Health Risk of Natural Radioactivity and Trace Metals in Shaving Powder

Natural radioactivity and trace elements content of two brands of shaving power that are commonly used by men were determined, in order to evaluate their radiological effect and health risk. The activity concentrations of the radionuclides were measured using gamma spectrometer equipped with calibrated NaI(Tl) detector system while the trace metals were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) and energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) techniques. The averaged activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K were 2445.97 ± 9.29 Bq kg^-1, 315.16 ± 17.72 Bq kg^-1 and 50.45 ± 1.79 Bq kg^-1 for 40K, 232Th and 238U, respectively. The equivalent dose had a mean value of 2.94 mSv year^-1. The results of the trace elements analysis from both AAS and ED-XRF showed that iron had the highest concentration while selenium had the least concentration. ED-XRF showed a better recovery of the trace elements than AAS. The levels of the radionuclides identified were above the normal background for humans and the average concentrations of most of the trace metals were also above the permissible exposure limits, which can constitute health hazard to users of the shaving power.