ASSESSMENT OF RADIATION RISK LEVELS ASSOCIATED WITH NATURAL (226RA, 232TH, AND 40K) AND ARTIFICIAL (137CS) RADIONUCLIDES PRESENT IN POWDERED MILK SOLD AND CONSUMED IN SENEGAL

The study conducted in Senegal sought to address the dearth of data on radionuclide concentrations in milk, particularly considering the upward trajectory of domestic consumption. Employing gamma-spectrometry, researchers investigated five milk brands, calculating the resulting ingestion dose. The concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra, 137Cs, and 40K exhibited variability across brands, ranging from 0.40 ± 0.30 for G1 to 7.58 ± 0.37 for V1, 0.50 ± 0.17 for V1 to 1.15 ± 0.11 for D1, 0.06 ± 0.05 for V1 to 0.43 ± 0.06 for D1, L1, G1, and H1, and 16.31 ± 4.02 for L1 to 369.26 ± 15.84 Bq/kg for G1. Notably, the total average Annual Effective Dose for all age groups remained consistent across all brands. Importantly, the concentrations observed were found to be significantly below the guidance level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). As a result, the study concludes that all five milk brands investigated are considered safe for consumption, providing reassurance to the public regarding the radionuclide content in the milk supply chain in Senegal.

这项在塞内加尔开展的研究旨在解决牛奶中放射性核素浓度数据匮乏的问题，同时充分考虑到国内乳制品消费量的上升趋势。研究人员采用γ能谱法（gamma-spectrometry）对五个牛奶品牌进行了检测，并计算了相应的摄入剂量。钍-232（232Th）、镭-226（226Ra）、铯-137（137Cs）与钾-40（40K）的浓度在不同品牌间存在差异，其中钍-232浓度范围为G1品牌的0.40 ± 0.30 至V1品牌的7.58 ± 0.37 Bq/kg，镭-226浓度范围为V1品牌的0.50 ± 0.17 至D1品牌的1.15 ± 0.11 Bq/kg，铯-137浓度范围为V1品牌的0.06 ± 0.05 至D1、L1、G1及H1品牌的0.43 ± 0.06 Bq/kg，钾-40浓度范围为L1品牌的16.31 ± 4.02 至G1品牌的369.26 ± 15.84 Bq/kg。值得注意的是，所有年龄段人群的年均有效总剂量在各品牌间均保持一致。尤为重要的是，本次观测到的放射性核素浓度显著低于世界卫生组织（WHO）推荐的指导限值。据此，本研究得出结论：本次调研的五个牛奶品牌均可供安全食用，为塞内加尔牛奶供应链中的放射性核素含量问题打消了公众的疑虑。