Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pre-commissioning baseline activity levels in plant leaves and cow-milk samples around the Jordan Research and Training Reactor

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was conducted to establish baseline radioactivity levels around the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR) pre-commissioning. Activity of artificial and natural radionuclides in plant leaves and cow’s milk samples was measured using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The annual effective internal dose for adults due to intake of milk and milk products was estimated to be 27.8–33.5 µSv which is lower than worldwide average. These results provide a benchmark of the baseline activity levels in the vicinity of the JRTR reactor before commissioning for future reference.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abusaleem K, Aldrabee A, Qudah Z, Makahleh M (2018) Monitoring of radionuclides in the surface soil around the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR) before commissioning. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 318(2):1229–1235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6187-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Malkawi SR, El-Gohary M, Omari M, Azizi D, Al-Mistarihi Q, Al-Malahim E (2013) Investigation of radioactivity levels in soil at just campus prior to the construction of JRTR. Jordan J Civ Eng 7(4):371–376

    Google Scholar 

  3. Suaifan M, Kahook SD, Almomani S, Seong BS (2018) Status and perspectives on the utilization of a new nuclear research reactor in Jordan. Phys B 551:431–435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physb.2017.10.116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Park JW, Oh YK, Rho BH (2003) Environmental radiation monitoring in Korea. J J Radioanal Nucl Chem 255:27–36. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022207109655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Beiriger JM, Failor RA, Marsh KV et al (1988) Radioactive fallout from the chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. J Radioanal Nucl Chem Articles 123:21–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02036380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Espinosa G, Golzarri JI, Navarrete JM (2016) Determination of the natural and artificial radioactivity of a selection of traditional Mexican medicinal herbs by gamma-spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 307:1717–1721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4485-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ababneh ZQ, Alyassin AM, Aljarrah KM, Ababneh AM (2010) Measurement of natural and artificial radioactivity in powdered milk consumed in Jordan and estimates of the corresponding annual effective dose. Radiat Prot Dosim 138(3):278–283. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncp260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hamadneha HS, Eyadeha MM, Abdallaha MJ, Al-Khdiratb Omar A (2017) Estimation of natural and anthropogenic exposures to gamma-ray from a high agricultural area in Jordan “Bani-Kananah District.” Jordan J Phys 10(3):117–125

    Google Scholar 

  9. Okoor SA, Abumurad KM, Ababneh EM, Abdallah MJ, Tawalbeh AAA (2019) Natural radioactivity concentrations and dose assessment in selected medical plants consumed in Jordan. Fresenius Environ Bull 28(7):5179–5187

    Google Scholar 

  10. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (1989) Measurement of Radionuclides in Food and the Environment, T2echnical Reports Series No. 295, IAEA, Vienna, ISBN 92-0-125189-0

  11. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (1962) Organization of Surveys for Radionuclides in Food and Agriculture, F AO Atomic Energy Series No. 4, Rome

  12. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (2000) UNSCEAR 2000 Report, Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to General Assembly, New York: United Nations

  13. Hu Q-H, Weng J-Q, Wang J-S (2010) Sources of anthropogenic radionuclides in the environment: a review. J Environ Radioact 101(6):426–437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.08.004

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Gordana M, Zdenko F, Jasminka S, Tomislav B, Ozren V (2008) Mosses and some mushroom species as bioindicators of radiocaesium contamination and risk assessment. Coll Antropol 32–2(2):109–114

    Google Scholar 

  15. Be MM, Chiste V, Dulieu C, Kellett MA, Mougeot X, Arinc A, Chechev VP, Kuzmenko NK, Kibedi T, Luca A, Nichols AL (2016) Table of radionuclides (Vol. 8 - A = 41 to 198). Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, ISBN-13 978-92-822-2264-5

  16. CANBERRA Genie2000 Operations Manual (2012) Canberra Industries Meriden CT, USA

  17. CANBERRA Genie2000 Spectrometry Software Customization Tools manual (2009) Canberra Industries, Meriden, CT, USA

  18. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (1993) Sources and effects of ionizing radiation: UNSCEAR 1993 report to the General Assembly. United Nations, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  19. International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) (1994) Dose coefficients for intakes of radionuclides by workers. ICRP Publication 68 Ann. ICRP 24 (4) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/https://doi.org/10.1177/ANIB_24_4 Accessed from 11 Apr 2021

  20. Ababneh AM, Masa’deh MS, Ababneh ZQ, Awawdeh MA, Alyassin Abdalmajeid M (2009) Radioactivity concentrations in soil and vegetables from the northern Jordan rift valley and the corresponding dose estimates. Radiat Prot Dosim 134(1):30–37. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncp064

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Karunakara N, Somashekarappa HM, Narayana Y, Avadhani DN, Mahesh HM, Siddappa K (2003) 226Ra, 40K and 7Be activity concentrations in plants in the environment of Kaiga. Indian J Environ Radioact 65(3):255–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0265-931X(02)00101-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Djingova R, Kuleff I (2002) Concentration of caesium-137, cobalt-60 and potassium-40 in some wild and edible plants around the nuclear power plant in Bulgaria. J Environ Radioact 59:61–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0265-931x(01)00036-4

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. El-Shershaby A, El-Bahi S, El-Dine NW, Dabayneh KM (2006) Assessment of natural and man-made radioactivity levels of the plant leaves samples as bio-indicators of pollution in Hebron District. Arab J Nucl Sci Appl 39(2):231–242

    Google Scholar 

  24. Shukla VK, Menon MR, Ramachandran TV, Sathe AP, Hingorani SB (1994) Natural and fallout radioactivity in milk and diet samples in bombay and population dose rate estimates. J Environ Radioact 25:229–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. El Samad O, Alayan R, Baydoun R, Zaidan W (2012) Radiation baseline levels in Lebanon: environmental survey and public dose assessment. Leban Sci J 13(2):37

    Google Scholar 

  26. Duong V-H, Nguyen T-D, Hegedűs M, Tóth-Bodrogi E, Kovács T (2021) Assessment of 232Th, 226Ra, 137Cs, and 40K concentrations and annual effective dose due to the consumption of Vietnamese fresh milk. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 328:1399–1404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07643-w

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work is part of an intensive baseline activity monitoring program in the vicinity of JRTR conducted by JAEC. Sample collection and preparation is performed regularly by JAEC staff. Samples were measured in the gamma-ray spectroscopy laboratories of the Research and Information Directorate (RID) at JAEC. This work has been carried out during the sabbatical leave from the University of Jordan in the academic year 2018/2019

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC), Shafa Badran, Amman, 11934, Jordan

    K. AbuSaleem, Z. Qudah, B. M. S. Amro & A. Aldrabee

  2. Department of Physics, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan

    K. AbuSaleem

Authors
  1. K. AbuSaleem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Z. Qudah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. M. S. Amro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Aldrabee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. AbuSaleem.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 33 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

AbuSaleem, K., Qudah, Z., Amro, B.M.S. et al. Pre-commissioning baseline activity levels in plant leaves and cow-milk samples around the Jordan Research and Training Reactor. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 330, 77–82 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07925-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07925-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation