Measurements of natural radionuclides in human teeth and animal bones as markers of radiation exposure from soil in the Northern Malaysian Peninsula

This study aimed to estimate the radioactive accumulation of the radionuclides K-40, (137)cs, Pb-210, Ra-226, Ra-228, it and Th-228 in extracted human teeth, animal bones, and soil. The natural radionuclides were measured by high-purity germanium spectroscopy in extracted human teeth and animal bones from people and animals living in different states in the Northern Malaysian Peninsula. The average K-40, Cs-137, (210)pb, Ra-226, Ra-228, and Th-228 concentrations in teeth were found to be 12.31 +/- 7.27 Bq g(-1), 0.48 +/- 0.21 Bq g(-1), 0.56 +/- 0.21 Bq g(-1), 0.55 +/- 0.23 Bq g(-1), 1.82 +/- 1.28 Bq g(-1), and 0.50 +/- 0.14 Bq g(-1) respectively. The corresponding concentrations in bones were found to be 3.79 +/- 0.81 Bq g(-1), 0.07 +/- 0.02 Bq g(-1), 0.08 +/- 0.02 Bq g(-1), 0.16 +/- 0.04 Bq g(-1), 0.51 +/- 1.08 Bq g(-1), and 0.06 +/- 0.02 Bq g(-1) respectively. The corresponding radionuclide concentrations in teeth from smokers were higher than those in non-smokers, and the corresponding radionuclide concentrations were higher in female teeth than in male teeth. The corresponding radionuclide concentrations were higher in teeth than in bones. A positive correlation was found between radionuclides in both teeth and bone samples. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.