A recent epidemiological survey on childhood malignant disease in the region of Ellweiler, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, revealed a significantly increased incidence of childhood leukemia, but observed incidences of lymphoma and solid tumors were normal. Established risk factors such as individual exposure to chemicals as well as hereditary genetic disorders were ruled out in interviews with the pa...

Mushrooms are known to be bioaccumulators of radionuclides, but little is known about their distribution within the fruiting bodies or the influence of the degree of maturity on uptake. We carried out a series of cultures of the species Pleurotus eryngii under controlled laboratory conditions to analyze these variables. The maximal uptake of 134Cs and 85Sr was found to occur in mature fruiting ...

The activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were determined in 30 agricultural and virgin soil samples randomly collected from Kedah, north of Malaysia, at a fertile soil depth of 0-30 cm. Gamma-ray spectrometry was applied using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray detector and a PC-based MCA. The mean radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, a...

In this study, we evaluated the activity concentration of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) for fifteen (15) different brands of tile samples used for building purposes in Nigeria. The tile samples were analyzed using High purity Germanium gamma detector. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were observed to be 61.1 ± 5.5 Bq/kg, 70.2 ± 6.08 Bq/kg and 514.7 ± 59.8...

In Egypt, nineteen water springs with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees C, which can be considered thermal waters, were reported. The radiological aspects of thermal water in three northern regions of Egypt (Gulf of Suez, Cairo, and Bahariya Oasis) were investigated. The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides of 226Ra, 40K, total uranium and 210Pb (210Po) in water samples were determi...

Since 2008, the authors have been conducting research into 222Rn and 226Ra activity concentrations in shallow circulation groundwaters in southern Poland. Measurements have been performed with a liquid-scintillation method and ultra low-level liquid-scintillation spectrometers α/β Quantulus 1220. The research carried out so far has demonstrated that in the Sudetes groundwaters with high activit...

Background: Knowledge of radioactivity levels in human diet is of particular concern for the estimation of possible radiological hazards to human health. However, very few surveys of radioactivity in food have been conducted in Iran therefore the baseline values of the natural radionuclides concentration (40K, 226Ra and 232Th), and man made radionuclide, 137Cs, were determined in twenty six...

Background: The existence of some radionuclides in soil and some building materials produce a β-γ radiation field, which in some regions the exposure of these radionuclides to human is high. Materials and Methods: The air-absorbed dose, indoor and outdoor annual effective dose of soil and some building material samples (ceramic, granite, gypsum, etc.). The samples were collected from 3...