Measurement of activity concentration of radionuclides and the committed annual effective dose due to the consumption of typical South Indian meal

The present study was carried out to evaluate the activity concentration of radionuclides and the annual effective dose received by the residents of south-west coast of Tamil Nadu, India, due to the consumption of typical South Indian meal. Food samples were collected and analysed by means of gamma spectrometry to measure the activity concentration of 228Ra, 40K, 232Th and 238U. The daily intake of 228Ra, 40K, 232Th and 238U activity ranged from 1.34 to 2.98 Bq kg–1, 27.7 to 88.7 Bq kg–1, 5.4 to 11.3 Bq kg–1 and 2.05 to 4.94 Bq kg–1, respectively. Among the intake of radionuclides, the highest consumption is that of 40K. The annual effective dose to individuals from the consumption of South Indian food was estimated on the basis of the measured radionuclide contents in the food. The annual effective dose received by the individuals ranged between 0.79 and 1.73 mSv.