Examination of Medicinal Plants for Radionuclides Absorption and Their Health Implications

Abstract

This study tests the concentration of 40K, 238U, and 232Th radionuclides and also evaluates the possible radiological health risks in medicinal plants found in Ewu, Edo State, Nigeria, using a NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometer. The six selected medicinal plants are Magnifera indica, Dacryodes edulis, Terminalia catappa, Cymbopogon citratus, Anacardium occidentale, and Persea Americana. The results showed that the activity concentrations for 40K ranged from 146.59 ± 4.81 in Persea americana to 296.08 3.42 Bq/kg in Cymbopogon citratus with a mean of 209.43 ± 5.14 Bq/kg, 238U ranged from 2.25 ± 0.06 to 5.57 ± 0.15 Bq/kg with a mean of 4.73 ± 0.15 Bq/kg and 232Th varied from 4.50 ± 0.35 to 12.07 ± 0.57 Bq/kg with a mean of 8.00 ± 0.40 Bq/kg. The maximum and minimum activity concentrations of both 238U and 232Th were found in Magnifera indica and Cymbopogon citratus respectively. The calculated radiological hazards assessment due to the investigated medicinal plants is well within the internationally recommended safe limits. 232Th contributes 54.91% to the total ECED , while 6.35% for 238U is the least. 232Th exhibit a very strong, positive, and significant relationship with (ECED and ELCR), and it contributes largely to the ECED and ELCR due to ingestion of the examined herbal plant. Therefore, the use of these medicinal plants is radiologically safe for human consumption.