PB-210 IN FOODSTUFFS

Pb-210 is a naturally occuring radionuclide of the uranium-radiumseries. It is one of the nuclides with the highest radiotoxicity. A procedure for the determination is described, depending on measuring the beta-emission of the daughter nuclide Bi-210. In 165 food samples the Pb-210-activity was determined. Most highly contaminated were food plants with great native surface areas like tee, lettuce, spinach and curly kale. The average daily intake with total diet from a hospital was 0,07 Bq/day. On an average Pb-210 causes about 20% of total foodborne radiation equivalent dose.