The influence of the nature of soil and plant and pollution on the 238U, 232Th, 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations in various natural honey samples using nuclear track detectors: Impact on the adult consumers

U-238 and Th-232 concentrations as well as Rn-222 and Rn-220 alpha-activities per unit volume were measured in various natural honey samples collected from different regions in Morocco using CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). These radionuclides were also measured in soils, plant flowers and nectar solutions corresponding to the honey samples studied. In addition, these radionuclides were measured in different imported honey samples. The measured U-238, Th-232, Rn-222 and Rn-220 concentrations ranged from (1.5 +/- 0.1) mBq kg(-1) to (10.6 +/- 0.6) mBq kg(-1), (1.1 +/- 01) mBq kg(-1) to (4.2 +/- 0.2) mBq kg(-1), (1.5 +/- 0.1) Bq kg(-1) to (10.6 +/- 0.6) Bq kg(-1) and (1.1 +/- 0.1) Bq kg(-1) to (4.2 +/- 0.2) Bq kg(-1) for the honey samples studied, respectively. Annual U-238, Th-232 and Rn-222 intakes by Moroccan adults from the consumption of honey were assessed. The influence of the nature of soil and plant on the U-238 and Th-232 contents of the studied honey samples was investigated. These measurements were completed by an investigation of the U-238 and Th-232 transfer between soils and plant flowers and that between plant flowers and honey, and also by the investigation of the influence of pollution due to different material dusts on U-238, Th-232 and Rn-222 in the honey samples studied. Committed equivalent doses due to the annual intake of U-238, Th-232 and Rn-222 were evaluated in the organs of adult members of the Moroccan rural population from the ingestion of the honey samples. The maximum total committed effective dose due to U-238, Th-232 and Rn-222 from the ingestion of natural honey by the Moroccan rural population was found to be equal to 0.64 mu Sv y(-1).