Determination of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Associated Radiation Hazard Indices of Wheat Flour Samples From Selected Ethiopian Markets.

Wheat flour is a nutrient-dense food that is commonly consumed by various age groups in Ethiopia. In this study, natural radioactivity levels of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, as well as the related dangerous radiological characteristics, were successfully measured on 10 different brands of wheat flour samples using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry. Average activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in wheat flour are found to be 0.26<strong> ±</strong>0.07 Bq.kg^-1, 1.54<strong> ± </strong>0.43 Bq.kg^-1, and 59.79<strong>±</strong>3.65 Bq.kg^-1, respectively. Moreover, the average values of the corresponding radiological parameters, Ra_eq, H_int, and annual effective dose (E_ave) (sum), were also found to be 7.07±0.96 Bq.kg^-1, 0.019±0.003, and 0.109±0.019 mSvy^-1, respectively. When the obtained results for all of the samples were compared to the internationally accepted norms, they were found to be below the permissible world average values. Furthermore, the lifetime cancer risk was discovered to be substantially below the permissible limit. According to the study, the risk of absorbing natural radionuclides from wheat flour consumption is negligible. The findings can be used to develop radiation protection rules and regulations for the use of wheat flour in food production and processing.