Monitoring and analysis of radioactivity levels of environment samples and foods in Nanjing / 中国辐射卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective To obtainthe baseline data of the gross α and gross β radioactivity levels in environmental samples and foods by the monitoring and analyzing the radioactivity levels in drinking water, aerosols and commercial foods in Nanjing City. Methods 15 types of samples, including water source, produced water, aerosol, chicken, pork, stalk vegetable, root vegetable, fresh milk, leafy vegetable, flour, fruits, rice, tea, fish and crab were collected. After pretreatment, LB4008 four-channel low background α and β measuring instrument was used to measure the gross α and gross β radioactivity concentrations. Results The gross α and gross β activity concentrations of source water and produced water in Nanjing from 2016 to 2019 were lower than the national limits. The gross α and gross β activity concentrations in the source water were significantly higher than those of the produced water (P < 0.05). The mean activity concentration range of gross α and gross β in aerosol were 0.16～0.98 mBq/m3 and 0.14～2.15 mBq/m3 from 2016 to 2019, and with no statistical difference in difference samples (P > 0.05). The gross α and gross β activity concentration range of foods were 0.10～17.00 Bq/kg and 22.20～187.20 Bq/kg, of which the gross α and gross β activity concentration in tea were significantly higher than that of other kinds of foods (P < 0.05). Conclusion The radioactivity level in drinking water, atmospheric aerosols and foods in Nanjing were not contaminated by radioactive substances, and the gross α and gross β were relatively stable.