Determination of Natural Radionuclide in Pig Production Chain in Macedonia by Gamma Spectrometry

Abstract

Exposure of animals to ionizing irradiation may be a important pathway for transfer of radionuclides to human food chain, thereby adding to the exposure burden. Therefore, radiation control of animal feeds and animal products will reduce risk for radioactive hazards to human health. The study was carried out in order to detect the natural radioactivity in edible parts of pigs, excrements and feeds in one commercial pig breeding farm in Macedonia. Ra were measured using gamma spectrometry. Gamma spectrometer Canberra Packard with a high-purity germanium detector and Marinelli beakers (1 l capacity) were used for the samples measurement. The most prominent gamma energies observed in the spectra belonged to the naturally occurring radionuclides Th were detectible only in feed samples (0.53±0.293 Bq/kg; 163.69±23.791 Bq/kg, respectively) and samples from excrements (0.25±0.021 Bq/kg; 58.17±1.062 Bq/kg, respectively). The other radionuclides were detected only in few samples and the measured activities were below the detection limit. If we take in consideration the activity concentration of the most frequently occurred 40 K found in all samples, than there was statistical significant difference between radioactivity concentration in organs, muscle, excrements and feeds (p<0.001).