Determination the Specific Activity of (_^40)K,(_^131)I,(_^134)Cs and (_^137)Cs and Annual Effective Dose in milk consumed in Basra south of Iraq

Abstract

The objective of the present work is to determine the specific activity levels (Bq/L ) or (Bq/kg) for natural radionuclide (_^40)K (long-lived), and to the anthropogenic radionuclides (_^131)I, (_^134)Cs and (_^137)Cs (short-lived) for sixteen samples of fresh and powdered imported milk. The analysis was carried out using gamma ray spectrometer SAM-940TM based on NaI (Tl) detector. Also the effective doses (Sv/year) were calculated for each sample. The estimated average effective dose for adults from fresh milk samples were found to be 0.109mSv/y, 10.345nSv/y, 14.221nSv/y, 1.390nSv/y for ((_^40)K, (_^131)I,(_^134)Cs,(_^137)Cs) respectively. And average effective dose for children from fresh milk samples were found to be 0.267mSv/y, 28.527nSv/y, 12.225nSv/y, 1.248nSv/y for ((_^40)K, (_^131)I,(_^134)Cs,(_^137)Cs) respectively. The estimated average annual effective dose for adults from dry imported milk samples were found to be 0.715mSv/y, 67.598nSv/y, 42.576nSv/y, 15.143nSv/y for ((_^40)K, (_^131)I,(_^134)Cs,(_^137)Cs) respectively, And average annual effective dose for children from dry imported milk samples were found to be 0.955mSv/y, 185.004nSv/y, 35.969nSv/y, 13.486nSv/y for ((_^40)K, (_^131)I,(_^134)Cs,(_^137)Cs) respectively.The annual effective dose for anthropogenic radionuclide measured in this research for each local fresh milk and dry imported milk it is less than the published values in UNSCEAR recommended reference of (200- 800) µSv/y they are within acceptable limits. And for potassium radioactive element (_^40)K, all values were within the limit with the exception of four samples produced in New Zealand, was higher than the allowable limit as the limit of natural isotopes have 1mSv/y according to the ICRP standards