Evaluation of radioactivity of cereals and legumes using a nuclear impact detector CN-85

Abstract

The research aims to evaluate the radioactivity in elected samples of cereals and legume which are wide human consumption in Iraq using Nuclear Track Detectors (NTDs) model CN-85.
The samples were prepared scientifically according to references in this field. After 150 days of exposure, the detector were collected and chemically treated according to scientific sources (etching chemical), nuclear effects have been calculated using the optical microscope.
Radon (222Rn) concentration and uranium (238U) were calculated in unit Bq/m3 and (ppm), the results indicate that the highest concentration of radon and uranium was in yellow corn where the concentration of radon was 137.17×102 Bq/m3 and uranium concentration 2.63 (ppm). The lowest concentration of radon and uranium was in Oats, where the concentration of radon was 24.27×102 Bq/m3, and uranium concentration 0.466 (ppm), concentrations of other cereals and legumes varied between these two values. These different in radon and uranium concentrations due to different in geological nature of the different agricultural soils, and the different absorption of plant roots for certain elements present in the soil solution. These values for the concentration of radon and uranium for cereals and legumes are within the permitted globally and as issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).