Determination of the activity concentration of 137Cs and 40K in blueberry-based products consumed in Serbia

Abstract

The aim of the study is the investigation of the activity concentration of 137Cs and 40K in blueberry-based products that are available on the market in the Republic of Serbia. Samples were bought in stores during September 2017 and in total, ten packaged juices, two jams, two sweets and a fresh wild blueberry were measured. The activity concentrations of 137Cs in blueberry-based juices, jams and sweets varied from <MDA to 4.1 Bq/kg, <MDA to 21 Bq/kg and 0.6 Bq/kg to 28 Bq/kg, respectively. The average activity concentration of 137Cs in fresh wild blueberry was 4.1 Bq/kg. In Serbia, the recommended activity concentration of 137Cs in juices and sweets is 15 Bq/kg and 150 Bq/kg in fresh blueberries. The tested samples of juices, jams, fresh wild blueberry and one of the sweets meet the set criteria for 137Cs while one sweets sample exceeds the limit. The activity concentrations of 40K in juices, jams and sweets varied from 3.5 to 55 Bq/kg, 13.9 to 19.2 Bq/kg and 17.2 to 227 Bq/kg, respectively. The average activity concentration of 40K in fresh wild blueberry was 32 Bq/kg. With the obtained result the annual effective dose equivalent due to ingestion of blueberry-based products for adults was calculated, and for 137Cs in blueberry-based juices, jams, sweets and fresh wild blueberry varied from 0.2 to 2.5 Sv, 2.8 Sv, 0.4 to 17.0 Sv and 2.5 Sv, respectively. The annual effective dose equivalent for 40K in blueberry-based juices, jams, sweets and fresh wild blueberry varied from 1.0 to 16.0 Sv, 1.2 Sv, 5.0 to 66.0 Sv, and 9.3 Sv, respectively. © 2019 RAD Association. All rights reserved.