Identification and dosimetry of irradiated pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) using EPR

Abstract

In the current study, the EPR signal of both gamma-irradiated shell and kernel of the pistachio is recorded and investigated. The spectrum properties, microwave power dependency of signal intensities, short- and long-term temporal dependencies, and other significant factors are studied. This investigation was done on how varying radiation doses (0–10 kGy) affected the reactions of pistachio shells and kernels. The time dependence of the radiation-induced signal intensity of pistachio showed that the maximum intensity reached about 98.75% and 67% of its original value for shells and kernels, respectively, after the first six hours. These results indicate that EPR is an effective tool for gamma-irradiated pistachio identification and dosimetry, whether employing pistachio shells or kernels.

KEYWORDS:

• Radiation dosimetry
• Pistachio
• ESR
• EPR
• Food irradiation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ahmed M. Maghraby

Ahmed M. Maghraby is a professor of Radiation measurements and the head of IRML at NIS (Egypt).

E. Salama

E. Salama is a professor of Physics at the British University in Egypt (BUE).

Samy A. Anwar

Samy A. Anwar has got his Ph.D. and he is a physicist at the Egyptian Meteorological Authority.

M. El-Sayed

M. El-Sayed is an emeritus professor of biophysics at Ain Shams University.