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Abstract
Ubiquitous radiation has ever been a source of health concern to human beings. The primordial radionuclides in the biosphere are the main source of radiation exposure. Risks to human beings majorly depend on the accumulation of the radionuclides in food products. The southwest coastal region of India is a known high background radiation area (HBRA) owing to the presence of thorium rich monazites sand available in abundance. A systematic radiological survey has been carried out in the region of high-background radiation area in Kollam district of Kerala. 12 varieties of 75 food items which consists of vegetables, fruits, tubers and cereals available in different parts of coastal region of Kollam district in Kerala were collected as per standard sampling procedure. The levels of natural primordial radionuclides, namely radium, thorium and potassium were determined using Gamma ray spectrometry. The concentration factor is slightly higher in tubers and leafy vegetables. The uptake factor for potassium is found to be uniformly high in all the vegetables. Transfer Factor of radium in leafy vegetable, spinach was found higher when compare with other commonly consumed vegetables.