2, No. 2, 1959)
LAUG AND WALLACE! RADIOACTIVE RESIDUES IN FOODS
on ash samples
ard, counts per
1 to disintegra-~
olying c/m by
. for potassium
iracy of 5%.
m of original
ittegrations per
by 1.776. This
data published
433
Table 1. Average total beta radioactivity of fruits and fruit products
harvested before and after 1945
No.
Before 1945
d/m/g
Pears
Cherries
Peaches
36
44
51
0.01
0.00
0.00
Apples?
19
Fruit
Apricots
Prunes and plums
No.
0.033
0,042
0.040
12
17
38
0.00
0.16
0.04
0.032
9
6.00
0.22
0.089
40
0.24
0.054
21
0.00
0.071
0.047
21
0.03
0.0854
83
36
60
Fruit juices, other?
29
17
0.10
0.01
0.01
0.04
0.047
0.054
0.041
0.06
0.056
0.00
5
0.00
0.056
0.037
0.053
11
Tomatoes¢
Miscellaneous?
Berries*
Citric fruit juices’
From 1945 to 1957 incl.
d/m/g
s.e.()
8.e.(+)
51
21
13
0.00
0.00
0.00
11
0.00
0.111
0.073
0.051
0.080
0.084
0.046
@ Exelusive of dried fruits,
' Includes apple sauce.
ting from the
ion due to the
verage the net
in those cases
ices or fission
ver the term
een used suborrected value
oeriments with
a radioactivity
‘Ing weights of
tass absorption
5%. However,
also exhibited
xr, these errors
Hence with
orrections for
the probable
rardiess of the
is number, is
his low order
© Includes juices, relishes, catsup, soup.
4
*
f
*
Includes
Includes
Includes
Includes
grapes, pineapple, rhubarb, currants, pumpkins, quinces, figs, olives, nectarines, but no citrus fruits.
predominantly strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries,
lemon, lime, grapefruit, and orange.
predominantly grape and apple,
Sensitivity
The counting equipment was capable of detecting one count per minute total beta radioactivity above background in a 100 mg sample
of ash. Depending on the ash content, this
represents from 0.02 to 0.5 ¢/m in terms of the
original food.
Table I gives the results for fruits and
fruit products. No significant increase in
radioactivity of the post-1945 over the pre1945 samples is demonstrated. Reference to
the raw data from which these averages were
constructed shows that a predominant number of samples originated in the years 1945
to 1950, inclusive. During this period nuclear
weapons testing with resultant fallout had
not yet reached the proportions that followed
im later years. It might be assumed therefore
collected in 1945 the average was 0.05 d/m/g
the average was 0.00 d/m/g. No significant
increase in radioactivity by year could therefor be demonstrated.
Since only a very small number of dried
fruit samples were available for analysis, no
significant
comparisons
between pre- and
post-1945 periods could be made. There is
some indication, however, that a trend toward
increased radioactivity in current samples of
dried fruits may be occurring.
Table 2 gives the results for vegetables.
Nosignificant increase in radicactivity of the
before and after 1945
Vegetable
at as = 20%.
n measuring
determinable,
significantly
Potatoes
Corn
Beans?
Peas
lvtical opera-
Spinach?
e determinaradioactivity.
y be additive
ossible.
lected in 1945 with the average of all samples
collected in 1956 and 1957. For 78 samples
Table 2. Average total beta radioactivity of vegetables harvested
tause most of
tive content.
1 1:1 to 4:1,
ble error was
Accordingly, the data were analyzed by
comparing the average of all samples col-
and for 44 samples collected in 1956 and 1957
Results
otal count to
Such a favor-
that the conclusions indicated from Table 1
should be subject to revision.
Beets and turnips
Carrots
Miscellaneous¢
No.
Before 1945
d/m/z
20
43
79
35
0.13
0.00
0.00
0.00
21
0.00
54
0.00
28
10
0.00
0.01
g.e.(+)
No,
0.185
0.062
0.043
0.064
0.093
0.113
0.125
0.050
9
AT
53
57
12
19
17
25
From 1945 to 1957 incl.
d/m/g
s.e.(+
0.00
0.01
0.05
0.06
0.03
0.06
0.00
0.11
0.192
0.047
0.096
0.042
0,104
0.116
0.119
0.080
@ Includes lima, soy, etc.
* Three samples, only, from year 1956 showed an average value of 0.30 d/m/g.
¢ Fncludes asparagus, Mustard greens, onioDs, pimentos, okra, mushrooms, squash, cabbage, broccoli, catfower.