HomeDiseaseDistribution of 210Po in spice plants cultivated by conventional farming

Distribution of 210Po in spice plants cultivated by conventional farming

December 4, 2021

Int J Radiat Biol. 2021 Dec 2:1-20. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2013570. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To study the distribution of 210Po concentrations in various parts of spice plants cultivated by conventional farming in Nilgiris, South India and estimate effective radiation dose received.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Parts of plant such as leaf, fruit, seed, flower bud and rhizome of selected spice plants cultivated at various locations in the study area have been collected for estimation of 210Po concentration. Organic materials in known mass of processed samples have been removed by chemical method. 210Po concentration in the digested sample has been electrostatically deposited on pre-polished silver discs at constant temperature. ZnS(Ag) detector based alpha counting system with minimal detectable value 3.2 mBq has been used for estimation of 210Po activity concentration.

RESULTS: Leaves of Curcuma longa have registered a high concentration of 45.6 ± 4.5 Bq kg-1 of 210Po and rhizome of Allium sativum has registered a low value of 4.7 ± 0.8 Bq kg-1. Leaves of spice plants have registered higher concentration of 210Po than their fruits, seeds, flower buds or rhizomes. Soil to plant transfer factor of 210Po has been found to vary from 0.13 for rhizome of A. sativum to 2.23 corresponding to leaf of C. longa. Concentration of 210Po estimated in leaves and mean leaf areas of spice plants have been found to have a correlation coefficient of 0.83, which indicates that absorption of 210Po deposited on surface area of leaves is the main source of this isotope in plant parts.

CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of various parts of spice plant does not pose significant radiological risk as effective dose received by the general public due to 210Po has been found to vary from 6.34 to 46.05 μSv y-1, less than the value recommended by ICRP.

PMID:34855566 | DOI:10.1080/09553002.2022.2013570

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Patrick Blanchard MD

Meet Dr. Blanchard Dr. Blanchard’s medical practice is an embodiment of Integrative health which brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. Conveniently located in sunny Florida and over the internet with ValiseMD’s secure HIPPA compliant telXmed servers. Since 1994, patients with a wide range of challenging medical problems have achieved optimum health using the best of natural medicine, judiciously combined with high-tech innovations. Breakthroughs are often achieved even after patients have consulted mainstream specialists and holistic practitioners. Dr. Blanchard is founder and CEO of ValiseMD, Inc. He is board certified in Family Medicine since 1994 and awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2001. He received the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award from the University of Kansas School of Medicine at completion of his residency in Family Medicine. He completed a fellowship at Wake Forest University in the field of vascular neurosonology. He holds a medical patent in the field of Gastroenterology. He holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Florida. He started his medical career as a Emergency Medical Technician, then as a Paramedic and later a Medical Doctor.