Alpha radioactivity in Iraqi market foodstuff: Assessing annual effective dose and lifetime cancer risk

In this study, integrated passive radon dosimeters with solid-state nuclear trace detectors (CR-39 and CN-85) were used to determine the annual effective dose and excess cancer risk for 25 different food samples in the Iraqi market. The dosimeters were deployed after four weeks of the required radiological equilibrium between radon and radium in the samples stored in sealed beakers. These caps were then quickly replaced with other caps equipped with detectors and stored for 70 days. After the detectors were removed from the samples, an electrochemical etching process was performed in a water bath and sodium hydroxide solution to reveal the traces of alpha particles on the detector surface. Microscopic observations were performed using an optical microscope to quantify the traces present on the detector surface. The results showed that the average radon concentrations for the CR-39 detectors ranged from 3.80 to 7.32 Bq/kg, with an average of 5.51 Bq/m3, and for the CN-85 detectors ranged from 1.23 to 4.51 Bq/kg, with an average of 2.79 Bq/kg. The radium and uranium concentrations for the CR-39 detector ranged from 0.299 to 0.577 Bq/kg, with an average of 0.434 Bq/kg, and from 3.72 to 7.17 Bq/kg, with an average of 5.40 Bq/kg. Comparing all the results between the two detectors, it was found that the values recorded with the CR-39 were approximately twice those recorded with the CN-85. It is important to note that all recorded values are within internationally permissible limits and do not pose a threat to human health.