The effects of g-irradiation treatments (2.5, 5 and 10 kGy) and microwaves generated from an oven at low and defrost power settings for 0.5, 1 and 2 min on the total proteins and protein patterns of beef liver immediately after treatment and during frozen storage (À18°C) for different periods were studied. Chemical analyses indicated that the protein content of beef liver was reduced after exposure to g-radiation or microwaves and also during frozen storage. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to illustrate the changes in protein bands of different molecular weights and their percentages before and after exposure to gamma and microwave radiation. The main effect of g-radiation on the protein patterns of beef liver was the disappearance of some high-molecular-weight protein bands and the development of other bands characterised by moderate and low molecular weights. This ®nding indicates the degradation of beef liver proteins by girradiation. In contrast, microwave treatment caused an increase in the levels of high-molecularweight protein bands with a concomitant decrease in low-molecular-weight protein bands. This phenomenon demonstrates the polymerisation of low-molecular-weight proteins under the in¯uence of microwaves.

The present study aimed to assess the radiological parameters from gamma rays due to the uncontrolled disposal of porcelain waste to the environment. Qualitative and quantitative identification of radionuclides in the investigated samples was carried out by means of a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The average activity concentrations of the local porcelain samples were measured as 208.28 Bq/kg for Ra, 125.73 Bq/kg forU, 84.94 Bq/kg for Th and 1033.61 Bq/kg forK, respectively. The imported samples had an average activity of 240.57 Bq/kg for Ra, 135.56 Bq/kg forU, 115.74 Bq/kg for Th and 1312.49 Bq/kg forK, respectively. Radiological parameters and the radium equivalent Ra for the investigated samples were calculated. The external and internal hazard indices, representative level index (I), alpha index (I), and the exemption level (I), were estimated to be higher than the recommended value (unity), while the average activity concentrations for the studied samples were higher than recommended levels. In conclusion, we are concerned that disposal of porcelain in the environment might be a significant hazard.

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