Determination of radionuclide, essential and heavy metal contents of siyez (Triticum monococcum L.) wheat grown in Kastamonu by non-destructive analysis method

Cereal is one of the main nutritional sources for human beings. Wheat, which can grow in different climatic conditions, is an important cereal product in view of nutritional value, economy, culture, and history. Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) locally called siyez, which grows especially in Kastamonu province in our country, is accepted as the oldest known wheat. In this study, the natural radionuclide, essential element and heavy metal contents of 21 siyez samples collected from different cultivation areas in Kastamonu were determined. The data obtained were compared with the data determined for einkorn and other wheat types in the literature. In addition, the radiological risk arising from the consumption of siyez wheat samples as food was evaluated by estimating the annual effective radiation dose. The average activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th radionuclides measured in siyez samples using a gamma-ray spectrometry with high purity germanium detector were found as 181.3 ± 4.1, 10.0 ± 0.7 and 6.1 ± 0.2 Bq/kg, respectively. The average annual effective radiation dose that the local people are exposed to due to the consumption of siyez samples was estimated as 68.2 ± 3.1 µSv/y. Essential elements (Na, Mg, P, S, Cl, K, Ca and I), both essential and toxic heavy metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) and heavy metal (Ti, Ag, Cd, Sn, Te, Hf, Ta and Pb) contents of siyez samples were analyzed using energy dispersed X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. In addition, daily heavy metal intakes were calculated. As, Zr and Hg toxic heavy metals were not observed in siyez samples. Average concentrations of Na, Mg, P, S, Cl, K and Ca essential elements at minor level analyzed in siyez samples were determined as 585 ± 156; 626 ± 46; 3078 ± 114; 2734 ± 61; 644 ± 31 ; 5844 ± 131 and 1570 ± 259 mg/kg, respectively. Average concentrations of I, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn essential elements at trace level were found as 7,0 ± 0,5; 3,6 ± 0,2; 89,2 ± 1,2; 208,5 ± 62,6; 16,8 ± 0,6; 12,1 ± 01; 8,3 ± 0,2 and 65,3 ± 2,5 mg/kg, respectively. Average concentrations of Ti, Ag, Cd, Sn, Te, Hf, Ta and Pb heavy metals at trace level were analyzed as 21,8 ± 58; 6.1 ± 0.3; 2.9 ± 0.2; 6,9 ± 0,4 13,8 ± 0,6; 3,2 ± 0,2; 24,3 ± 0,6 and 1,4 ± 0,1 mg/kg, respectively. The results indicated that the consumption of the investigated siyez samples as food did not pose a significant radiological risk for local public health; however, siyez samples contain trace toxic Cd and Pb heavy metal. The literature comparison revealed that the investigated siyez samples were richer in terms of K, Ca, Fe, Mn and Zn contents compared to einkorn, emmer, spelt, buckwheat and durum wheat samples grown in our country and in different countries