Investigation of Natural Radioactivity Concentration in Leaf Part of Some Medicinal Herbs Used in Iraq

Abstract

Natural radioactive materials may be present in the environment and substances that are used as health complementary in medicine and pharmacy. Medicinal herbs are as old as human history and have been used for the treatment and prevention of various diseases and ailments because they contain elements of vital importance for human metabolism. The objective of this research study was to determine the specific activity concentrations and the annual effective dose of naturally occurring radioactive materials that exist in commonly used medicinal herbs in Iraq. A total of 25 medicinal herbs were randomly collected to calculate the activity concentrations and all health risk parameters of 238U, 232Th, 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K. Using a gamma spectroscopy system According to the study's findings, the specific activity concentration of 238U ranged from (5.95 to 1.49) Bq/Kg with an average (3.89) Bq/Kg and standard deviation (0.86); that of 232Th ranged from (3.07 to 1.06) Bq/Kg with an average (1.87) Bq/Kg and standard deviation (0.51), and that of 228Ra ranged from (8.3 to 0.98) Bq/Kg with an average (4.49). Finally, the range of specific activity concentration for 40K was (196.68 to 106.26) Bq/Kg, with an average of (147.08) Bq/Kg and a standard deviation of (25.49). The results of all calculated parameters for each sample are within the limits allowed by the recommendations of ICRP, WHO, and UNSCEAR, and therefore there is no major risk to workers and the public who are using the herbs in this study.