Analysis of 210Pb and 210Po in Brazilian foods and diets

Radiochemical procedures for the analysis of 210Pb and 210Po in foods and diets are presented. Because of the low beta energy of 210Pb, its analysis was based on a separation of the daughter radionuclide 210Bi by precipitation of lead sulphate, 210Bi ingrowing and beta counting of this nuclide. 210Po analysis was based on wet dissolution of the sample, deposition onto silver disc and counting by alpha-spectrometry. Levels of these radionuclides in individual items and diets of selected university students were determined in order to evaluate the intakes of 210Pb and 210Po as well as the dose due to ingestion of foods and diets in Sao Paulo city. (author)