Caesium concentration in the Pakistani diet

Daily dietary intakes of radioactive and non-radioactive caesium for the Pakistani population were measured. Food samples were collected on market basket method and were analysed using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis technique. The radioactive caesium (Cs-137) in these samples was below the detectable limit, i.e. 1 mBq g(-1). The geometric mean of the mass -fraction of stable caesium was 9.56 x 1.53 ng g(-1). The. estimated daily dietary intake of caesium was 5.65 x 1.53 mug d(-1) or 0.088 mug kg(-1) of body weight of the reference Pakistani man weighing 64 kg. These values are 38.2% smaller than the recommended ICRP values for a 70 kg standard man. However, caesium concentration in the Pakistani diet is comparable with other reported values in the literature. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.