Radiological Health Risk Assessment of Some Selected Fruits from Major Markets in Eti-Osa Local Government Lagos State

Abstract

Fruit is an essential part of human balance diet. Exposure to radiation is a natural phenomenon in human environment. Natural radionuclides are found in the air, water, soil, and food. Ingestion is one of the major pathways through which radionuclides can enter human system. Radiological health risk assessment of some fruits (Mango –Mangiferaindica, Cucumber –Cucumissativus, Pineapple –Ananascomosus, African cherry –Chrysophyllumalbidum, Orange - Citrus sinensis, and Watermelon –Citrulluslanatus) purchased from major markets in Eti-Osa, Lagos state, Nigeria was carried out. Geiger Muller detector was used in taking readings of the absorbed dose rate of the ionizing radiation from the fruit samples. The obtained values of absorbed dose rate ranged from 0.25μSvhr-1 to 0.41μSvhr-1 found in orange and pineapple respectively. The annual committed effective dose ranged from 1.75mSvyr-1 to 2.87mSvyr-1 while values for excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCR) ranged from 0.613 to 1.003x10-2. The average annual committed effective dose and mean excess lifetime cancer due to the intake of these fruits were calculated to be 2.282mSvyr-1 and 0.792 x 10-2 respectively. These results were found to be higher than the recommended world average value of 1.0mSvyr-1 and excess lifetime cancer risks annual limit of 0.29 x 10-3 respectively. This indicated that the consumption of fruits by the people in the study area posed significant radiological health risk to them.