Body radioactivity and radiation dose from 40K in Bangladeshi subjects measured with a whole-body counter

A group of subjects of Bangladeshi adults from both sexes were studied for internal radioactivity and effective dose by measuring the whole-body activity of naturally occurring (40)K using a whole-body counter. The mean activity concentration in the whole body and effective dose due to naturally occurring (40)K for the average male were found to be 2.0 +/- 0.4 Bq.g(-1) and 100 +/- 26 microSv.y(-1), respectively and those for the average female were 1.7 +/- 0.3 Bq.g(-1) and 100 +/- 20 microSv.y(-1), respectively. The mean activity concentration in the whole body and effective dose for both sexes were 1.9 +/- 0.4 Bq.g(-1) and 100 +/- 25 microSv.y(-1), respectively. The effective dose from (40)K for subjects is below the value reported by the UNSCEAR.