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Radiological impact on uncultivated soil and Dittrichia viscosa plants around a Lebanese coastal fertilizer industry
Dany Saba1, Omar El Samad2, Rana Baydoun2, Rola Bou Khozam2, Nastaran Manouchehri3, Lina Nafeh Kassir4, Amine Kassouf5, Hanna Chebib5, Philippe Cambier6, Naim Ouaini7
1 Department of Food and Bioproducts Sciences and Processes, UMR SayFood, AgroParisTech, INRA, University of Paris-Saclay, Paris, France; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistr, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh, Lebanon
2 Department of Environmental Radiation Control, Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission, National Council for Scientific Research, Tripoli, Lebanon
3 Department of Food and Bioproducts Sciences and Processes, UMR SayFood, AgroParisTech, INRA, University of Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
4 Department of Life and Earth Science, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
5 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences II, Lebanese University, Fanar, Lebanon
6 Department of Environment and Agronomy, UMR ECOSYS, AgroParisTech, INRA, University of Paris-Saclay, Thiverval-Grignon, France
7 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistr, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh, Lebanon
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Dany Saba
Department of Food and Bioproducts Sciences and Processes, UMR SayFood, AgroParisTech, INRA, University of Paris-Saclay, Paris; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, B.P. 446, Jounieh
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/rpe.RPE_15_20
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Chemical fertilizers, phosphate ore treatments, and phosphogypsum wastes contribute to enhanced levels of natural radionuclides in the environment. A total of 27 soil samples were collected from nine uncultivated sites around a Lebanese fertilizer plant in order to analyze the gamma emitter radionuclides (238U,232Th,226Ra,210Pb,137Cs, and40K) and to assess the radiological impact on the surrounding environment, through the calculation of different radiological index parameters. In addition, a total of 27 Dittrichia viscosa plant samples were gathered including roots, leaves, and stems, and the radionuclide transfer factors were determined. Measurements were conducted using a gamma spectrometer with high-purity germanium detectors. The highest values measured in soil samples were 77 ± 9 Bq/kg, 102 ± 10 Bq/kg, and 143 ± 5 Bq/kg for238U,226Ra, and210Pb, respectively.40K levels were comparable to other Lebanese provinces and about 50% less than the worldwide average value. The results showed the absence of radionuclide transfer between soil and plants, except for40K. The average values of the total absorbed dose rate and the annual effective dose were comparable to the worldwide average values. Therefore, the external exposure index and Radium equivalent were found to be below the international recommended values.
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