Abstrait

Assessment of Radioactivity Levels for 40K, 238U and 232Th in Edible Leaves of Vernonia amygdalina and Vernonia calvoana

Thomas B Makon and Robert M Nemba

The focus of this study was to investigate the activity concentrations of 40K, 238U and 232Th in edible leaves of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and Vernonia calvoana (VC) and to derive from these activity concentrations, the associated Radium equivalent, the gamma dose rates, and the Internal hazard index (Hin). The average activity concentrations for 40K, 238U and 232Th found in the fresh leaves of VA and VC was: 29.10 ± 3.01; 4.25 ± 1.56; 1.67 ± 0.76 Bq.Kg-1 and 32.56 ± 3.50; 4.50 ± 1.68; 1.68 ± 0.72 Bq.Kg-1 respectively. The average radium equivalent activities obtained for fresh leaves were 6.79 ± 2.84 Bq/kg and 6.79 ± 2.97 Bq/kg. The gamma dose rate of 3.94 and 4.12 then the hazard index of 0.026 were found both in VA and VC leaves samples.