Evaluation of food induced internal effective dose of the population of Sofia

Objective: The present work is aimed to determine the content of radionuclides in food and assess the internal irradiation of the population as a result from intake with food. Methods: Foods from the market in Sofia are analysed using non-destructive spectrometric analysis for detection of man-made gamma emitters and determination of the total beta activity by industry branches. Results and conclusions: The analysis shows that the values are well below the limits for the radioactive contamination set by the Regulation No.0 of the Health Ministry. The internal irradiation of the population due to intake of radioactive nuclides through the food is negligibly low. The effective doses are below the limits for inclusion on the scope of the Regulation for the Bulgarian Basic Safety Standards for Radiation Protection