Measurement of radioactivity levels of liquid milk samples in Kütahya, Turkey

Milk is a fundamental part of the human daily diet, so radioactivity concentrations in milk must have been controlled regularly. In this study, radiation activities were measured in 12 ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk samples collected in Kütahya, Turkey, in August 2021.

Radium (Ra-226), thorium (Th-232) and potassium (K-40) values were determined by using the Canberra 3x3 NaI(Tl) gamma spectroscopy method in 8 samples, and Radon (Rn-222) activity measurements have been conducted in 12 samples using the E-perm method.

Radium (Ra-226), thorium (Th-232) and potassium (K-40) levels are measured as < MDA (2.28 Bq/kg), < MDA (2.53 Bq/kg), 40.43 ± 2.25 to 53.31 ± 2.30 Bq/kg, respectively. Radon (Rn-222) concentrations were determined by the E-perm system between 0.46 ± 0.02 and 2.01 ± 0.05 Bq/l with an average of 1.11 ±  0.03 Bq/l.

Annual ingested radiation doses were calculated using radioactivity levels for different age groups as a result of milk consumption. Ingestion dose levels are below the worldwide average values given in the UNSCEAR report. It has been observed that the results are below the safety limits.