Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies Group, CCDCU, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia; Faculty of Graduate Studies, Daffodil International University, Daffodil Smart City, Birulia, Savar, Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh.
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Appl Radiat Isot. 2024 Oct;212:111474. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111474. Epub 2024 Aug 12.
One of the most well-liked energizing drinks is now tea, which is primarily used in Malaysia. The natural radioactivity in the associated soils where tea plants are cultivated plays a major role in determining the presence of radionuclides in tea leaves. The present study assesses the transfer of radionuclides from soil-to-tea leaves and then estimates the committed effective doses through tea consumption. Tea leaves and the associated soils were obtained from the largest tea plantation area, which is located in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. The marketed tea leaves in powdered form were obtained from the supermarkets in Kuala Lumpur. HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry was used to determine the prevailing concentrations of long-lived radioactive materials in tea leaves. Activity concentrations of Ra, Th, and K in tea soils ranged from 49 to 101.7 Bq kg, 74.5-124.1 Bq kg and 79.6-423.2 Bq kg, respectively, while the respective values in tea leaves are 14.4-23.8 Bq kg, 12.9-29.5 Bq kg and 297-387.5 Bq kg. Transfer factors of radionuclides showed typical values (<1.0) except for the K. The threshold tea consumption rates suggest that one should not consume more than 67 g of tea leaves per day (around 4 g of tea leaves are needed for making 1 cup of tea, so 17 cups per day) to avoid negative health effects. Committed effective doses due to tea consumption are found to be lower (5.18-6.08 μSv y) than the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (2000) reference dose guidance limit of 290 μSv y for foodstuffs; however, it should be noted that the guidance limit is recommended for all foodstuffs collectively. Providing data on natural radioactivity in tea leaves grown in Malaysia, this study may help people manage a healthy lifestyle.
在马来西亚，最受欢迎的提神饮料之一是茶。茶树生长的相关土壤中的天然放射性对茶叶中放射性核素的存在起着重要作用。本研究评估了放射性核素从土壤到茶叶的转移，并通过饮茶估算了经口摄入的有效剂量。茶叶和相关土壤取自马来西亚最大的茶园地区——金马仑高原。从吉隆坡的超市购买了粉状的市售茶叶。使用 HPGe 伽马射线谱仪测定茶叶中长寿命放射性物质的流行浓度。茶土中 Ra、Th 和 K 的活度浓度分别为 49 至 101.7 Bq kg、74.5 至 124.1 Bq kg 和 79.6 至 423.2 Bq kg，而茶叶中的相应值分别为 14.4 至 23.8 Bq kg、12.9 至 29.5 Bq kg 和 297 至 387.5 Bq kg。除了 K，放射性核素的转移系数表现出典型值（<1.0）。由于茶的消费，建议阈值摄入量不应超过每天 67 克茶叶（大约每天 4 克茶叶可泡一杯茶，因此每天 17 杯），以避免对健康造成负面影响。由于饮茶导致的经口摄入有效剂量被发现低于联合国原子辐射影响科学委员会（2000 年）对食品的参考剂量指导限值 290 μSv y；然而，应该注意的是，该指导限值是针对所有食品的集体建议。本研究提供了马来西亚种植茶叶的天然放射性数据，可能有助于人们管理健康的生活方式。
