Radiological Safety of Medicinal Herbal Oils: An Analytical Study Using Gamma Spectroscopy

Abstract

Given the widespread consumption of herbal oils for therapeutic purposes, this research aimed to assess the levels of natural radioactivity in selected medicinal herbal oil samples of herbal medicinal oils, using low-energy gamma spectrometry equipped with high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Thirteen medicinal herbal oil samples were analyzed to determine the activities concentrations of (238U), (232Th), and (40K). The results indicated that the average specific activities of 238U, 232Th, and 40K were 11.519 Bq/kg, 2.2 Bq/kg, 77.77 Bq/kg, respectively. Furthermore, parameters such as radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose, internal and external hazard indices, annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGED), annual effective dose (AED), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were evaluated, were respectively (20.149 Bq/kg, 9.411 nGy/h, 0.085, 0.054, 0.067 mSv/y, 0.058 mSv/y, 0.222). It was concluded that all these values, especially ELCR, were within the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). These values are considered low compared to the global average limit, indicating minimal radioactive contamination. Accordingly, the medicinal herbal oils studied do not pose any radiological health risks to consumers.