ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Radioactivity in Kosovo Honey Samples
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Physics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize, Turkey
2
University for Business and Technology UBT, Pristina, Kosovo
3
AAB College, Pristina, Kosovo
4
Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Pristina, Pristina, Kosovo
Submission date: 2018-09-27
Final revision date: 2019-03-06
Acceptance date: 2019-03-26
Online publication date: 2019-10-17
Publication date: 2020-01-16
Corresponding author
Gezim Hodolli
Higher Education Institutions UBT, 10000, Pristina, Kosovo, Kosovo, Albania
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(2):1119-1127
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine naturally occurring radionuclides (40K, 226Ra and 232Th)
and the artificial radionuclide 137Cs in various honey samples from Kosovo. This study is of particular
importance because it is the first effort to evaluate contamination of honey samples by radioactivity at
the country level. The average radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 137Cs and 40K radionuclides on
honey samples were found to be 0.49±0.15, 1.28±0.18, 1.03±0.11 and 20.44±0.69 Bq kg-1, respectively.
The activity values of 137Cs found in honey samples were well below the limit value (1000 Bq kg-1)
recommended by the ICRP in foodstuffs. Only 20% of honey samples were found to be contaminated
with artificial isotopes 137Cs, and activities proved that the Chernobyl radiocaesium presents no risk to
public health. Our study confirms that the honeys produced in Kosovo are of good quality and are in line
with international standards due to radioactivity concentration. So it is a healthy food for consumption.