Investigation and analysis of concentrations of radium-226 and uranium in agricultural products around uranium tailings pond
- VernacularTitle:铀尾矿库周边农产品中镭-226及铀浓度调查分析
- Author:
Chang LIU
1
;
Bing LIAN
1
;
Yan WANG
1
;
Hailong CHEN
1
;
Linfeng SHI
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: Agricultural products; Natural uranium; Radium-226; Indirect method; Effective dose
- From: Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2022;31(6):682-686
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: Objective To investigate the radionuclide radium-226 and natural uranium content in the main agricultural products around a decommissioned uranium tailings pondand to determine the radioactivity level in the food around the tailings pond. Methods From 2017 to 2021, several samples of rice and beans were collected in the surrounding area of the tailings pond for five consecutive years, and the concentrations of radium-226 and natural uranium were measured by a high-purity germanium gamma spectrometer. The annual accumulated effective dose of internal exposure caused by radium-226 ingested through local standard human diet was estimated by the indirect method. Results The detection rate of natural uranium in rice was 96.0%, and the detection rate of radium-226 was 74.0%; the detection rate of natural uranium in beans was 96.7%, and the detection rate of radium-226 was 73.3%. The annual accumulated effective dose caused by radium-226 ingested through diet was about 170.22 μSv/a in surrounding residents. Conclusion The concentrations of radium-226 and natural uranium in the main agricultural products around the tailings pond are within the limit of the national standard. By comparing with the research results in related fields in China, the radiation effects caused by radium-226 ingested through dieton the residents around the tailings pond are acceptable.
