world acceptable limits.

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This study was undertaken to determine whether elemental analysis could distinguish the growing origins of Jamaican versus international coffee and identify intra-island growing regions. Twenty-four samples of roasted and ground coffee and soluble coffee were collected and analysed using instrumental neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Sixteen elements were selected for statistical evaluation. Soluble clustered discretely from roasted and ground samples. The distinction among roasted and ground samples was not as discrete. Geographic growing regions could be determined by statistical analysis; separating the growing sub-regions in Jamaica would require additional analyses.