Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Radiation dose to consumers of commonly exported shellfish due to 210Po

International Conference and Exhibition on Food Processing & Technology

November 22-24, 2012 Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India

Jeben Benjamin, M. Feroz Khan and S. Godwin Wesley

Posters: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

Polonium-210 is an alpha-emitting radionuclide which delivers a high internal radiation dose. This radionuclide has an affinity to bind to proteins and hence protein-rich foods such as shellfishes would have higher activity concentrations of this radionuclide. Certain commonly exported shellfishes such as prawns, lobsters, crabs and cuttlefishes were quantified for their 210Po activity concentrations to find out the internal dose through consumption of these seafoods. The data revealed no significant health hazard due to consumption of these seafoods and they are considered to be radiologically safe.

Biography :

Jeben Benjamin was born in the district of Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu, India. He did his graduation in Zoology in a college affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli. He passed his masters in Medical Entomology with distinction from the Vector Control Research Centre, Pondicherry, affiliated to Pondicherry University. He has another Postgraduate degree in Zoology from Annamalai University, Chidambaram. He is pursuing his doctorate, assessing the radiation dose to terrestrial non-human biota due to naturally occurring radionuclides. His other interests include watching films of auteurs and growing horticulture crops.