Measurement of Radon Exhalation Rate in some consuming Foodstuff in some Local Markets

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the radon concentration for 11 different samples of consuming foodstuff collected from the markets. Alpha- CR-39 track detectors were used to analyze the radium concentration and radon exhalation rate. Al-Sayed coffee powder had the highest radon concentration of 99.7 Bq/m3 , while Al-Warda sugar had the lowest concentration of 56.5 Bq/m3 . The surface exhalation rate for the powdered milk samples varied from 2.3Bq/ m2 .h in Al-Marai sample to 3.5 Bq/m2.h in sample Anchor. While the coffee powder samples ranged from 2.4 Bq/ m2 .h in sample Al-Rifai to 3.7 Bq/m2 .h in sample Al-Sayed. The sugar samples varied from 2.11 Bq/ m2 .h in sample Al-Warda to 2.3 Bq/m2 .h in sample Al-Usra. The lifetime  cancer risk was found to be within the range of 28-44.8 people per million with a mean value of 36.5±0.5 for powdered milk, and within the range of 29.5-45.1 people per million with a mean value of 38±0.5 for coffee powder and the range of 25.5-28 people per million with a mean value of 26±0.07 for sugar sample. The samples measured are mainly used by consumers and do not contain harmful radioactivity.