Natural Radioactivity and Associated Radiation Hazards in Samples of Maize Available to the People of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract Ingestion of foods and drinking water is considered the leading cause human exposure to radioactive elements that guide internal radiation doses. The concentrations distributions natural radionuclides 238 U, 232 Th, 40 K in samples yellow maize directly consumed KwaZulu-Natal province South Africa were determined estimate possible radiological hazards health. Representative collected from towns six regions analyzed using a Canberra-supplied broad energy hyper pure germanium (HPGe) detector. mean activity 21.3, 26.0, 21.0, 52.0, 53.3, 80.7 Bq/kg for 203.3, 386.7, 183.3, 336.7, 320.0, 526.7 K. Th was not detected any studied locations. estimated effective ingestion doses lifetime cancer risks due U within internationally recommended limits 1 mSv 10 –3 members public. However, values obtained seem high some locations, particularly single diet intake. This finding part baseline information and, general, consumption.