Radioactivity in coffee

Abstract

This research was dedicated to the study of the background levels of 210Po and natural gamma emitters as 40K, 214Pb, 214Bi, 228Ac, 212Pb and 212Bi in coffee powder and in coffee beverage; also the artificial 137Cs was determined. In the coffee powder the mean 210Po activity resulted 7.25 10-2 ± 2.25 10-2 Bqkg-1. 40K showed a mean activity of 907.4 ± 115.6 Bqkg-1. The mean activity concentration of 214Pb and 214Bi, indicators of 226Ra, given as mean value of the two radionuclides, resulted 10.61 ± 4.02 Bq kg-1. 228Ac, 228Ra indicator, showed a mean activity concentration of 13.73 ± 3.20 Bq kg-1. The mean activity concentration of 212Pb, 224Ra indicator, was 8.28 ± 2.88 Bq kg-1. 208Tl, 224Ra indicator, presented a mean activity concentration of 11.03 ± 4.34 Bq kg-1. In all samples, the artifical 137Cs resulted below the detection limit (2.0 Bq kg-1). The arithmetical mean value of percentage of 210Po extraction in coffee beverage resulted 20.5 ± 6.9. The percentage of transfer of gamma emitters,40K, 214Pb, 214Bi, 228Ac, 212Pb, 208Tl resulted of 80.0% %, 33.5 %, 24.7 %, 30.0 %, 35.1 %, 53.5% for 40K, 214Pb, 214Bi, 228Ac, 212Pb and 208Tl respectively

Radiological hazard of coffee to humans: a comparative study of Arabian and Turkish coffees

“…In addition, the 40 K concentration was 46.28% higher in the Turkish coffee than in the Arabian coffee. Moreover, the current results from Arabian and Turkish coffee powders showed a mean concentration of 40 K that was higher than that obtained by Roselli et al (2013), although the mean concentration of 226 Ra was within the range found in the same study. This finding may be linked to contaminated soils in the farming areas (Fatima et al, 2008;Faanu et al, 2016 UNSCEAR (2010), all results fell below the recommended limit for the average exposure rate (84 nGy/h).…”

“…Coffee is one of the most popular and widely consumed beverages in the world, and its consumption is increasing (Roselli et al, 2013). However, variation exists in the annual consumption between countries.…”

“…However, variation exists in the annual consumption between countries. In addition, coffee is grown in many countries, where the coffee trade has played a crucial role in their economic development (Roselli et al, 2013). Coffee comes from the plant genus Coffea, which has two primary species, C. arabica (Arabica) and C. canephora (also known as C. robusta, or robusta).…”

“…Use of chemical fertilizers, especially phosphorus fertilizer, may lead to increased contamination of agricultural crops by enriching the soil with radioactive elements as well as chemical toxins (Alharbi, 2013). Roselli et al (2013) 137 Cs concentrations less than the detection limit (2.0 Bq/kg).…”

Coffee's Phenolic Compounds. A general overview of the coffee fruit's phenolic composition

“…Although its chemical composition includes nutritional compounds, some with bioactive activity, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines coffee as "a non-dietary component" 116 ; however, it is considered the primary source of dietary antioxidants in industrialized countries (eg, ~ 66% in Brazil, ~ 64% in Norway, ~ 45% in Spain, ~ 56% in Japan) 1,34,49,84,[117][118][119][120] and it is estimated that the daily consumption of 4 to 5 cups of coffee covers ~ 64 to 66% of the antioxidant dietary requirements. 69,121 It can be speculated that the chemo-protective effects of coffee are partly due to its ability to intracellularly neutralize oxidizing agents such as free radicals, many of which are positively charged molecules (eg, NO + , NO -, ONOO -, H 2 O 2 , O 2 -, NO, & OH -) in search of electrons to stabilize.…”