Radioanalysis of radon in dietary legumes using polymeric nuclear autoradiographic techniques

The presence of naturally occurring radioactive elements in widely consumed food items raises substantial implications for environmental safety and public health. This study was conducted to examine the amounts of radon gas (²²²Rn) and radium (²²⁶Ra) in legume meal samples obtained from the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. The analyzed materials were submitted to investigate by CR-39 nuclear track detectors (NTD), a well-established and dependable nuclear autoradiographic technique (NAT). The findings of NAT showed that the radioactivity levels of ²²²Rn and ²²⁶Ra were strongly positively correlated. The quantities of ²²²Rn in the analyzed legume samples varied from 0.054 ± 0.035–0.224 ± 0.040 Bq/kg, with a mean value of 0.131 ± 0.028 Bq/kg. The maximum radium activity was noted in bean sample B4 (92.6 ± 16.505 Bq/kg), whereas the minimum was found in lupine sample L11 (22.5 ± 14.658 Bq/kg), resulting in an overall average of 54.3 ± 11.864 Bq/kg for all samples. Notwithstanding the fluctuations in radioactive concentrations, all recorded values measured by NTD adhered to the acceptable safety limits established by the IAEA and WHO. According to these results, there is no substantial radiological risk to consumers from the examined legumes. The study emphasizes the necessity of regular monitoring of radioactive elements in food products to maintain public health safety and enhance our comprehension of environmental radiation exposure, as well as to track radioactivity contamination.