Measurement of Radioactive Potassium-40 to Specify Potassium Element in Wheat and Its Derivatives for Wasit Governorate – Iraq

Abstract

The total potassium (element) concentration in percentage ratio (K%) has been calculated for wheat and its derivatives (wheat flour, bran, yeast samples) of Wasit mills, and wheat flour samples that used in bakeries distributed in Wasit governorate by measured K-40 radioactive isotope using gamma spectroscopy adopted with high pure germanium coaxial detector. The overall average values of the above investigated samples were; 0.190%, 0.159%, 0.122%, 0.111%, and 0.251%, respectively. In addition, the natural occurring radioactive materials for all samples have been investigated. Except potassium − 40 (K-40), all the measured radioactive isotopes were below the minimum detectable activity of gamma spectroscopy, therefore, even if a more accurate measurement system is used, the specific radioactivity (S.A) of these isotopes are within the international permissible levels. Then, the ingested radiation annual effective dose of the intake K-40 (Eff D) has been calculated, and the results showed that all values within the international allowed values.