International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org
Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2015
ISSN 2319 - 4847
The concentrations of Natural Radioactivity in
Pergamum Harmala Seeds
Nessrian Ali Hussien
Department of Chemical Industries, Institute of Technology- Baghdad
ABSTRACT
The concentrations of naturallyradioactive occurring and technically enhanced radioisotopes of 10 samples of
Peganumharmala insecular equilibrium, collected from different markets in province of Baghdad, have been investigated;
using HPGegamma-ray spectroscopy established at low background configuration. Also, the activity concentrations of 40K
(1460.81 keV ), 75Se (96.73keV ), 85Kr (513.99 keV), 88Y (1836.01 keV) and 134Cs (563.23 keV, 801.93 keV and 1167.94 keV ) are
determined. The average Activity concentrations of the radio elements 40K,75Se, 85Kr and 134Cs in Peganumharmala samples are
found to be 425±12.22, 350±10.05, 304±8.73 and 159.17±4.57 Bq/kg respectively, which are below the international global
limits. Apparently, the traces of different medium and heavy elements have been investigated using the X-ray fluorescence
spectrometer analysis. The measures show the dominant of Potassium-K element in PM samples with the average
concentration obtained 53652.62ppm. The other measured traces of the elements indicate a decreasing in the order of
K>Fe>Ti>Zr>Nb>Sr>Y>Zn>Ga for the PM samples rather than the order mentioned in reference [37].
Keywords: Pergamum Harmala, concentration of activity, medium and heavy elements, HPGe gamma-ray
spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer analysis,
1.INTRODUCTION
The Pegamumharmala (PM), family Nitrariaceaecontains mixture of Harmine ,HarmalineNorharman and their
derivative, are widely distributed in the central Asia, North Africa, Middle East, South America, Mexico and southern
USA [1-5]. It is a wild growing flowering plant in a semi dry condition, steppe areas and sandy soils, native to the
eastern Mediterranean region. In the Iraqi tradition different utilizations of PH have been defined, among them, dried
grain from this plant are baked in homes to protect against abuse eye and it is applied as an incense to sanctify the air
as well as the intellect. Also, In Iraq and other countries expressed concern using the PM extensively for Medical
purposes. Different pharmacological research works have shown differentiated effects of PM and /or its active alkaloids
in particular the Harmaline [6-10].The Phytochemical studies of PMled to the isolation of different types of chemical
ingredients such as alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, amino acids, and polysaccharides from its seeds,
leaves, flowers, stems and roots [11-13].Among these compounds, the alkaloids,which are found especially in the seeds
and the roots, mostly β-Carbolines such as harmine, harmaline, harmalol, harmol and tetrahydroharmine, were found
to be the main substances responsible for the antimicrobial, antidepressant, antinociceptive, analgesic, antitumor and
vasorelaxant activities of the PM,where the structure of β- carboline alkaloids pays more a tension from biophysical and
a medicinal point of view [14-19].
A measurement concentration of the radionuclides for PH amongthe medical and edible plant species has been done by
reference [20] and shows the soil-to-plant transfer factor (TF) that the PH had maximum TF (3.17 for 40K).
The traces of the heavy metals in PH, among different medical plants collected randomly in polluted and unpolluted
areas in Pakistan, have been investigated and monitored by reference [21]. They adopted the dry Ash method with
atomic absorption spectrometer to identify the concentrations. Their measurements diagnosedconcentration of iron and
nickel elements in PM leaves are about 45.01 (gm/kg) and 19.41 (gm/kg) respectively.
In spite of the traditional usage of PH and enormous researches [22-34] that confirmed the possibility use it as a safe
and effective therapeutic source in the future, the present work looks after the radioactive concentration in different
samples of PH, that collected from different local markets in province of Baghdadas well as, analyzing themain
elements in PM using the X-ray diffraction system.
2.EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES,RESULTS AND DISCUSION
The preparations of the selected 10 PM-samples have been collectedrandomly from different markets in the province of
Baghdad in Iraq, see figure (1). These samples are selected for the present research having a wide use in folk medicine
for various treatments by local physicians in the area of collection inside Baghdad. These samples are dried for 24
hours in an electric oven at 110 0C to eliminate any traces of water and then, grounded with mortar and pestle. The
crushed samples passed through 100 mesh sieve, where further powder and homogeneity are achieved. The sample of 1
kg dry-weight is packed in airtight standard cylindrical plastic container with high geometry 7.6cm x 7.6cm, its area
suit the High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector geometry. The container stored for a period of four weeks before
Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2015
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International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org
Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2015
ISSN 2319 - 4847
counting, so that the secular equilibrium can be attained and the samples subject to gamma spectrometry analysis,where
the system is well shielded against the environmental background radiation [35].
The counting analysis is accomplished by using anHPGespectrometryAnalyzer Canberra matched with gamma
energies via a library of possible isotopes, through the GENIE2000 program window. The energy resolution of the
detector is 8% from the 137Cs energy line at 0.662 MeV, while the activity of the standard at the time of calibration is
25.37kBq.The background spectrum measured under the same conditions for both the standard and sample
measurements to correct the calculated sample activityconcentration [36, 37].In a state of secular equilibrium, as shown
in figure (2), the activity concentration of the distinguished nuclei found in the typical sample of PM, where the
prominent activity concentration of 425 (Bq/kg) found in 40K nuclei with an average energy of the gamma photo peak
is1460 keV (10.7%), see table (1), using the following formula:
AS 
Ca
  Pr M s
where,Ca is the net disintegration measured from its γ-line peaks,εγis the system efficiency, Pr is the absolute transition
probability of γ- decay and MS is the mass of the sample.
Then, following the dominant of 40K- nuclei in the sample, the activity concentrationsof 351 (Bq/kg) and 304 (Bq/kg)
from 75Se and 88Y nuclei also have been found through the measurement using the Advanced Gamma spectrometer.The
specific activities for the prepared samples are measured for an equal time and minimize uncertainty in background
counts (BG).The calculated minimum detectable activity (MDA), is usually based on Curries derivation [38], did by
following formula, which implemented within Genie2000:
MDA 
2.71  4.66 
T    Y  wt
where  is the standard deviation of the background collected during T time over the energy range of interest, see table
(1), at efficiency  of the interested energy with branching ratio Y and wt is the sample weight.
As shown in table (1) the smallest level of activity that could be detected with confidence, provided that the calculated
line minimum detectable activity (LMDA) represents the prior estimation of the best sensitivity that can be expected
from PM samples measurements. Also, it can be improved by increasing the detection efficiency of the experimental set
up in parallel with decreasing the BG and increasing the time of collection for particular size of the sample.
The Handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometer EDX – Pocket- III analyzer, from Skyray instrument USA, has been
used to investigate the main elements in Pergamum HarmalaL. samples. As shown in figure(3) and clearly described in
table (1) the concentration (in PPM) for different elements contain in Pergamum Harmala samples using X-ray
fluorescence spectrometer.
3.CONCLUSION
The gamma spectroscopy method was applied for assessment of the radioactivity traces for different PM samples
collected randomly from local markets distributed in Baghdad. The average activity concentrations of 40K
(1460.81keV), 75Sc (96.73keV), 85Kr (513.99keV) and 134Cs (563.23keV) in PM samples are found 425±12.22,
350±10.05, 304±8.73 and 159.17±4.57 Bq/kg respectively.On the whole the radionuclide's concentrations are still
below the global average of 500 Bq/kg for 40K.
The present work also takes interest in tracing different medium and heavy elements in PM samples using the X-ray
fluorescence spectrometer analysis. The average concentration recorded higher for the elements K (53652.62ppm), Fe
(4218.61ppm) and Ti (990.26 ppm) respectively. The comparison with other [37] shows the iron is not only the
dominant elements traced in PM samples, but the present work indicated that the traces of the Potassium element is
more dominate in PM samples and show decreasing in the order of K>Fe>Ti>Zr>Nb>Sr>Y>Zn>Ga, as shown in table
(1).
Acknowledgments
The Author is indebted to the Nuclear Group at University of Baghdad/College of Science/ Department of Physics for
their assistance in using the nuclear laboratory for measurements. Great thanks and appreciations to the Radiation
protection center/ Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Science and technology for their support by using the HPGe
System and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.
Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2015
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International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org
Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2015
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Figure (1): The area where the samples of thePergamum Harmala seeds are collected in Baghdad Province.
Figure (2): The Photo peak spectrum measurement of the Pergamum Harmala typical sample using an HP Ge
spectrometer at the Radiation Protection Center- Ministry of Environment. The accumulation of counts distinguished
the 1460.81keV energy peak for 40K radio nuclei.
Table (1): The Line Minimum Detectable Activity concentrations (LMDA)and Activity concentration for different
energy levels and radioactive nuclei found in PM sample (Average sample).
Nuclide
Energy
LMDA
Activity
Nuclide
Energy
LMDA
Activity
(keV)
(Bq/k)
(Bq/kg )
(keV)
(Bq/kg)
(Bq/kg )
40
K
1460.8
5.255
425.0
1509.19
26.274
15.083
57
CO
122.06
134.19
7.682
1764.49
4.147
2.380
136.48
91.320
25.822
1847.44
26.192
4.411
60
CO
136.00
757.1
48.386
77.11
7.721
2.622
75
214
Se
96.73
762.67
350.98
PB
87.20
16.225
3.958
85
Kr
513.99
235.75
164.60
241.98
8.039
7.211
88
Y
1836.01
135.34
304.20
295.21
3.033
1.081
134
CS
475.35
142.70
75.947
351.92
1.998
0.196
563.23
26.595
10.634
785.91
82.740
21.621
801.93
33.775
33.362
83.70
2.551
1.925
223
1167.94
244.08
159.17
Ra
338.20
24.156
25.325
208
Tl
510.60
3.850
1.486
83.70
321.4
242.61
224
583.02
0.973
0.215
Ra
240.70
1.5.103
3.290
860.30
8.775
1.224
84.20
52.852
42.044
214
228
BI
609.31
2.033
2.444
Th
63.20
28.199
5.827
Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2015
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International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org
Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2015
1238.11
1280.96
1377.67
26.806
83.159
19.634
234
4.118
42.770
---
Th
92.30
92.70
----
---
21.102
21.795
----
ISSN 2319 - 4847
8.135
8.402
----
Figure (3): The concentration for different elements contain in Pergamum Harmala samples, see table (2), using the Xray fluorescence spectrometer.
Table(2): The concentrations for different elements (in ppm) for ten samples of Pergamum Harmala.
Material’s
concentration
(ppm)
sample
K
Ti
Fe
Zn
Ga
Y
Zr
Nb
Pb
Sr
PH1
PH2
PH3
PH4
PH5
PH6
PH7
PH8
PH9
PH10
Average
60326.21
49875.35
54677.98
48998.76
59038.93
50034.47
51038.99
51983.01
56001.90
54590.60
53652.62
935.61
1017.02
900.59
1001.25
931.39
1100.01
999.80
1019.8
996.76
1000.31
990.26
4129.23
4155.25
4001.78
4328.28
4420.01
4200.24
4315.63
4267.98
4220.03
4147.67
4218.61
79.78
72.11
82.76
81.22
80.81
84.45
83.61
76.78
82.47
79.41
80.34
28.06
27.28
29.33
30.01
34.62
33.26
35.18
32.78
33.83
33.55
31.79
91.54
89.02
90.91
93.47
94.90
92.71
93.22
90.84
95.21
91.48
92.33
210.87
213.29
209.88
205.81
206.22
207.48
202.89
203.00
204.93
199.13
206.35
197.22
189.59
190.27
184.53
185.65
179.69
186.44
186.20
187.32
174.89
186.18
88.43
89.38
87.51
92.01
90.42
88.82
94.20
90.11
93.89
90.73
90.55
113.28
112.22
114.01
115.29
110.69
111.66
112.53
113.50
110.91
113.61
112.77
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Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2015
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Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2015
ISSN 2319 - 4847
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AUTHOR
Nessrian Ali Hussien received BEng. In Chemical Engineering from London South Bank University
1988, UK
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