Radioactivity monitoring of milk and foodstuffs

The results of radioactivity analyses carried out during 1985-92 for the fission product 137Cs and primordial radionuclides 40K, 226Ra, and 228Th in milk, food grains, pulses, leafy and other vegetables are summarised. The levels of 137Cs during last two years in food grains, pulses, leafy and other vegetables were below the detection limit of 7mBq/kg. In milk, it was ranging from below detection limits (BDL) to 130 mBq/l. These levels were lower than those recorded in 1986-87, after Chernobyl accident. Pulses showed on an average higher concentrations of natural radionuclide 40K (390 Bq/kg), while the average level in milk was 35 Bq/l. 226Ra levels varied from 19 mBq/kg or l (in rice and milk) to 178 mBq/kg (in leafy vegetables). Highest 228Th levels (534 mBq/kg) were also observed in pulses during 1990-92. The evaluated annual ingestion dose per caput to Bombay population during 1985-92 was ranging 4-74 μSv/y. Results of monitoring during 1991-92 of food and non food items which are being imported/exported are also being presented in the paper. (author). 5 refs., 2 tabs