The activity of 210Pb in cigarette smoked in Kazakhstan.

The radon decay product 210Pb is a known component of tobacco. In this study, the activity concentration of 210Pb in the most popular cigarette brands (six samples) for Kazakhstan consumers was determined by beta spectrometry. The activity levels of 210Pb ranged between 2.69 ± 0.27 and 27.42 ± 2.74 mBq per cigarette. Higher activity concentrations for 210Pb were found in Sample No.4 and showed an excess of the world average by 1.8 times. The average activity concentrations of 210Pb in cigarette tobacco were 10.42 ± 1.04 mBq cig-1. The daily activities inhaled in the lungs of a smoker, and the resulting effective doses due to cigarette smoking were calculated. Effective doses per year due to cigarette smoking were calculated assuming that 42.13% of the 210Pb in tobacco were retained in the lungs of the smokers. It is concluded that for a smoker in Kazakhstan, the average effective dose ranges from 9.1 ± 0.9 µSv/year to 92.8 ± 9.3 µSv/year for a cigarette consumption of one pack of cigarettes per day. The results indicate that the annual effective doses from inhalation of 210Pb due to smoking one pack of cigarettes per day are from 7 to 58 times (for different types of cigarettes) greater than the annual effective doses from ingestion of radionuclides via the diet.

210Po and 210Pb radioactivity levels in local and imported tobacco used in Palestine and Jordan.

This study aimed to assess the concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb in various tobacco samples from Palestine and Jordan. Cigarette smoking is recognized as a significant contributor to the radiation dose received by individuals, primarily due to the elevated levels of 210Pb and 210Po found in tobacco. The analysis revealed that the average concentrations of 210Po in locally sourced tobacco and cigarette samples in Palestine are 16.8 ± 2.3 mBq/g and 18.5 ± 2.0 mBq/g, with a total average of 17.8 ± 7.4 mBq/g (15.5 mBq/cigarette). Similarly, the average concentrations of 210Pb in these samples are 18.5 ± 2.6 mBq/g and 20.3 ± 2.2 mBq/g, with a total average of 19.6 ± 8.1 mBq/g (17.0 mBq/cigarette). In Jordan, the average concentrations of 210Po in cigarette samples and narghile tobacco are 20.1 ± 2.4 mBq/g and 18.3 ± 4.1 mBq/g, with a total average value of 19.6 ± 9.9 mBq/g (18.0 mBq/cigarette), while the average concentrations of 210Pb are 22.2 ± 2.6 mBq/g and 20.2 ± 4.5 mBq/g, with a total average value of 21.6 ± 10.8 mBq/g (19.9 mBq/cigarette). The annual effective doses resulting from inhalation were calculated for smokers of these samples. The findings revealed that the levels of 210Po and 210Pb radioactivity in certain investigated samples exceeded the results of studies in many countries of the world. The associated effective doses per year from smoking for all brands products in Palestine range from 34.7 µSv/y to 186.5 µSv/y with an average of 109.5 µSv/y, while in Jordan 54.5 µSv/y to 289.1 µSv/y with an average of 130.9 µSv/y.

Assessment of Be-7, Pb-210 and Po-210 Activities in Airborne Particulate Matter Over Istanbul, Türkiye.

Airborne particulate matter is one of the air pollutants which can have detrimental health effects in the human body. Radionuclides adsorb onto air particles and make their way to humans primarily through inhalation. Naturally-occurring radionuclides, 210Pb and 210Po, are of notable health concern due to their relatively elevated ingestion and inhalation doses. In the current study, activity concentrations of 7Be, 210Pb and 210Po were determined in air particulate matter (PM). PM2.5 was collected on the European side, while PM10 was collected on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. Be-7, 210Pb and 210Po activities were found to be 5.17 ± 2.35, 0.96 ± 0.42; 0.25 ± 0.14 mBq m- 3 in Anatolian side, respectively. Be-7, 210Pb and 210Po activities were found to be 3.81 ± 2.27, 0.62 ± 0.29, 0.29 ± 0.26, mBq m- 3 in European side, respectively. The ratio of 210Po/210Pb was found to be higher (0.47 ± 0.31 for PM2.5 and 0.34 ± 0.27 for PM10) than the global average of 0.1. This result can be explained by the fact that Po is more volatile than Pb and enhanced in the air by the combustion process. Inhalation dose rates of 210Pb and 210Po due to PM10 exposure were calculated to be 7.70 ± 3.30 and 4.05 ± 2.31 µSv year- 1, respectively. Pb-210 bioaccessibility was assessed by the extraction of the particles in simulated lung fluids. Approximately 24.8% of inhaled 210Pb was estimated to be bioaccessible. This study suggests that 210Po and 210Pb activities are partially enhanced in the air particles in Istanbul and should be regularly monitored.

Factors Contributing to Accumulation of 210Po in Freshwater Fishes in Dong Thai Lake, Vietnam and Radiological Hazard Assessment.

210Po (polonium), one of the most toxic naturally occurring radionuclides, is well-known as a common natural radionuclide in fish species. Human consumption of 210Po-contaminated fish could result in a significant internal dose. This study determined by alpha spectrometry the 210Po activity in sixteen selected fish species with different living behaviors (pelagic, demersal), trophic positions (herbivores, carnivores, omnivorous), and masses in Dong Thai Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam. The min, max, and average of the 210Po concentration of sixteen fish species were 0.80 ± 0.44, 12.7 ± 0.20, and 3.54 ± 0.31 Bq kg-1, respectively. Regarding the different living behaviors, trophic positions, and masses, the results showed trending of 210Popelagic > 210Podemersal; 210Poherbivores < 210Pocarnivores < 210Poomnivorous and 210Po<0.2 kg > 210Po0.2-1 kg > 210Po>1 kg, respectively. The 210Po concentrations in muscle tissue were greater in fish species with a small mass, omnivorous trophic position, and pelagic living behavior relative to demersal fish with a larger mass that were herbivores or carnivores. In addition, the results showed an uneven distribution of 210Po activities in atmospheric aerosols, terrestrial soils, surface waters, and lake sediments in the study area. The primary source of 210Po could be supplied from atmospheric aerosols and/or terrestrial soils in the study area. The 210Po annual effective dose for adults due to fish consumption has been calculated with a range from 20 to 400 µSv y-1 and 111 µSv. y-1 on average, and it is far below the allowable limits of 1000 µSv y-1.

Study of Polonium (210Po) Activity Concentration in Fruit Wines Derived from Different Locations in Poland.

This study aimed at assessing the activity concentration and the annual effective dose of polonium-210 (210Po) in fruit wines derived from four locations in Poland (Warmian−Masurian, Podlaskie, Lubelskie and Malopolskie voivodeships). The fruit wines differed significantly (p < 0.05) in 210Po activity depending on the production site, with the Malopolskie site having the highest activity (61.4−221.4 mBq/L) and the Podlaskie having the lowest (3.5−97.1 mBq/L). The site differentiation was due to environmental conditions­soil parameters (uranium concentration), precipitations and terrain characteristics, e.g., the proximity of the lakes. The increased activity concentration of 210Po in samples from Malopolska compared with the other sites probably derived from the environment polluted with aqueous wastes and particulate air pollution. The annual effective dose due to the ingestion of fruit wines ranged from 0.112 to 1.214 µSv/year. These levels of exposure are safe according to the WHO criterion (0.1 mSv per year for ingestion) and to the IAEA reference level for public exposure including food (1 mSv per year). Summing up, the data obtained provide information on the activity concentration of 210Po in fruit wines and increase databases on the natural radioactivity of foodstuffs. Future work is needed to examine 210Po activity in samples from all vineyard regions in Poland.

Environmental evaluation of radioactivity levels and associated radiation hazards in groundwater around the WIPP site.

Groundwater may contain radioactive substances which can be dangerous to human health. Concentrations of natural radionuclides polonium (Po), thorium (Th), uranium (U), and radium (Ra) isotopes were measured in groundwater samples collected from different locations in the vicinity of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The average values of gross activity concentrations of 210Po, 228Th, 238U, 234U, 226Ra and 228 Ra isotopes were determined to be 1.62 Bq L-1 in shallow groundwater and 5.88 Bq L-1 in deep groundwater, respectively. The total radioactivity in deep groundwater was higher than that in shallow groundwater, and most of the radioactivity in the water is from 226Ra. Furthermore, the effective doses for ingestion of natural radionuclides were about 0.333 mSv y-1 for shallow groundwater and about 1.338 mSv y-1 for deep groundwater samples, which are higher than the World Health Organization (WHO, 2017) guideline level (0.1 mSv y-1) for drinking water. Ra dominated the total ingestion dose, contributing 93.06 % and 75.40 % of the total effective doses to the deep and shallow groundwater, respectively. The ingrowth and decay of natural radionuclides suggested that 228Ra/226Ra ratio can be a useful indicator of the source of radioactive contamination. The radioactivity data obtained from the investigated groundwater samples can be used to establish a baseline for radioactivity levels in groundwater around the WIPP site.

210Pb and 210Po concentration levels in tobacco products and resulting radiation dose for Egyptian smokers.

The activity concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po in the most popular cigarettes and moassel tobacco brands consumed in Egypt were determined by the spontaneous deposition method using alpha spectrometry. It turned out that the activity concentration of 210Po was higher than that of 210Pb in all tobacco brands. Higher activity concentrations for both 210Pb and 210Po were found in cigarette than in moassel tobacco. The average activity concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po in cigarette tobacco were 11.79 ± 1.67 and 15.00 ± 1.83 mBq cig-1, respectively, whereas in moassel tobacco the values were 7.08 ± 1.91 and 9.12 ± 1.12 mBq g-1, respectively. The daily activities inhaled in the lung of a smoker and the inhalation effective doses due to cigarette and shisha smoking were calculated. The results revealed that the total 210Pb and 210Po daily activities inhaled and the total annual inhalation effective doses due to shisha smoking were two times greater than the corresponding values due to cigarette smoking. Also, the results indicated that the annual effective doses from inhalation of 210Pb and 210Po due to smoking 20 cigarettes per day are 14 and 16 times greater than the annual ingestion doses from the diet, respectively. In contrast, the annual effective doses from inhalation of 210Pb and 210Po due to shisha smoking (27 g moassel tobacco per day) are 26 and 33 times greater than the annual ingestion doses from the diet, respectively.

The activities of 210Po and 210Pb in cigarette smoked in Tunisia.

In this study, the activity concentration of polonium 210 in cigarette for Tunisian consumers was investigated by alpha spectrometry. After chemical digestion of tobacco, 210Po was extracted, auto-deposited on disc and measured. The activity of 210Pb was assessed after radioactive equilibrium was achieved. The activity levels of 210Po ranged between 7.8 ± 0.3 and 17 ± 0.5 mBq per cigarette with an average of 12.9 ± 0.4 mBq per cigarette. Effective doses per year due to cigarette smoking were calculated assuming that 22% of the 210Pb and 210Po in tobacco were retained in the lungs of the smokers. It is concluded that for a smoker in Tunisia, the average effective dose is about 90.6 ± 3.3 µSv per year for a cigarette consumption of one pack of cigarettes per day. This value is somewhat lower than 106.4 ± 5.3 µSv per year estimated as the mean global effective dose from smoking.

Determination and distribution of 210Po in different morphological parts of tobacco plants and radiation dose assessment from cigarettes in Turkey.

Both sides of tobacco leaves accumulate 210Po through their sticky hairs (trichomes) by means of diffusive deposition. It is known that tobacco leaves may contain high amounts of 210Po concentrations. However, there is less information about radionuclides in tobacco plants. In the study, the 210Po concentrations were determined monthly in different morphological parts of tobacco plants (leaf, stem, root) and soil samples and soil-to-plant transfer factor for 210Po was determined and the activity concentrations of 210Po radionuclide in 16 different popular brands of cigarettes were investigated in order to estimate the annual effective doses of 210Po to smokers. Besides the study investigated (focused on) the correlation between the amount of rainfall and 210Po concentration of tobacco leaf. The results of the present study indicated that the activity concentration of 210Po in cigarettes distributed in Turkey ranged from 16.1 ± 1.0 to 37.6 ± 2.6 mBq per cigarette and the mean value of their activity concentrations was 22.4 ± 1.5 mBq per cigarette. The mean value of annual effective doses of 210Po to smokers (20 cigarettes smoked by an individual per day) obtained from these activity concentrations was estimated to be 188.5 ± 12.4 µSv y-1.

Activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb in fish and mussels in Izmir, Turkey, and the related health risk assessment (dose assessment and pesticide levels) to the consumers.

The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides (210Po and 210Pb) and residual pesticide levels were determined from the fish (red mullet, common sole, anchovy, horse mackerel, gray mullet, and sardine) and mussel samples collected in Izmir Bay seasonally from October 2012 and July 2013. The 210Po and 210Pb concentrations varied between 5.7 ± 4.0 Bq kg-1 dry weight (dw) to 353.7 ± 45.0 Bq kg-1(dw) and 0.7 ± 0.2 Bq kg-1 (dw) to 4.3 ± 0.8 Bq kg-1 (dw), respectively. From a public health point of view, the fish and mussel collected from the Izmir Bay are not harmful to consumers.

Human Exposure to Radioactivity From Tobacco Smoke: Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco has been known to contain radioactive polonium and lead for 50 years but the literature is divided as to the public health significance. I review the data on tobacco radioactivity and its internalization by smokers. METHODS: Data sources: Reports of lead-210 and polonium-210 content of tobacco leaf, cigarettes, cigarette smoke, and human respiratory tissues, published between 1964 and September 2017. Study selection: Any identified study that reported values for lead-210 and polonium-210 content. Data extraction: Data quality was addressed by comparative review of analytic methods. RESULTS: The data about radiation content of tobacco and smoke are robust. Early reports suggesting microsievert lifetime doses of inhaled radioactivity to smokers were not borne out. The results remain sensitive to pharmacological assumptions around absorption and redistribution of inhaled radionuclides, and radiobiological assumptions about interaction with human tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Literature on tobacco radioactivity has not fully contended with pharmacological and radiobiological uncertainty, and is therefore divided as to health significance. This does much to explain regulatory inaction over the last half century. Before radiation safety law can offer a vehicle for tobacco control, more must be learnt about the pharmacology and radiobiology of inhaled radionuclides in tobacco smoke. IMPLICATIONS: This work makes it apparent that the study of tobacco smoke radioactivity has been scientifically stagnant for the last 40 years. The field cannot advance until we improve understanding of the pharmacology and radiobiology of inhaled radionuclides in tobacco smoke. Despite this, a subset of contemporary authors is still suggesting individual health risks about 1000 times higher than can be supported by internationally accepted models.

Comparison of 238U, 210Po and 210Pb Speciation in Six Different Types of Soils.

Speciation of 238U, 210Po and 210Pb in six different types of Syrian soil (Entisols, Inceptisol, Aridisol, Mollisols, Vertisols and Rock outcrops) was studied using a four-step sequential extraction procedure. The binding nature of 238U, 210Po and 210Pb was correlated with soil properties including soil particles, pH, EC, OM, sand, silt and clay. The results showed that the exchangeable and carbonate fractions of 238U did not exceed 10%. In addition, the 238U, 210Po and 210Pb fractions bonded to organic matter increased as the soil clay content decreased. The highest 210Po fraction was found to be bonded to soil Fe/Al/Mn-oxides for Entisols soils (56%) and silica for Aridisol soils (53%). Soil clay content showed a linear correlation with 210Po concentrations in soils ranging from 0.34 to 0.91. The results are considered useful in assessing the risks resulting from soils contaminated by naturally occurring radioactive material from the phosphate and oil industry.

Studying of 210Po and 210Pb Deposition in Some Lichen Species in Manisa, Turkey.

Lichens are very useful for monitoring of the radionuclide deposition because having a high efficiency capturing the radionuclides from the atmospheric fallout. In the present work, 210Po and 210Pb deposition in some lichen species were determined using an alpha spectrometer. Different lichens were collected around Demirci-Manisa and investigated their uses as biomonitor for 210Po and 210Pb deposition. The highest activity concentrations for 210Po and 210Pb were detected in Neofuscelia pulla (898 Bq kg-1 and 1207 Bq kg-1, respectively). The mean activities in the lichen species ranged from 164 to 584 Bq kg-1 for 210Po and from 175 to 671 Bq kg-1 for 210Pb. The activity ratios for 210Po/210Pb ranged from 0.75 to 1.57.

Application of an in vitro digestion model for 210Po bioaccessibility assessment in seafood.

This study aims to investigate the bioaccessibility of 210Po in seafood and the impact of food preparation on this radionuclide. Polonium bioaccessibility is the fraction of 210Po mobilised from food matrices into digestive extractants when applying an in vitro digestion model. The degree of bioaccessibility of 210Po in food has important implications for estimating ingestion doses from this radionuclide. The simulation of gastrointestinal digestion was divided into three stages through the use of synthetic saliva, gastric and bile-pancreas solutions. Following pre-treatment with a saliva solution, raw and cooked seafood samples underwent one of the following treatments: (a) simulated gastric digestion only or (b) simulated complete gastrointestinal digestion (gastric digestion followed by bile-pancreas digestion). No significant difference (P > 0.05) in 210Po mobility was found between samples that underwent gastric digestion compared to those that only underwent gastro-intestinal digestion. However, a significant difference (P < 0.05) in 210Po bioaccessibility was found between raw and cooked seafood undergoing both gastric and gastro-intestinal digestion.

Radiolead (210)Pb and (210)Po/(210)Pb activity ratios in calcium supplements and the assessment of their possible dose to consumers.

This paper presents the results of pioneer study of the most popular calcium supplements as a potential additional source of radiolead (210)Pb in human diet. The analyzed calcium pharmaceutics contained organic or inorganic calcium compounds; some came from natural sources as mussels' shells, fish extracts, or sedimentary rocks. The idea was to investigate the naturally occurring (210)Pb activity in different calcium supplements and calculate the annual effective radiation dose from radiolead (210)Pb decay in consumed calcium supplement. The results showed (210)Pb concentrations in natural origin calcium supplements (especially sedimentary rocks) were significantly higher. The highest (210)Pb activity concentrations were determined in mineral tablets made from dolomite - 2.97 ± 0.18 mBq g(-1), while the lowest was observed in organic calcium compounds - both calcium lactate - 0.08 ± 0.01 and 0.13 ± 0.01 mBq g(-1). The highest annual radiation dose from (210)Pb taken with 1 tablet of calcium supplement per day was calculated for soluble calcium lactate sample - 1.19 ± 0.03 µSv year(-1), while the highest annual radiation dose from (210)Pb taken daily with 1 g of pure Ca for dolomite - 5.57 ± 0.34 µSv year(-1).

Radiolead (210)Pb and (210)Po/(210)Pb activity ratios in dogs' hair.

The aim of this study was to determine activity concentrations of radiolead (210)Pb as well as (210)Po/(210)Pb activity ratios in dog hair. The objectives of this research were also to investigate the utility of domestic animal hair as a noninvasive indicator of metal exposure for radiotoxic, naturally occurring (210)Pb and find the correlations between (210)Pb concentration in hair and age, gender, hair type or diet of analyzed animals. The highest (210)Pb concentrations were measured in a 2-year-old Shih Tzus (9.82 ± 0.53 Bq kg(-1) dw(-1)) and a 2-year-old Bichon Maltese (8.09 ± 0.42 Bq kg(-1) dw(-1)), both longhair males, while the lowest was found in a 15-year-old Yorkshire Terrier (0.44 ± 0.02 Bq kg(-1) dw(-1)), small longhair male as well. As results showed, mainly dog hair color as well as their age and gender influenced the differences in the values of (210)Pb concentrations in analyzed hair samples. Also the values of activity ratios of (210)Po/(210)Pb in analyzed dog hair samples were calculated and obtained results were similar to those observed in human hair.

[The death of Yasser Arafat: molecular-genetic authentication of the remains as an indispensable condition for the evaluation of the medical hypotheses of the cause of his death].

The objective of the present study was the molecular-genetic authentication of the remains as an indispensable condition for the evaluation of the medical hypotheses of the cause of death in 2004 of Yasser Arafat, the former Palestinian leader and the first president of the Palestinian National Administration, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. We carried out molecular-genetic investigations aimed at establishing the circumstances and cause of the death of Yasser Arafat including the analysis of the relevant medical documentation, the examination of the burial place at Ramallah, remains, and personal belongings stored in his Al Muqata'ah residence at Ramallah. The objective of the present molecular- genetic investigations was to confirm the authenticity of the fragments of Yasser Arafat's remains available for radio-toxicological, chemical toxicological, and other laboratory studies. The reference objects were the contact traces left on the personal belongings by their owner. The aggregate probabilistic estimate of the coincidence of genotype traits of autosomal DNA, Y-chromosomal DNA, and mtDNA was at least 99,(9)29 4% which gives evidence of the genetic identity of the objects of study. It is this value (99.999999 <...> 9999999(29) 4%) that characterizes the probability that the bone fragments provided for the laboratory studies are actually authentic remains of Yasser Arafat.

Determination of (210)Po in drinking water and urine samples using copper sulfide microprecipitation.

Polonium-210 ((210)Po) can be rapidly determined in drinking water and urine samples by alpha spectrometry using copper sulfide (CuS) microprecipitation. For drinking water, Po in 10 mL samples was directly coprecipitated onto the filter for alpha counting without any purification. For urine, 10 mL of sample was heated, oxidized with KBrO3 for a short time (∼5 min), and subsequently centrifuged to remove the suspended organic matter. The CuS microprecipitation was then applied to the supernatant. Large batches of samples can be prepared using this technique with high recoveries (∼85%). The figures of merit of the methods were determined, and the developed methods fulfill the requirements for emergency and routine radioassays. The efficiency and reliability of the procedures were confirmed using spiked samples.

Radioactive isotope analyses of skeletal materials in forensic science: a review of uses and potential uses.

A review of information that can be provided from measurements made on natural and anthropogenic radionuclide activities in human skeletal remains has been undertaken to establish what reliable information of forensic anthropological use can be obtained regarding years of birth and death (and hence post-mortem interval (PMI)). Of the anthropogenic radionuclides that have entered the environment, radiocarbon ((14)C) can currently be used to generate the most useful and reliable information. Measurements on single bones can indicate whether or not the person died during the nuclear era, while recent research suggests that measurements on trabecular bone may, depending on the chronological age of the remains, provide estimates of year of death and hence PMI. Additionally, (14)C measurements made on different components of single teeth or on teeth formed at different times can provide estimates of year of birth to within 1-2 years of the true year. Of the other anthropogenic radionuclides, (90)Sr shows some promise but there are problems of (1) variations in activities between individuals, (2) relatively large analytical uncertainties and (3) diagenetic contamination. With respect to natural series radionuclides, it is concluded that there is no convincing evidence that (210)Pb dating can be used in a rigorous, quantitative fashion to establish a PMI. Similarly, for daughter/parent pairs such as (210)Po/(210)Pb (from the (238)U decay series) and (228)Th/(228)Ra (from the (232)Th decay series), the combination of analytical uncertainty and uncertainty in activity ratios at the point of death inevitably results in major uncertainty in any estimate of PMI. However, observation of the disequilibrium between these two daughter/parent pairs could potentially be used in a qualitative way to support other forensic evidence.

Bioaccumulation of 210Po in common gastropod and bivalve species from the northern Gulf.

This study sets the baseline for the concentration of the natural-series radionuclide polonium-210 in two species of gastropods and four species of bivalves that are common to the Northern Arabian/Persian Gulf. (210)Po is primarily absorbed from water and via ingestion of detrital material by gastropoda and bivalves. This concentrated (210)Po can then be passed along to the next trophic level of the marine food web. The lowest (210)Po concentration was measured in the gastropod Stomatella auricular (10.36-12.39Bq kg(-1)dry) and the highest in the bivalve Marica marmorata (193.51-215.60Bq kg(-1)dry). The measured concentration factor for these molluscs in the northern Gulf varied between 4.8 and 115×10(3), values very similar to the IAEA recommended value for bivalves and gastropods of 2×10(4).