Vol. 10, 2025

Radiation Measurements

DETERMINATION OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY OF WHEAT FLOUR SAMPLES FROM SELECTED ALBANIAN MARKETS

Manjola Shyti, Siltana Zeneli, Erjon Spahiu, Florinda Cfarku

Pages: 87-91

DOI: 10.37392/RapProc.2025.17

In this paper, the natural radioactivity levels of 226 Ra, 232Th, and 40K were determined in 16 brands of wheat flour samples using HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry. Measurements of natural radioactivity in foodstuffs are essential for monitoring radiation levels to which the population is directly or indirectly exposed. Since wheat flour is one of the staple food products, establishing a national baseline of radioactivity exposure from different brands available in markets in Tirana, Albania, is significant. The average activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232Th, and 40K in wheat flour are found to be (6.3 ± 0.6), (0.25 ± 0.08), and (45.9 ± 2.7) Bq kg−1, respectively. The results demonstrate that activity concentrations in wheat flour samples are much below the world average values of 33 Bq kg−1 for 226 Ra, 42 Bq kg−1 for 232Th, and 512 Bq kg−1 for 40K. All evaluated radiological parameters, including radium equivalent activity, internal hazard index, and annual effective dose, were found to be well below the recommended international safety limits. These results indicate that the wheat flour samples analyzed pose a low and acceptable radiological risk. Therefore, from a radiological protection standpoint, their consumption does not represent a significant health concern for the public. The present study contributes to the continuation of similar investigations aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of radioactivity levels and radiological risk in foodstuffs in Albania.

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