Radiochemical Analysis of Milk Samples and Dose Exposures for Adults, Children, and Infants

The natural gross radioactivity in milk from farms in different locations in Van and in milk purchased from Kahramanmara markets were determined. In the milk samples, natural gross alpha and beta activity concentrations were measured. The evaporation and ashing procedures were applied to the milk samples collected from farms and markets. Nuclear spectroscopic systems containing gas-flow proportional counters were used to measure the gross alpha and beta activity concentrations of the milk samples. The gross radioactivity in milk from markets was generally lower than the gross radioactivity in milk from farms. The annual effective dose resulting from gross radioactivity for adults, children, and infants and excess lifetime cancer risk values were calculated. The highest total annual effective dose (AED) values were 1,105.9mSvy-1 for adults, 6,456.2mSvy-1 for children, and 10,267.0mSvy-1 for infants in milk samples. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) values from gross alpha and beta activities range from 0.010 to 3.870 in milk samples.