RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS BY GROSS ALPHA/ BETA, 137Cs AND 90Sr ACTIVITIES OF MILK SAMPLES FROM SIBIU AND ALBA COUNTY, ROMANIA

The evaluation of radioactivity levels was performed on milk samples collected biannually for a period of 10 years (2012-2021) from two Central Romanian counties, Sibiu and Alba. The radioactivity concentrations in milk samples originated from Sibiu varied from 0.028�0.001 Bq/L to 0.347�0.017 Bq/L, from 24.017�0.977 Bq/L to 65.403�6.281 Bq/L, from 0.090�0.010 Bq/L to 0.110�0.010 Bq/L, from 0.085 to 0.110 Bq/L, for gross alpha, gross beta, 137Cs and 90Sr, respectively. The radioactivity concentrations in milk samples originated from Alba varied from 0.056�0.003 Bq/L to 0.347�0.020 Bq/L, from 23.499�0.785Bq/L to 59.483�2.881 Bq/L, from 0.095�0.010 Bq/L to 0.110�0.011 Bq/L, from 0.088�0.009 Bq/L to 0.101�0.009 Bq/L, for gross alpha, gross beta, 137Cs and 90Sr, respectively. The mean values in tested samples from Sibiu/Alba were 0.163�0.006 Bq/L/0.194�0.008 Bq/L for gross alpha, 41.232�3.360 Bq/L/ 39.285�3.230 Bq/L for gross beta, 0.100�0.010 Bq/L/ 0.098�0.009 Bq/L for 137Cs, and 0.093�0.009 Bq/L/ 0.094�0.009 Bq/L for 90Sr. No statistically significant differences between values in tested milk from Sibiu and Alba counties were found. In the absence of WHO and UNSCEAR recommendations on limit values for alpha and beta raw activity levels in milk, but in accordance with the recommendations of Directive 52/2016, 137Cs and 90Sr radionuclides of the tested milk samples were within the maximum permitted levels and have no side effects on health.