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Radionuclide contamination of foods imported into Iraq following the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident
The Science of the Total Environment, 106 (1991) 191-194 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam
191
Radionuclide contamination of foods imported into Iraq following the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident B.A. Marouf, A.K. A1-Hadad, N.A. Toma, N.F. Tawfiq, J.A. M a h m o o d and M.A. H a s o o n Nuclear Research Center, Tuwaitha, Baghdad, lraq
(Received March 19th, 1990; accepted May 5th, 1990)
ABSTRACT Since early 1986, a monitoring program for radionuclidesin imported foods has been carried out by the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission. After the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in the Soviet Union, the program was expanded; our laboratory was officiallydesignated by the Iraqi Government to measure radionuclide activity concentrations in foodstuff imported from countries known to be severely contaminated by Chernobyl radioactive fallout. Gammaspectrometric analysis was used. Food items such as powdered milk, lamb meat, poultry, cereals and grains imported into Iraq before the Chernobyl accident did not contain any detectable fission products. However, all lamb meat, 81% of the lentil, 44% of the powdered milk and chick-pea, and 17% of the roast beef samples were contaminated with L37Csor ~34Cs and 137Cs. The highest ~37Cscontamination levels found were 82, 147, 420, 6 and 4 Bq kg-~, respectively. Contamination by ~34Cswas ~ 50% of the values given above.
INTRODUCTION In the early hours of 26 April 1986 an accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power station reactor, releasing a total of 1 × 1018 to 2 × 10 t8 Bq of radioactivity to the atmosphere [1]. This resulted in contamination of agricultural areas in the Soviet Union and in Europe [2, 3]. As early as 1973, the F o o d and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States instituted a program for monitoring the radioactivity in domestic and imported food items [4]. However, after the Chernobyl accident m a n y other countries developed programs to monitor food radioactivity to judge their fitness for h u m a n consumption according to the derived intervention levels (DILs) for the contamination of food [5-7]. In Iraq, the monitoring of radioactivity in imported foods commenced early in 1986 at the Nuclear Research Center. The aim of the program is to 0048-9697/91/$03,50
© 1991--Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.
192
B.A. M A R O U F ET AL.
obtain input data for assessment of population doses through the ingestion pathway, as imported foodstuffs contribute significantly to the Iraqi diet. After the Chernobyl accident, our laboratory was designated by the Iraqi Government to measure radionuclide activity concentrations in imported foods. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Imported food items were normally purchased from local markets; however, after the Chernobyl accident, samples were sent to our laboratory from public health authorities, government food importing agencies and private sector food manufacturers. Samples were counted as purchased with an ORTEC Ge(Li) coaxial detector using 1000ml Marinelli beaker geometry. Efficiency calibrations were performed using a standard 1000ml Marinelli beaker containing a certified nuclide mixture (Amersham) [8]. The data were analysed on a Canberra 8100 multichannel analyser. The detection limit for ~34Cs and 137Cs was 0.5Bqkg ~. RESULTS A N D DISCUSSION
Imported foods analysed in our research center before the Chernobyl accident had no detectable contamination from fission products. After the Chernobyl accident, a total of 218 imp~3rted food samples were analysed; Table 1 illustrates the type and number of samples. All lamb meat, lentil and chick-pea samples were imported from Turkey, indicating that Turkey was contaminated with fallout from the Chernobyl accident. Powdered milk was imported from EEC countries, indicating that they also were contaminated with Chernobyl fallout. Imported food items listed under "others" in Table 1 are mostly food additives. The activity concentration ranges for 134Cs and 137Cs in the contaminated imported food items analysed were very wide, as shown in Table 2. A powdered milk sample from the Munich area, Germany, showed the highest contamination of all the imported food samples analysed, with activity concentrations of 220 and 420Bqkg -~, for 134Cs and 137Cs, respectively. It is known that Munich was heavily contaminated with radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident due to heavy rainfall during the passage of the radioactive plume over southern Germany [9]. It was the only food item analysed in our laboratory that exceeded the Iraqi derived intervention level (DILs) of 370 Bq kg i. Also highly contaminated was a lentil sample, with activity concentrations of 70 and 147Bqkg ~ for 134Cs and ~37Cs, respectively. It has also been
193
RADIONUCLIDE CONTAMINATION OF FOODS DUE TO CHERNOBYL
TABLE 1 Summary of the imported food samples analysed Food item
Number of samples analysed
Number of samples contaminated
Lamb meat Roast beef Powdered milk Lentil Chick-pea Poultry Eggs Canned food Others
24 12 22 27 16 3 8 26 79
24 2 12 22 7 0 1 0 7
reported that Turkish tea analysed in Turkey [10] and the United States [1] was contaminated with t34Cs and ~37Cs. CONCLUSION
From the present study we conclude: (i) Countries contaminated with Chernobyl fallout debris exported contaminated food to Iraq. (ii) All imported food samples analysed in our laboratory were below the Iraqi derived intervention level of 370 Bq kg- i, except for one powdered milk
TABLE 2 Summary of the analytical results for contaminated imported food (Bq kg t wet weight) Food item
Lamb meat Roast beef Powdered milk Lentil Chick-pea Eggs Canned food Others
~34Cs
137Cs
Minimum
Mean
Maximum
Minimum
Mean
Maximum
2 2.4 1 1 1 BDL BDL 1
9 3 28 20 20 BDL BDL 7
46 4 220 70 4 BDL BDL 16.5
2 BDL" 1 1 3 4 BDL 1
17 BDL 60 133 4.5 4 BDL 15.5
82 BDL 420 147 6 4 BDL 33
BDL, below detection limit.
194
B.A. M A R O U F ET AL.
sample from a source which represents < 5% of the total quantity of imported powdered milk. (iii) Only imported lamb meat, lentils and powdered milk were contaminated with 134Csand 137Cs. They are widely consumed by the Iraqi population, but they were not highly contaminated. REFERENCES 1 IAEA, Summary report of the post-accident meeting on the Chernobyl accident, Saf. Ser. No. 75-1NSAG-1, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1986, pp. 33, 39. 2 WHO, Chernobyl reactor accident, Rep. No. ICP/CEH 129, Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1986. 3 B.G. Bennet and A. Bouville, Radiation doses in countries of the northern hemisphere from the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. Environ. Int., 14 (1988) 75-82. 4 R.E. Simpson and F.G. Shuman, Survey of radionuclides in foods. Health Phys., 40 (1981) 529-534. 5 Codes Alimentarius Commission, Consideration of proposals for action in relation to accidental radionuclide contamination of foods, Doc. No. A L I N O R M 89/11, Geneva, 1989. 6 FAO, Report of the expert consultation on recommended limits for radionuclide contamination of food, Doc. No. ESN/M/Sc/8711, Rome, 1987. 7 A. Salo and J. Daglish, Response to an accident in theory and practice. Environ. Int., 14 (1988) 185-200. 8 Amersham, Instrument calibration sources, Amersham International, UK, 1985, p. 38. 9 A. Kaul, Consequences of the reactor accident in Chernobyl in the Federal Republic of Germany; Environmental, contamination, radiation protection measures, radiation risk assessment. Environ. Int., 14 (1988) 83-89. 10 A. Gedikoglu and B.L. Sipahi, Chernobyl radioactivity in Turkish tea. Health Phys., 56 (1989) 97-101. I 1 H. Kato, Comments on dose from drinking Turkish tea harvested in 1986. Health Phys., 56 (1989) 205.
191
Radionuclide contamination of foods imported into Iraq following the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident B.A. Marouf, A.K. A1-Hadad, N.A. Toma, N.F. Tawfiq, J.A. M a h m o o d and M.A. H a s o o n Nuclear Research Center, Tuwaitha, Baghdad, lraq
(Received March 19th, 1990; accepted May 5th, 1990)
ABSTRACT Since early 1986, a monitoring program for radionuclidesin imported foods has been carried out by the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission. After the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in the Soviet Union, the program was expanded; our laboratory was officiallydesignated by the Iraqi Government to measure radionuclide activity concentrations in foodstuff imported from countries known to be severely contaminated by Chernobyl radioactive fallout. Gammaspectrometric analysis was used. Food items such as powdered milk, lamb meat, poultry, cereals and grains imported into Iraq before the Chernobyl accident did not contain any detectable fission products. However, all lamb meat, 81% of the lentil, 44% of the powdered milk and chick-pea, and 17% of the roast beef samples were contaminated with L37Csor ~34Cs and 137Cs. The highest ~37Cscontamination levels found were 82, 147, 420, 6 and 4 Bq kg-~, respectively. Contamination by ~34Cswas ~ 50% of the values given above.
INTRODUCTION In the early hours of 26 April 1986 an accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power station reactor, releasing a total of 1 × 1018 to 2 × 10 t8 Bq of radioactivity to the atmosphere [1]. This resulted in contamination of agricultural areas in the Soviet Union and in Europe [2, 3]. As early as 1973, the F o o d and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States instituted a program for monitoring the radioactivity in domestic and imported food items [4]. However, after the Chernobyl accident m a n y other countries developed programs to monitor food radioactivity to judge their fitness for h u m a n consumption according to the derived intervention levels (DILs) for the contamination of food [5-7]. In Iraq, the monitoring of radioactivity in imported foods commenced early in 1986 at the Nuclear Research Center. The aim of the program is to 0048-9697/91/$03,50
© 1991--Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.
192
B.A. M A R O U F ET AL.
obtain input data for assessment of population doses through the ingestion pathway, as imported foodstuffs contribute significantly to the Iraqi diet. After the Chernobyl accident, our laboratory was designated by the Iraqi Government to measure radionuclide activity concentrations in imported foods. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Imported food items were normally purchased from local markets; however, after the Chernobyl accident, samples were sent to our laboratory from public health authorities, government food importing agencies and private sector food manufacturers. Samples were counted as purchased with an ORTEC Ge(Li) coaxial detector using 1000ml Marinelli beaker geometry. Efficiency calibrations were performed using a standard 1000ml Marinelli beaker containing a certified nuclide mixture (Amersham) [8]. The data were analysed on a Canberra 8100 multichannel analyser. The detection limit for ~34Cs and 137Cs was 0.5Bqkg ~. RESULTS A N D DISCUSSION
Imported foods analysed in our research center before the Chernobyl accident had no detectable contamination from fission products. After the Chernobyl accident, a total of 218 imp~3rted food samples were analysed; Table 1 illustrates the type and number of samples. All lamb meat, lentil and chick-pea samples were imported from Turkey, indicating that Turkey was contaminated with fallout from the Chernobyl accident. Powdered milk was imported from EEC countries, indicating that they also were contaminated with Chernobyl fallout. Imported food items listed under "others" in Table 1 are mostly food additives. The activity concentration ranges for 134Cs and 137Cs in the contaminated imported food items analysed were very wide, as shown in Table 2. A powdered milk sample from the Munich area, Germany, showed the highest contamination of all the imported food samples analysed, with activity concentrations of 220 and 420Bqkg -~, for 134Cs and 137Cs, respectively. It is known that Munich was heavily contaminated with radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident due to heavy rainfall during the passage of the radioactive plume over southern Germany [9]. It was the only food item analysed in our laboratory that exceeded the Iraqi derived intervention level (DILs) of 370 Bq kg i. Also highly contaminated was a lentil sample, with activity concentrations of 70 and 147Bqkg ~ for 134Cs and ~37Cs, respectively. It has also been
193
RADIONUCLIDE CONTAMINATION OF FOODS DUE TO CHERNOBYL
TABLE 1 Summary of the imported food samples analysed Food item
Number of samples analysed
Number of samples contaminated
Lamb meat Roast beef Powdered milk Lentil Chick-pea Poultry Eggs Canned food Others
24 12 22 27 16 3 8 26 79
24 2 12 22 7 0 1 0 7
reported that Turkish tea analysed in Turkey [10] and the United States [1] was contaminated with t34Cs and ~37Cs. CONCLUSION
From the present study we conclude: (i) Countries contaminated with Chernobyl fallout debris exported contaminated food to Iraq. (ii) All imported food samples analysed in our laboratory were below the Iraqi derived intervention level of 370 Bq kg- i, except for one powdered milk
TABLE 2 Summary of the analytical results for contaminated imported food (Bq kg t wet weight) Food item
Lamb meat Roast beef Powdered milk Lentil Chick-pea Eggs Canned food Others
~34Cs
137Cs
Minimum
Mean
Maximum
Minimum
Mean
Maximum
2 2.4 1 1 1 BDL BDL 1
9 3 28 20 20 BDL BDL 7
46 4 220 70 4 BDL BDL 16.5
2 BDL" 1 1 3 4 BDL 1
17 BDL 60 133 4.5 4 BDL 15.5
82 BDL 420 147 6 4 BDL 33
BDL, below detection limit.
194
B.A. M A R O U F ET AL.
sample from a source which represents < 5% of the total quantity of imported powdered milk. (iii) Only imported lamb meat, lentils and powdered milk were contaminated with 134Csand 137Cs. They are widely consumed by the Iraqi population, but they were not highly contaminated. REFERENCES 1 IAEA, Summary report of the post-accident meeting on the Chernobyl accident, Saf. Ser. No. 75-1NSAG-1, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1986, pp. 33, 39. 2 WHO, Chernobyl reactor accident, Rep. No. ICP/CEH 129, Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1986. 3 B.G. Bennet and A. Bouville, Radiation doses in countries of the northern hemisphere from the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. Environ. Int., 14 (1988) 75-82. 4 R.E. Simpson and F.G. Shuman, Survey of radionuclides in foods. Health Phys., 40 (1981) 529-534. 5 Codes Alimentarius Commission, Consideration of proposals for action in relation to accidental radionuclide contamination of foods, Doc. No. A L I N O R M 89/11, Geneva, 1989. 6 FAO, Report of the expert consultation on recommended limits for radionuclide contamination of food, Doc. No. ESN/M/Sc/8711, Rome, 1987. 7 A. Salo and J. Daglish, Response to an accident in theory and practice. Environ. Int., 14 (1988) 185-200. 8 Amersham, Instrument calibration sources, Amersham International, UK, 1985, p. 38. 9 A. Kaul, Consequences of the reactor accident in Chernobyl in the Federal Republic of Germany; Environmental, contamination, radiation protection measures, radiation risk assessment. Environ. Int., 14 (1988) 83-89. 10 A. Gedikoglu and B.L. Sipahi, Chernobyl radioactivity in Turkish tea. Health Phys., 56 (1989) 97-101. I 1 H. Kato, Comments on dose from drinking Turkish tea harvested in 1986. Health Phys., 56 (1989) 205.