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Assessment of natural and artificial radioactivity in infants’ powdered milk and their associated radiological health risks

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Abstract

A high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer was applied to measure the activity concentration of natural and artificial radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs in 14 brands of infants powdered milk consumed in Egypt. The average activity concentrations were 0.91 ± 0.20, 0.60 ± 0.11, 477 ± 25 and 0.42 ± 0.11 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs, respectively. The total annual effective dose for different infant’s age groups is estimated and also the total risk has been assessed. The results indicate that the consumption of the studied powdered milk would not pose any significant radiological impact to the infants.

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Salahel Din, K. Assessment of natural and artificial radioactivity in infants’ powdered milk and their associated radiological health risks. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 324, 977–981 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07170-0

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