Study of the transfer of 238U, 232Th and 222Rn radionuclides from soil to cereal plants and root vegetables in a semi-arid area: Resulting radiation doses to rural consumers

Cereals and vegetables, widely consumed by Moroccan rural populations, are locally produced without using fertilizers. To explore the exposure pathway of 238U, 232Th, and 222Rn to the human body, we measured the contents of these radionuclides in various compartments of cereal plants and root vegetables. Contents of these radionuclides were also measured in the soils in which the cereal plants and root vegetables were grown in a semi-arid area. These measurements were completed by an investigation of the 238U, and 232Th transfers between cereal plants and root vegetables and their corresponding soils. Committed effective doses to different age groups of consumers due to 238U, 232Th and 222Rn from the ingestion of cereals and root vegetables studied were evaluated. The maximum total committed effective dose due to 238U, 232Th and 222Rn from the ingestion of the considered grain cereals and root vegetables by adult members of a rural population was found to be equal to 11.7 μ Sv y−1. •238U, 232Th, 222Rn and 220Rn contents in soils, cereals and vegetables.•Transfer of 238U, 232Th and 222Rn radionuclides from soil to plants.•Radiation doses to rural consumers from the ingestion of cereals and vegetables.