Measurement of Cesium‐137 in Foodstuffs

Abstract

Intensity of the 662‐keV gamma ray from cesium‐137 was closely monitored in a variety of foods and beverages, including milk, flavored milk, fruit juices, infant foods, cooking oil, biscuits and fish. Nuclear facilities in the region, and the proximity of Oman to India and Pakistan (where nuclear material exists) played an important role in influencing our investigation. Relevant food items were obtained at appropriate intervals from January to December 2003 and 2004, and subjected to high‐resolution gamma‐ray measurement with a 28‐cm2 high‐purity germanium detector. Each sample was prepared in a suitable Marinelli beaker and counted for 12 h. The recorded specific activities in milk, fruit juices and oil were generally <1.0 Bq/L, and <2.0 Bq/kg in solid foods such as fish and biscuits. In general, we found that the food quality in this respect was high.

Bomb 137Cs in modern honey reveals a regional soil control on pollutant cycling by plants

“…While the concentrations of 137 Cs we report in honey today are below the 50-100 Bq kg −1 dietary threshold level of concern observed by many countries 42 , and not evidently dangerous for human consumption, the widespread residual radiation up to 19.1 Bq 137 Cs kg −1 is surprising given that nearly 2 half-lives have elapsed since most of the bomb production of 137 Cs. All life on earth has naturally occurring sources of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.…”

“…137 Cs in honey in the Southeastern U.S. (GA, FL, SC, NC) may have been far over 100 Bq kg −1 in the 1960s-1970s, which even exceeds most national concentration standards for human consumption 42 .…”

Bomb Atoms in Modern Honey Reveal a Regional Soil Control on Pollutant Cycling by Plants

“…While the concentrations of 137 Cs we report in honey today are well below the 50-100 Bq kg -1 dietary threshold level of concern observed by many countries 32 , and not evidently dangerous for human consumption, the widespread residual radiation from 0.03 to 19.1 Bq 137 Cs kg -1 is surprising given that 2 half-lives have elapsed since most of the bomb production of 137 Cs. All life on earth has naturally occurring sources of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.…”

“…3) and foliage ( Fig. 4) then average 137 Cs in honey in the Southeastern U.S. (GA, FL, SC, NC) would have been far over 100 Bq kg -1 in the 1960s-1970s, which even exceeds most national concentration standards for human consumption 32 . Fig.…”