Simultaneous determination of 226Ra and 228Ra in food samples using liquid scintillation counting

The 228Ra and 226Ra isotopes of radium are significant contaminants in food, raising public concern because of their radiotoxicity. Several methods are available for determining 228Ra and 226Ra. However, the application of these procedures is not focused on food but only on water and environmental matrices. In this study, a cost-effective method for the simultaneous determination of 226Ra and 228Ra radioactivity in food samples using liquid scintillation counting was developed. The overall efficiencies of 226Ra and 228Ra in the food samples are 69.4-78.4% and 30.1-35.8%, respectively. The minimum detectable activities of 226Ra and 228Ra are 11.3 mBq/g and 33.4 mBq/g, respectively, in our food sample, obtained using a 1.0 g ash sample and 60 min of counting time. The method was validated using IAEA-certified reference materials and compared with data obtained using gamma spectrometry in tea, kelp, and oyster samples.

Automated summary

A cost-effective method using liquid scintillation counting was developed to simultaneously determine the radioactivity of 226Ra and 228Ra in food samples. The method showed good accuracy and detectability in food samples.