Intake of natural radionuclides present in organic and conventional foods: radiological aspects

Conventionally and organically grown vegetables were analyzed with gamma spectrometry, and its activity concentration were obtained for K-40, Ra-228, Ra-226 and Th-228. Committed effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk were used as parameters to assess the differences in hazard indices for the two manner of growth. Committed effective dose obtained was around 10(-5) Sv center dot y(-1) and the lifetime cancer risk was estimated at 10(-4). The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that there were no significant differences in hazard due to the ingestion of organically or conventionally grown vegetables. Furthermore, the consumption of studied vegetables did not present radiological risks for human health.