Measurement of radioactivity in vegetation of the Bahawalpur Division and Islamabad federal capital territory—Pakistan

Abstract Radioactivity is present everywhere in soil wherefrom it migrates to vegetation and plants. These vegetation/fruits when taken as food result in transfer of the radioactivity to human beings which may cause health hazards. Therefore, information about the presence of radioactivity in vegetation, plants and soil is highly desirable. In this context, we have measured activity of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K and 137 Cs in the vegetation samples which were collected from different towns of the Bahawalpur Division and Islamabad. From the measured activity, radium equivalent activity, internal and external hazard indices and absorbed dose rates were calculated in order to assess the health risk. Transfer factors of the above-mentioned radionuclides from soil to vegetation have also been calculated and presented in this article.