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Radioactivity in coffee

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Abstract

This research was dedicated to the study of the background levels of 210Po and natural gamma emitters as 40K, 214Pb, 214Bi, 228Ac, 212Pb and 212Bi in coffee powder and in coffee beverage; also the artificial 137Cs was determined. In the coffee powder the mean 210Po activity resulted 7.25 ± 2.25 × 10−2 Bq kg−1. 40K showed a mean activity of 907.4 ± 115.6 Bq kg−1. The mean activity concentration of 214Pb and 214Bi, indicators of 226Ra, given as mean value of the two radionuclides, resulted 10.61 ± 4.02 Bq kg−1. 228Ac, 228Ra indicator, showed a mean activity concentration of 13.73 ± 3.20 Bq kg−1. The mean activity concentration of 212Pb, 224Ra indicator, was 8.28 ± 2.88 Bq kg−1. 208Tl, 224Ra indicator, presented a mean activity concentration of 11.03 ± 4.34 Bq kg−1. In all samples, the artifical 137Cs resulted below the detection limit (2.0 Bq kg−1). The arithmetical mean value of percentage of 210Po extraction in coffee beverage resulted 20.5 ± 6.9. The percentage of transfer of gamma emitters,40K, 214Pb, 214Bi, 228Ac, 212Pb, 208Tl resulted of 80.0, 33.5, 24.7, 30.0, 35.1 and 53.5 % for 40K, 214Pb, 214Bi, 228Ac, 212Pb and 208Tl respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, P.zza Rinascimento 6, 61029, Urbino, Italy

    C. Roselli, D. Desideri & L. Feduzi

  2. Section of Medical Physics Environmental and Epidemiological, Department of Surgical and Radiological Science, University of Perugia, Policlinico Monteluce, P.O. Box 1418, 06122, Perugia, Italy

    A. Rongoni & D. Saetta

Authors
  1. C. Roselli
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  2. D. Desideri
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  3. A. Rongoni
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  4. D. Saetta
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  5. L. Feduzi
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Correspondence to D. Desideri.

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Roselli, C., Desideri, D., Rongoni, A. et al. Radioactivity in coffee. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 295, 1813–1818 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2101-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2101-7

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