Baghdad Science Journal Vol.

13(2)2016

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21123/bsj.2016.13.2.0376

Measurement of radionuclides in imported Coffee

Consumed in Basra southern of Iraq and estimation of its
annual effective dose

Ali Abd Abbas Abdul-Munem Khaleel Ibrahim

Marwah Jawad Kadhim
Physics Department, College of Science, University of Basra, Iraq

Received 15/7/ 2015

Accepted 29/12/ 2015
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-
NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licens

Abstract:
Radioactive elements were identified in samples of imported coffee consumed in
the province of Basra using gamma spectrometry SAM940TM. It is a scintillation
detector of NaI(Tl) crystal and the dimensions of 2 inch. We have identified
specific concentration As(Bq/kg) and annual effective dose D(Sv/y) for radioactive
elements , , and . The estimated average effective dose for adults
from coffee samples were found to be 03037mSv/y, 883434nSv/y, 463909nSv/y,
273212nSv/y for ( ) respectively. The present results of the study
revealed that the radioactivity was relatively low in the coffee and within the
permissiblelimit.

Key worlds: Coffee, SAM940 identifer, gamma ray, radionuclide.

Introduction:
Radiation in the environment classified
into two types of natural radiation is
natural occurring radioactive matter in
the environment, and industrial
radiation; the natural radiation is split
into two rays of cosmic and terrestrial
radiation [1]. The cosmic rays cause, is
outside of our solar system, any stars
and little ones of our solar system [1,2].
The radiation sources in the terrestrial
radiation include and decay
series.They found an abundance in
rocks, soil, food, water and air are
causing radon gas and thoron[3]. The
decay series its half- life
years, called actinium series and half-life
for and are
years respectively [4]. As well as
some of the elements that non-series for
example which half-life 1.28×
years and found an abundance in rocks,
food and water [3]. The industrial
sources of radiation it may significant
impact on the pollution of the
environment and through multiple
domains. The most important of
radiation resulting from nuclear
experiments and the use of radioisotopes
in industry, agriculture, scientific
research, medicine, fuel cycle in terms
of mining, mineral processing, nuclear
fuel and radioactive waste storage
address[1].

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Materials and methods: energy specified in the calibration source

1-Sampling preparation was calculated using the formula [5]
∑
Coffee samples collected from the Basra Ԑ= …….(1)
local market, Ten different brands that
Where ΣN is the net counts of the
originated from 8 different countries
corresponding photopeak, is the
were selectedand listed in Table (1).
Each sample was grinded very fine. Fifty activity in Bq, is the emission
probability per disintegration [6], (t) is
gram of each sample was placed in a
the counting time in seconds and (m) is
plastic can of 10 cm height and 4.6 cm
the mass sample (kg).
diameter. The can was placed in the
detectorsystem counted for 1200 second.

Table (1):Represents samples of coffee

for different production countries.
Sample
Sample Name Production
code
NESCAFE
S1 Brazil
CLASSIC
S2 COFFEE golden Brazil
NESCAFE
S3 Spain
CLASSIC
S4 City Cafe European Union
S5 BON AROMA Poland
S6 Arabica Lebanon Fig. (1):SAM940TM gamma ray
S7 Bon nagar Lebanon spectroscopy system.
S8 Bon al hamwi Syria
S9 Coffee prince Jordan 3- Activity concentrations
S10 Mac Coffee Singapore The activity concentrations in the
samples was obtained using the
2-Measurements following expression [3,5,7]
Measurement were performed using ∑
As = …(2)
a SAM940TMgamma ray spectrometer.
This system hasNaI(Tl) crystallization Where As (Bq/kg) is the activity
2 inch with 256 channel, the detector concentration of nuclides in the coffee
measures the spectrum emitted from samples.
radioactive isotopes and low level 4- Annual effective dose
Becquerel measurement.The device The annual effective dose from
works at operation voltage of 600 volts. consumption of coffee is calculated
It is of coarse gain=1 , fine gain=1.1386, using the formula [8]
upper level discriminative= 100 volts D = As U g ...(3)
and lower level discriminative=0.8 volts. Where D is the annual effective dose
The detector was calibrated by standard (Sv/y), As is the activity concentration
for the radionuclide (Bq/kg), U is the
radioactive elements which has the
annual intake of coffee (kg/yr); the
energy of 661.660 keVphotopeak , normal consumption of coffee will be
with energies of (53.161,80.997, (5-10) gram per day [9], and g is dose
160.613, 302.853, 383.851)keV conversion factor for the radionuclide
photopeaks, and which has the (Sv/Bq). It was calculated according to
energies of (1173.238,1332.502)keV. ICRP [10] for intake by ingestion of
The detector was shielded lead and radionuclides.
copper cylinder as shown in figure (1),
which represents the measurement
system. Efficiency Ԑ of each gamma

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Baghdad Science Journal Vol.13(2)2016

Results and Discussion: 60 K-40

Table (2) presents the activity 50
concentration for and 40

As(Bq/kg)
in the coffee samples. was 30
detected in all samples with a maximum 20
value of 54.765 Bq/kg in samples 10
(S2,S3,S5), and a minimum value of 0
24.841 Bq/kg in sample S4with an S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10
average value of 49.695 Bq/kg. was samples
detected in five samples with a Fig.(3):Activity concentrations of in
maximum value of 0.055Bq/kg in coffee samples.
sample S1, and a minimum value of
0.018 Bq/kg in sample S4with an I-131 Cs-134 Cs-137
0.06
average value of 0.036 Bq/kg. was
0.05

As(Bq/Kg)
detected in nine samples with a
maximum value of 0.049 Bq/kg in 0.04
sample S8, and a minimum value of 0.03
0.004Bq/kg in sample S9 with an 0.02
0.01
average value of 0.021Bq/kg. was
0
detected in three samples with a
S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10
maximum value 0.020Bq/kg in sample samples
S5, and a minimum value of 0.016Bq/kg Fig.(4):Activity concentrations of
in samples (S9,S10) with an average in coffee samples.
value of 0.018Bq/kg. Fig (2) shows the
spectrum of sample S5. Table (3) presents the annual effective
ingestion dose for adults for
and in coffee
samples. Where the was of a
maximum value 0.041mSv/y in samples
(NESCAFE CLASSIC and COFFEE
golden products in Brazil, NESCAFE
CLASSIC product in Spain BON
AROMA product in Poland),and a
minimum value 0.019mSv/yin sample
Fig. (2): spectrum of sample S5. City Cafe product in European Union,
with an average value of 0.037mSv/y.
Table (2):Measurement of Activity with a maximum value
concentrations of radionuclide in 144.672nSv/y in sample NESCAFE
coffee samples. CLASSIC product in Brazil, and a
As(Bq/kg)
samples minimum value 48.206nSv/y in
S1 543384 03055 03011 ND sampleCity Cafe product in European
S2 543765 ND 03011 ND Union, with an average value of
S3 543765 03026 03019 ND
S4 243841 03018 03030 ND 88.434nSv/y. with a maximum
S5 543765 03029 ND 0.020 value 111.940nSv/y in sample Bon al
S6 543232 ND 03023 ND
S7 543308 03051 03030 ND hamwi product in Syria, and a minimum
S8 363507 ND 03049 ND
S9 543079 ND 03004 03016
value 8.618nSv/yin sample Coffee
S10 543308 ND 03008 03016 prince product in Jordan with an average
Ave. 493695 03036 03021 03018
ND:- not detected value of 46.909nSv/y. with a

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Baghdad Science Journal Vol.13(2)2016

maximum value 31.403nSv/y in sample Requirements for the Degree of

BON AROMA product in Poland, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics,
minimum value 25.116nSv/y in samples 2013.
(Coffee prince product in Jordan and [4]Nesha’at R.Abid. Al-Ataby. Study of
Mac Coffee product in Singapore) with Environmental Radioactivity in the
an average value of 27.212nSv/y. Soil of Al-Tuwaitha Zone and its
Surrounding Sides. Athesis Submitted
Table (3):Annual effective dose for to the College of Science University
adults. of Baghdad in Partial Fulfillment of
D (Sv/y)adults the Requirements for the Degree of
Samp
les
Doctor of Philosophy in Physics,
S1 03041 1443672 253855 ND 2005.
S2 03041 ND 253855 ND [5]Alrefae, Nageswaran and Al-Shemali.
S3 03041 673478 433092 ND Radioactivity of long lived gamma
S4 03019 483206 683856 ND
S5 03041 773088 ND 313403 emitters in canned seafood consumed
S6 03040 1343930 513756 ND in Kuwait. Journal of the Association
S7 03040 ND 683856 ND of Arab Universities for Basic and
S8 03027 ND 111.940 ND
Applied Sciences 15,6-9, 2014.
S9 03040 ND 83618 253116
S10 03040 ND 173328 253116 [6]IAEA. International Atomic Energy
Ave. 03037 883434 463909 273212 Agency. Measurement of Radiation
ND:- not detected in Food and the Environment.
Technical Reports Series 295, Vienna
One can conclude from the above 1989.
results, that the average annual dose [7]Alrefae and Nageswaran.
from is below the reference value of Radioactivity of long lived gamma
1.0 mSv/y according to the ICRP emitters in rice consumed in Kuwait.
publications. The estimated annual Journal of the Association of Arab
effective dose for radionuclides was Universities for Basic and Applied
much below, than the reference value of Sciences 13,24-27, 2013.
(200-800) µSv/y according to the [8]Alrefae, Nageswaran and Al-Shemali.
UNSCEAR 2000 report [11]. Radioactivity of long lived gamma
emitters in breakfast cereal consumed
References: in Kuwait and estimates of annual
[1]IAEA. International Atomic Energy effective dose. Iran. J. Radiat. Res.,
Agency. Radiation Biology A 10(3-4): 117-122; 2012.
Handbook for Teachers and Students. [9]Adel Hamid Barhoum. Natural planet
Vienna, 2010. Foundation and preparations.
[2]UNSCEAR. Sources and effects of HTTPS://BARHOUMADEL.COM
ionizing radiation Report of the 16 November 2009.
United Nations Scientific committee [10] ICRP. Publication 119Compendium
on the effects of Atomic Radiation to of Dose Coefficients based on ICRP
the General Assembly, Volume 1, 60, Volume 41 Supplement 1. 2012.
(New York :United Nations), 2010. [11] UNSCEAR. Sources and effects of
[3]Waleed H Al-Musowi. ionizing radiation Report of the
Environmental Radioactivity in Shutt United Nations Scientific committee
Al-Basrah River Banks and Basrah on the effects of Atomic Radiation to
Sport City. A thesis Submitted to the the General Assembly, (New York
College of Education for Pure :United Nations), 2000 .
Sciences University of Basrah as
Partial Fulfillment of the

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‫قياس فعاليت النظائر المشعت في القهىة المستىردة المستهلكت في البصرة جنىب‬

‫العراق و تحذيذ الجرع السنىيت الفعالت‬

‫مروة جىاد كاظم‬ ‫عبذالمنعم خليل ابراهيم‬ ‫علي عبذ عباس‬

‫قسن الفيزياء‪ ،‬كليت العلىم‪ ،‬خاهعت البصرة‪ ،‬العراق‬

‫الخالصت‪:‬‬
‫حن ححديد العٌاصر الوشعت في عيٌاث القهىة الوسخىردة الوسخهلكت في هحافظت البصرة بىاسطت هطيافيت اشعت‬
‫‪ 2‬اًح‪ 3‬حن‬ ‫كاها ‪SAM 940TM‬و الوخكىى هي كاشف أيىديد الصىديىم الوشىب بالثاليىم)‪ NaI(Tl‬ذا حدن‬
‫‪،‬‬ ‫قياس الخ ركيز الٌىعي(بيكرل‪/‬كيلىغرام) و الدرعت السٌىيت الوؤثرة (سيفرث ‪/‬السٌت) للعٌاصر الوشعت‬
‫‪ 3‬و حساب هعدل الدرعت السٌىيت الوؤثرة للبالغيي في ًواذج القهىة و كاًج (‪ 03037‬هلي‬ ‫‪،‬‬ ‫‪،‬‬
‫سيفرث‪/‬سٌت‪ً883434 ،‬اًىسيفرث‪/‬سٌت‪ً 463909 ،‬اًىسيفرث‪/‬سٌتو ‪ً 273212‬اًىسيفرث‪/‬سٌت) للبىحاسيىم‬
‫على الخىالي و كاًج الٌخائح دوى الحد الوسوىذ‬ ‫فضالً عٌالسيزيىم‬ ‫‪ ،‬للسيزيىم‬ ‫‪،‬لليىد‬
‫به عالوياً‪3‬‬

‫الكلماث المفتاحيت‪ :‬القهىة‪ ،‬هٌظىهت الوعرٌف سام‪ً ،940-‬ىيدة هشعت‪3‬‬

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