Dose and transfer factor ofn 40K in medicinal plants

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Radiological Science
• Pharmacognosy

Background:

• Naturally occurring radionuclides, including Potassium-40 (40K), are ubiquitous in the environment.
• Medicinal plants can accumulate radionuclides from their surroundings, potentially impacting human health.
• Understanding radionuclide uptake in medicinal plants is crucial for safety assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the activity concentration of 40K in selected medicinal plants and associated soil.
• To evaluate the transfer factors (TF) of 40K from soil to medicinal plants.
• To assess the Average Annual Committed Effective Dose (AACED) from 40K in these plants.

Main Methods:

• Sample collection and processing followed standard environmental monitoring protocols.
• Gamma spectrometry was employed to measure the activity concentration of 40K.
• Transfer factors and AACED were calculated based on measured activity concentrations.

Main Results:

• Mean 40K activity concentrations were 223 Bq kg-1 in soil and 1330 Bq kg-1 in medicinal plants.
• The mean transfer factor (TF) was 6.5, and the mean AACED was 8.2 μSv y-1.
• Elevated 40K levels in certain medicinal plants indicate selective uptake, possibly linked to their medicinal properties.

Conclusions:

• Medicinal plants exhibit selective uptake of 40K, leading to higher concentrations than in soil.
• The findings contribute to a database for 40K activity in medicinal plants.
• This study supports the development of safety regulations concerning 40K in medicinal plant resources.