Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in Bracelets and Necklaces: Radiological Risk Evaluation

Halmat Jalal Hassan, Suhairul Hashim, Noor Zati Hani Abu Hanifah, Sib Krishna Ghoshal, Mohamad Syazwan Mohd Sanusi, Fariza Hanim Binti Suhailin, Muhammad Fahmi Rizal Abdul Hadi, Rozman Mohd Tahar and David Andrew Bradley
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Halmat Jalal Hassan: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Suhairul Hashim: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Noor Zati Hani Abu Hanifah: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Sib Krishna Ghoshal: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Mohamad Syazwan Mohd Sanusi: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Fariza Hanim Binti Suhailin: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Muhammad Fahmi Rizal Abdul Hadi: School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Rozman Mohd Tahar: Atomic Energy Licensing Board, Jalan Dengkil, Batu 24, Dengkil 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
David Andrew Bradley: Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-11

Abstract: A particular category of jewelry is one involving bracelets and necklaces that are deliberately made to contain naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM)—purveyors making unsubstantiated claims for health benefits from the release of negative ions. Conversely, within the bounds of the linear no-threshold model, long-term use presents a radiological risk to wearers. Evaluation is conducted herein of the radiological risk arising from wearing these products and gamma-ray spectrometry is used to determine the radioactivity levels and annual effective dose of 15 commercially available bracelets (samples B1 to B15) and five necklaces (samples N16 to N20). Various use scenarios are considered; a Geant4 Monte Carlo (Geant4 MC) simulation is also performed to validate the experimental results. The dose conversion coefficient for external radiation and skin equivalent doses were also evaluated. Among the necklaces, sample N16 showed the greatest levels of radioactivity, at 246 ± 35, 1682 ± 118, and 221 ± 40 Bq, for 238 U, 232 Th, and 40 K, respectively. For the bracelets, for 238 U and 232 Th, sample B15 displayed the greatest level of radioactivity, at 146 ± 21 and 980 ± 71 Bq, respectively. N16 offered the greatest percentage concentrations of U and Th, with means of 0.073 ± 0.0002% and 1.51 ± 0.0015%, respectively, giving rise to an estimated annual effective dose exposure of 1.22 mSv, substantially in excess of the ICRP recommended limit of 1 mSv/year.

Keywords: NORMs; bracelets; necklaces; Geant4 MC; radiological risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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