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. 2022 Jul 1;19(13):8124.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19138124.

An In-Depth Examination of the Natural Radiation and Radioactive Dangers Associated with Regularly Used Medicinal Herbs

Heba A Saudi  1 , Heba T Abedelkader  2 , Shams A M Issa  3   4 , Hanan M Diab  5 , Gharam A Alharshan  6 , Mohamed A M Uosif  3   7 , Ibrahim I Bashter  2 , Antoaneta Ene  8 , M El Ghazaly  9 , Hesham M H Zakaly  3   10
Affiliations

An In-Depth Examination of the Natural Radiation and Radioactive Dangers Associated with Regularly Used Medicinal Herbs

Heba A Saudi et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The specific activity of U-238 and Th-232, as well as K-40 radionuclides, in twenty-nine investigated medicinal herbs used in Egypt has been measured using a high-purity germanium (HP Ge) detector. The measured values ranged from the BDL to 20.71 ± 1.52 with a mean of 7.25 ± 0.54 (Bq kg-1) for uranium-238, from the BDL to 29.35 ± 1.33 with a mean of 7.78 ± 0.633 (Bq kg-1) for thorium-232, and from 172 ± 5.85 to 1181.2 ± 25.5 with a mean of 471.4 ± 11.33 (Bq kg-1) for potassium-40. Individual herbs with the highest activity levels were found to be 20.71 ± 1.52 (Bq kg-1) for uranium-238 (H4, Thyme herb), 29.35 ± 1.33 (Bq kg-1) for thorium-232 (H20, Cinnamon), and 1181.2 ± 25.5 (Bq kg-1) for potassium-40 (H24, Worm-wood). (AACED) Ingestion-related effective doses over the course of a year of uranium-238 and thorium-232, as well as potassium-40 estimated from measured activity concentrations, are 0.002304 ± 0.00009 (minimum), 0.50869 ± 0.0002 (maximum), and 0.0373 ± 0.0004 (average)(mSv/yr). Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), absorbed gamma dose rate (Doutdoor, Dindoor), gamma representative level index (I), annual effective dose (AEDtotal), external and internal hazard index (Hex, Hin), and excess lifetime cancer risk were determined in medicinal plants (ELCR). The radiological hazards assessment revealed that the investigated plant species have natural radioactivity levels that are well within the internationally recommended limit. This is the first time that the natural radioactivity of therapeutic plants has been measured in Egypt. In addition, no artificial radionuclide (for example, 137Cs) was discovered in any of the samples. Therefore, the current findings are intended to serve as the foundation for establishing a standard safety and guideline for using these therapeutic plants in Egypt.

Keywords: high-purity germanium; medical herb; natural radiation; radioactive risks.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Samples inside the Marinelli beakers.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Standard sources are used to calibrate the detector for efficiency.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The activity concentration for 238U, 232Th, and 40K in medicinal plant samples (Bq⁄kg).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Range, mean, median line, and outlier radioactive elements (238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radionuclides) for measured samples in the interested area.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The mean activity concentrations of natural radioactivity of medicinal plant samples in the present study were compared with those from similar investigations performed in other countries.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Outdoor annual effective doses (AEDoutdoor) for all herbs.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Indoor annual effective doses (AEDindoor) for all herbs.
Figure 8
Figure 8
The average annual committed effective dose (Eave) distribution in the various species of the medicinal plant samples.
Figure 9
Figure 9
The annual gonadal equivalent dose (AGDA) in the various species of the medicinal plant samples.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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