Radioactive Contamination Factor (RCF) Obtained by Comparing Contaminant Radioactivity (<sup>137</sup>Cs) with Natural Radioactivity (<sup>40</sup>K) in Marine Sediments Taken up from Mexican Sea Waters

Abstract

Radioactive contamination at planet scale started in 1945 when the first nuclear taste was performed in Alamo Gordo, New Mexico, followed by two war actions in Japan, a second test in Bikini, and more than 2000 tests were performed all over the world by different countries since then on. In this context, 10 main accidents in power and research nuclear reactors seem to be negligible in the general radioactive contamination at planet scale, which can be measured by comparing radioactivity of fission product 137 Cs with that of natural 40 K, both detected from marine sediments taken up at different places and depth. This paper shows 9 results obtained from Gulf of Mexico samples and one from Pacific North ocean, confirming the fact that this simple method works well enough to keep watching the process of radioactive contamination on earth, whatever may be the cause, to prove if it remains constant for a time, by equilibrium between contamination and decaying of 137 Cs, it is decreasing at same rate than 137 Cs radioactive decaying, or by the contrary, it is growing up and approaching at some extent the natural radioactivity from 40 K.

Determination of Radioactive Contaminant <sup>137</sup>Cs (Fission Product) and Comparison with Natural <sup>40</sup>K Present in Mexican Strawberries

“…The foods and plants analysed had never before resulted with contamination from 137 Cs, among the natural contaminants found, the highest activity reported is given by the 40 K content. On the other hand, for marine sediments, different types of radionuclides have been found in relatively high concentrations, to the point of being considered reservoirs of these contaminants (Navarrete et al, 2014), which seems to match results from different research groups around the world.…”

“…During the last 30 years, multiple research works have been carried out on soils, water and food, to know and determine their radiological composition. Powdered milk has been analysed (Navarrete et al, 2007), soluble and grain coffee (Espinosa et al, 2009), soft drinks (Espinosa et al, 2009), around 30 medicinal plants (Espinosa et al, 2016), marine sediments and sea water in areas of the Gulf of Mexico and Coasts of Baja California (Navarrete et al, 2014); among others. The foods and plants analysed had never before resulted with contamination from 137 Cs, among the natural contaminants found, the highest activity reported is given by the 40 K content.…”

Assessment of radiological hazards in the industrial effluent disposed soil with statistical analyses

“…So this might be one of the reasons that the activity concentration of 232 Th is higher than the concentration of 238 U in the soil samples (Senthilkumar et al, 2012). Higher activity concentration of 40 K compared with that of 238 U and 232 Th might be due to the higher silica content that generally occurs in the soils (Navarrete, Zuniga, Espinosa, & Golzarri, 2014). Fig.…”

Radiometric evaluation of excessive lifetime cancer probability due to naturally occurring radionuclides in wastes dumpsites soils in Agbara, Southwest, Nigeria

“…The control sample recorded the lowest activity concentration of the radionuclides analyzed. Higher concentration of 40 K might be due to the higher silica content which is one of the abundant mineral deposits in the soil (Navarrete et al, 2014).…”