One of the causative factors for cancer-inducing mechanisms in humans is radioactive elements present in tobacco leaves used in the manufacture of cigarettes. Smoking of tobacco and its products increases the internal intake and radiation dose due to naturally occurring radionuclides that are considered to be one of the most significant causes of lung cancer. In this work, different commercial types of cigarettes, cigar and moassel were collected from market. Naturally occurring radionuclides (226)Ra and (214)Bi ((238)U series), (228)Ac and (228)Ra ((232)Th series), (40)K and man-made (137)Cs were measured in tobacco using gamma-ray spectrometer. Results show that the average concentrations of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K were 4.564, 3.940 and 1289.53 Bq kg(-1), respectively. This reflects their origin from the soil by root uptake and fertilisers used in the cultivation of tobacco plants. Concentration of (137)Cs was 0.348 Bq kg(-1) due to root uptake or deposition onto the leaf foliage. For smokers, the annual effective dose due to inhalation of (238)U varied from 49.35 to 139.40 μSv(-1) (average 104.27 μSv y(-1)), while of (232)Th from 23.86 to 111.06 μSv y(-1) (average 65.52 μSv y(-1)). The annual effective dose resulting from (137)Cs was varied from 10.96 to 24.01 nSv y(-1) (average 19.41 nSv y(-1)).
Natural radioactivity of 238 U, 232 Th series and 40 K of black sand samples collected along El-Fanar and El-Nargess Beaches in Baltim area, north of the Nile Delta in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, were measured using a gamma-ray spectrometer with a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Results showed that the average activity concentrations of 238 U and 232 Th in El-Fanar Beach was significantly higher (73.22±5.1 and 70.8 ± 4.9 Bq kg -1 ) than El-Nargess Beach (31.91±2.2 and 25.95 ±1.8 Bq kg -1 ) respectively. The average activity concentrations of 40 K in El-Fanar Beach was lower (67.47±4.7 Bq kg -1 ) than that in El-Nargess Beach (80.75±5.6 Bq kg -1 ). The hazard indices due to these radionuclides have been calculated. The obtained results from this study indicate that the average activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K at El-Nargess Beach are within world median ranges while average activities of 238 U and 232 Th in El-Fanar Beach are higher than the world mean (33and45) Bq kg -1 respectively. This study aimed to establish a baseline map of radioactivity background levels in the aforementioned region to assess any change in the radiological background levels due to any artificial effects attributed to any radiation activities.
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