Selective uptake of uranium and thorium by some vegetables

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1996 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:436866

Yusof, A M ^[1]; Ghazali, Z; Rahman, S A ^[2]

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1. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru (Malaysia)
2. Malaysian Inst. for Nuclear Technology and Research, Bangi (Malaysia)

Uranium and thorium are trace elements in the actinide series found naturally in the atmosphere and can enter the human body through ingestion of food or by drinking. To establish baseline information for current and future environmental assessment due to pollution, especially in foodstuff, by heavy and trace metals, biological samples such as locally grown vegetables were analyzed for uranium and thorium contents. The terrain in most parts of the Malaysian peninsula consists of monazite-bearing rocks or soil that can be found extensively in areas related to tin-mining operations. Abandoned mining areas provide suitable sites for vegetable cultivation where most vegetables in the lowlands are grown.

• OSTI ID: 436866
• Report Number(s): CONF-9606116-; ISSN 0003-018X; TRN: 96:005275-0097
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 74; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), Reno, NV (United States), 16-20 Jun 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
40 CHEMISTRY
URANIUM
UPTAKE
CONCENTRATION RATIO
THORIUM
PLANTS
FLUORESCENCE
ASHES
VEGETABLES
NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
SOILS