An In-Depth Examination of the Natural Radiation and Radioactive Dangers Associated with Regularly Used Medicinal Herbs

Heba A Saudi; Heba T Abedelkader; Shams A M Issa; Hanan M Diab; Gharam A Alharshan; Mohamed A M Uosif; Ibrahim I Bashter; Antoaneta Ene; M El Ghazaly; Hesham M H Zakaly

doi:10.3390/ijerph19138124

An In-Depth Examination of the Natural Radiation and Radioactive Dangers Associated with Regularly Used Medicinal Herbs

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 1;19(13):8124. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19138124.

Authors

Heba A Saudi¹, Heba T Abedelkader², Shams A M Issa^{3

4}, Hanan M Diab⁵, Gharam A Alharshan⁶, Mohamed A M Uosif^{3

7}, Ibrahim I Bashter², Antoaneta Ene⁸, M El Ghazaly⁹, Hesham M H Zakaly^{3

10}

Affiliations

¹ Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (Girls Branch), Nasr City, Cairo 11884, Egypt.
² Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt.
³ Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit 71524, Egypt.
⁴ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 47512, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ National Center for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo 11787, Egypt.
⁶ Physics Department, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint, Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Physics Department, College of Science, Jouf University, P.O. Box 2014, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ INPOLDE Research Center, Department of Chemistry, Physics and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, 47 Domneasca Street, 800008 Galati, Romania.
⁹ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt.
¹⁰ Institute of Physics and Technology, Ural Federal University, 620002 Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Abstract

The specific activity of U-238 and Th-232, as well as K-40 radionuclides, in twenty-nine investigated medicinal herbs used in Egypt has been measured using a high-purity germanium (HP Ge) detector. The measured values ranged from the BDL to 20.71 ± 1.52 with a mean of 7.25 ± 0.54 (Bq kg^-1) for uranium-238, from the BDL to 29.35 ± 1.33 with a mean of 7.78 ± 0.633 (Bq kg^-1) for thorium-232, and from 172 ± 5.85 to 1181.2 ± 25.5 with a mean of 471.4 ± 11.33 (Bq kg^-1) for potassium-40. Individual herbs with the highest activity levels were found to be 20.71 ± 1.52 (Bq kg^-1) for uranium-238 (H4, Thyme herb), 29.35 ± 1.33 (Bq kg^-1) for thorium-232 (H20, Cinnamon), and 1181.2 ± 25.5 (Bq kg^-1) for potassium-40 (H24, Worm-wood). (AACED) Ingestion-related effective doses over the course of a year of uranium-238 and thorium-232, as well as potassium-40 estimated from measured activity concentrations, are 0.002304 ± 0.00009 (minimum), 0.50869 ± 0.0002 (maximum), and 0.0373 ± 0.0004 (average)(mSv/yr). Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), absorbed gamma dose rate (D_outdoor, D_indoor), gamma representative level index (I), annual effective dose (AEDtotal), external and internal hazard index (H_ex, H_in), and excess lifetime cancer risk were determined in medicinal plants (ELCR). The radiological hazards assessment revealed that the investigated plant species have natural radioactivity levels that are well within the internationally recommended limit. This is the first time that the natural radioactivity of therapeutic plants has been measured in Egypt. In addition, no artificial radionuclide (for example, 137Cs) was discovered in any of the samples. Therefore, the current findings are intended to serve as the foundation for establishing a standard safety and guideline for using these therapeutic plants in Egypt.

Keywords: high-purity germanium; medical herb; natural radiation; radioactive risks.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Background Radiation
Cesium Radioisotopes
Plants, Medicinal*
Potassium Radioisotopes / analysis
Radiation Monitoring*
Radioactivity*
Radium* / analysis
Soil Pollutants, Radioactive* / analysis
Thorium / analysis
Uranium* / analysis

Substances

Cesium Radioisotopes
Potassium Radioisotopes
Soil Pollutants, Radioactive
Uranium-238
Uranium
Cesium-137
Thorium
Radium

Grants and funding

This work was funded by Princess Nourah bint, Abdulrahman University, Research Supporting Project number (PNURSP2022R173) Princess Nourah bint, Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.