Dose estimates for the local inhabitants from 210Po ingestion via dietary sources at a proposed uranium mining site in India

Abstract

Purpose: To study the distribution of ²¹⁰Po activity in food in Bagjata in East Singhbhum, India.

Materials and methods: ²¹⁰Po were analyzed in the food samples of plant origin such as cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables and food of animal origin such fish, chicken, egg, etc., in and around Bagjata uranium mining area as a part of baseline study after acid digestion. The intake and ingestion dose of the radionuclide was estimated.

Results: The general range of ²¹⁰Po activity in all the dietary components ranged widely from <0.2–36 Bqkg^-1_fresh. In the food of plant origin, the minimum activity of ²¹⁰Po was estimated in vegetables while maximum in pulses. In food of animal origin, the observed minimum activity of ²¹⁰Po was in eggs and the maximum observed was in chicken samples. The intake of ²¹⁰Po considering all dietary components was found to be 464 Bq.Y^-1 while the ingestion dose was calculated to be 557 μSv.Y^-1, respectively. The estimated doses are reflecting the natural background dose via the route of ingestion, which is much below the 1 mSv limit set in the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendations.

Conclusion: The study confirms that current levels of ²¹⁰Po do not pose a significant radiological risk to the local inhabitants.