Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the concentration of 222Rn, 226Ra, and 238U in 25 different toothpastes available in the local market in Penang, Malaysia, using a CR-39 detector. The results showed the maximum concentration of radon/ radium/uranium to be 4197.644 Bq.m−3, 54.369 Bq.Kgm−1, and 0.044 ppm in Colgate4; the annual effective dose was found (0.402 mSvy−1) in S07. The average concentration of radon (42 %, 3.224 KBq.m−3) was higher than the concentration of 214Po, 218Po in POS (32 %, 2.415 KBq.m−3) and POW (26 %, 1.979 KBq.m−3). Also the values of pH of samples ranged from 4.21 (highly acidic) in S04 to 9.97 (highly basic) in S07, with an average of 6.33 which tended towards an acidic behavior; a low or high pH for a long period of time can cause harmful side-effects and enamel erosion. Concentrations of heavy metals varied from the maximum value 56.156 ppm in the Ca elements in the Colgate 4 sample to a minimum value of −0.858 ppm in the Cd elements in Colgate 6 (Ca 56.156 ppm > Cd 51.572 ppm > Zn 41.039 ppm > Mg 11.682 ppm > Pb 11.009 ppm]. Monitoring the accumulation of these metals in toothpaste samples is very important: the average annual effective dose (0.3118 mSvy−1) was below the range (3–10 mSvy−1) reported by ICRP (1993), and therefore there is no evidence of health problems. Significant strong positive correlations were found (r = 1, Pearson correlation, p < 0.000) in concentration of radon, radium, uranium, annual effective dose, pH, and electrical conductivity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abu-Jarad F (1982) Short and long term techniques for radon measurements inside houses. Proc Int Sym Appl Technol Ion Rad 3:1639–1646
Akram M, Khattak NU, Ikram U, Tufail M (2008) Fission track estimation of uranium concentrations in liquid homeopathic medicine samples. Radiat Meas 43:S527–S531
Al-Bataina B (2001) Seasonal variation of indoor Radon-222 concentration levels in the district of Ramtha, Jordan. Abhath Al-Yrmouk Basic Sci & Eng 8:19–28
Alberigi S, Pecequilo B, Lobo H, Campos M (2004) Assessment of effective doses from radon levels for tour guides at several galleries of Santana Cave, Southern Brazil, with CR-39 detectors: preliminary results. Radiat Protect Dosimetry 0(0):0–0
Ali AAbo J, Shaymaa AK, Faeq AM (2014) Radon of concentrations measurement in some types of toothpastes available in the Iraqi markets. J Babylon Unive/Pure Appl Sci 7(22):1967–1972
Asumadu-Sakyi AB, Fletcher JJ, Oppen OC, Quashie FK, Wordson DA, Adjei CA, Amartey EO, Darko EO, Amponsah P (2011) Preliminary studies on geological fault location using solid state nuclear track detector. Res J Environ Earth Sci 3(1):24–31
Axelson O (1995) Caner risks from exposure to radon in homes. Environ Health Perspect 103:37–43
Azam A, Naqri AH, Srivastava DS (1995) Radium concentration and radon exhalation measurements using LR-115 type II plastic track detectors. Nucl Geophys 9(6):653–657
Barillon R, Klein D, Chambaudet A, Devillarade C (1993) Comparison of effectiveness of three radon detectors placed in cylindrical device theory and experimental techniques. Nucl Track Radiat Measure 22(1–4):281–282
Durrani SA, Bull RK (1987) Solid state nuclear track detector principles, methods and applications. International series in natural philosophy, Vol. 111. Pergamon, Oxford UK
Enge W (1981) Introduction to plastic nuclear track detectors. Nuclear Tracks 4(4):283–308
Price RBT, Sedarous M, Hiltz GS (2000) The pH of tooth-whitening products. J Can Dent Assoc 66:421–426. Pergamon
Fleischer J, Margo C (1978) Mapping of integrated radon emanation for detection of long-distance migration of gases within the earth. Tech Principles 83(B7):839
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Regarding Radium-226 Overview http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary.htmlPP1-11
Gaillard S, Fuchs J, Galloudec NR-L, Cowan TE (2007) Study of saturation of CR- 39 nuclear track detectors at high ion flounce and of associated artifact patterns. Rev Sci Instrument 78:013304
Gil AH, Kilee J (2005) Construction of an environmental radon monitoring system using CR-39 nuclear track detectors. Nucl Eng Technol 37(4):340–395
Hana Nan (2002) Determination of uranium in tooth paste by using CR-39 detector. Unriversity of Mosul College of Science. M.Sc, thesis
PerkinElmer (2014) Titan MPS™ Microwave Sample Preparation System. A reference notebook of microwave applications. PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA, USA. www.perkinelmer.com
Hanlon EA (2009) Soil pH and electrical conductivity: a county extension soil laboratory manual. US Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, Florida
Hardman R (2006) A toxicologic review of quantum dots: toxicity depends on physicochemical and environmental factors. Environ Health Perspect 114(2):165
Hezan D (2007) Enviromental fact sheet, radium, radon and uranium. Health Inform Summ 603:271–3503. www.des.nh.gov
ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) (1993) Protection against 222Rn at home and work, publication. Ann ICRP 65:23–32
Ingrid G, Bondo M, Andreas W, Benno R (1998) Heavy metal and fertility. J Toxic Environ Health A 54:593–611
Ismail RM (2012) Estimation of the uranium and radon contents level in some types of toothpaste used in Iraq. J Koya Univ 22, 69–78
Khan A, Sharmak KC, Vershney AK, Parasad R, Tyagi RK (1988) Radon estimation in some Indian tobacco, tea, tooth powder using CR-39 nuclear track detector. Radiat Environ Biophys 27(99):233–237
Mohammed MSA (2003) Uranium estimation in rock samples collected from some area of Kurdistan Region–Iraq. J Pure Appl Sci 15(1)
Muhammad DF, Stephen PB (2014) Study of heavy metals content in facial cosmetics obtained from open markets and superstores within Kaduna Metropolis. Nigeria Am J Chem Appl 1:27–33
Mukesh K, Ajay K, Surinder S, Mahajan RK, Walia TPS (2003) Uranium content measurement in drinking water samples using track etch technique. Radiat Meas 36:479–481, www.elsevier.com/locate/radmeas.PERGAMON
Nada FK (2004) Radiological study of a biological sample selected. PhD. Thesis, College of Education. Al. Mustansiriyah University
Nageswara RR, Nageswara TR (2014) Determination of heavy metals in toothpaste containing tin as an active ingredient. Indian J Chem Technol 21:238–243
Najeeb R, Hussain E, Masood U (2005) Determination of radiological doses of radon and natural radionuclides in the open environment of the Lahore and Kasur districts, Pakistan. Int J Sci Res 14:11
Nikzic D, Biaxeras C, Kostic D (1996) Sensitivity determination and optimization of a cylindrical diffusion chamber, for radon measurements with a CR-39 detector. Nucl Inst Meth Phys Res A 373:290–298
Nisar A, Mohamad SJ, Sohail AK, Tabassum N, Sajjad A, Muhammad R (2014) Measurement of radon exhalation rate, radium activity and annual effective dose from bricks and cement samples collected from Ismail Khan. Am J Appl Sci 11(2):240–247, ISSN: 1546-9239 © Science Publication
Okpalugo J, Ibrahim K, Inyang US (2009) Toothpaste formulation efficacy in reducing oral flora. Trop J Pharmaceut Res 8(1):71–77
© Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. (NIPRD), P.M.B. 21, Idu Industrial Area, Abuja, Nigeria
Poul E, Switzerland PG (2007) Changing use and knowledge of fluoride toothpaste by schoolchildren, parents and schoolteachers in Beijing, China Min Liu, Ling Zhu and BoXue Zhang Beijing, China. Int Dent J 57:187–194
Qiuju G, Jianping C, Bing S, Jiaping S (2001) The level of indoor thoron and its progeny in four areas in China. J Nuclear Technol 38(9):799–803
Richard BT, Mary S, Gregory SH (2000) The pH of tooth-whitening products. J Cancer Dent Assoc 66:421–426
Salih FN (2008) Measurement of radon and thoron concentration in Iraqi Kurdistan region soils using (CR-39) Plastic Track Detector. MSc. Thesis. Radiation Physics. Koya University. Iraq
Salih FN Jaafar MS (2013) Novel method for assessing and the impact of alpha emitter’s concentration of the uterus on women fertility in Iraqi Kurdistan region. J Radioanal Nuclear Chem 298(2):755–776. doi: 10.1007/s10967-013-2583-y
Salmon PL, Henshaw DL, Keitch PA, Allen JE, Fews AP (1994) Tastrak spectroscopy of polonium-210 alpha-particles activity at bone surface: evidence for a concentrated surface deposit less than 3 μm deep. Radiat Res 140:63–71
Sérgio PH, Shelon CSP, Paulo VF, Fábio AS, Denise SW (2011) Physical–chemical characteristics of whitening toothpaste and evaluation of its effects on enamel roughness. J Dent Mater, Braz Oral Res 25(4):288–294
Shashikumar TS, Chandrashekara MS, Paramesh L (2011) Studies on radon in soil gas and natural radionuclides in soil, rock and ground water samples around Mysore city. Int J Environ Sci 1(5):786–797
Ukla SYH (2004) Determination of radon, uranium and other radioactive isotopes concentration in different types of natural water in Ninevah Governorate. M. Sc., Thesis, University of Mosul, Iraq
Ummi HK (2010) Formulation of medicinal toothpaste from jatropha carcus latex. Degree of Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering & Natural Resources, University Malaysia, Pahang
UNSCEAR (1993) United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation: sources and effects of ionizing radiation. United Nations, New York
UNSCEAR (2000) Report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation to the General Assembly. ANNEX B: Exposures from natural radiation sources. United Nations, New York
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the School of Physics for support in experimental assistance. Financial support was provided by Research University grant 1001/PFIZIK /811220 and Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education Fundamental Research Grant 203/PFIZIK /6711 349.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Salih, N.F., Jafri, Z.M. & Jaafar, M.S. Investigation of distribution of radioactivity with effects of heavy metals in toothpastes from Penang markets. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 23662–23674 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7388-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7388-4