Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
10:24
Neutron Radiography and Computed Tomography of Biological Systems at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's High Flux Isotope Reactor
Published on: May 7, 2021
Radiological Risk Assessment of Natural Radionuclides in Baby Food Consumed in the Iraqi Kurdistan-Region Using
Taha Yaseen Wais1,2, Berivan F Namq3, Laith Ahmed Najam2
1Oncology Department, Medical Research and Care Centers, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.
Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering
|June 22, 2026
Summary
Radiological health risks were assessed in Iraqi Kurdistan baby foods. Infant exposure to natural radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K exceeded safe limits, indicating potential health concerns.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Radiological Protection
- Food Safety
Background:
- Natural radionuclides (Uranium-238, Thorium-232, Potassium-40) are present in food.
- Infant diets are critical for development and susceptible to contaminants.
- Assessing radiological risks in baby food is essential for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate radiological health risks from natural radionuclides in baby foods in Iraqi Kurdistan.
- To determine activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K.
- To estimate radiation doses and cancer risks for infants.
Main Methods:
- Gamma spectrometry with NaI(Tl) detector and CASSAY software for spectral analysis.
- Measurement of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K activity concentrations in baby food samples.
- Statistical analysis, deterministic calculations, and Monte Carlo simulations for dose and risk estimation.
Main Results:
- Mean activity concentrations: ²³⁸U (13.2 ± 4.23 Bq/kg), ²³²Th (10.6 ± 3.38 Bq/kg), ⁴⁰K (217.0 ± 6.94 Bq/kg).
- Estimated annual effective doses exceeded the 1 mSv/y limit for infants <1 y and 1-2 y.
- Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) surpassed the acceptable threshold (1 × 10⁻⁴), indicating non-negligible carcinogenic risk.
Conclusions:
- Baby foods in Iraqi Kurdistan pose potential radiological health risks to infants.
- Stringent quality control and regulatory oversight are crucial.
- Routine monitoring and further research on dietary exposure are recommended.
Related Concept Videos
02:59Biological Effects of Radiation
All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break chemical bonds, or ionize molecules. The most serious biological damage results when these radioactive emissions fragment or ionize molecules. For example, α and β particles emitted from nuclear decay reactions possess much higher energies than ordinary chemical bond energies. When these particles strike and penetrate matter, they produce ions...
01:25Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that provides crucial insights into the body's physiological functions at a molecular level. It is an indispensable resource for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring various illnesses, notably cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular conditions.
Fundamental Principles of PET
Fundamental Principles of PET
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
03:18Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations
Nuclear chemistry is the study of reactions that involve changes in nuclear structure. The nucleus of an atom is composed of protons and, except for hydrogen, neutrons. The number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number (Z) of the element, and the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons is the mass number (A). Atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers are isotopes of the same element.
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
02:48Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating
Radioactivity is a spontaneous disintegration of an unstable nuclide and is a random process, as all the nuclei in the sample do not decay simultaneously. The number of disintegrations per unit time is called the activity (A), which is directly proportional to the number of nuclei in the sample. The decay constant (λ) is an average probability of decay per nucleus in unit time.
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Radiological investigations are paramount in the diagnosis and management of various pulmonary diseases. Two essential investigations are the Pulmonary Angiogram and the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan.
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...