Abstract
Rice is a staple food in many developing countries, and its role in public health has been a focus of research for decades. In Ghana, a developing country in sub-Saharan Africa, per capita rice consumption is estimated at 50 kg per person per year (2023/2024 marketing year). Meanwhile, in the same period, Ghana's milled rice production was estimated at 1.009 million metric tons, covering about 59% of the national consumption needs. And this is while, many developing countries often lack well-defined regulatory frameworks for pre-import evaluation of critical safety parameters in food products. To bridge the consumption gap, Ghana imports a significant portion of its rice, with imports forecasted at 950,000 metric tons. Despite the significance of imported rice in the national food supply, there is a notable lack of comprehensive radiological assessments focused on these products. Therefore, this study attempts to address this gap by analyzing radioactive contaminants-radium-226, radium-228, and potassium-40 -in imported rice consumed in Ghana. A total of 50 rice samples, with an average of 10 samples per brand from 5 distinct brands were collected from major markets in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and analyzed using gamma-ray spectrometry with a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The mean activity concentrations were 2.13 ± 0.85 Bq/kg for (226)Ra, 3.69 ± 1.47 Bq/kg for (228)Ra, and 51.82 ± 7.93 Bq/kg for (40)K, all within international safety limits. The estimated total annual effective dose for an average adult was 408.44 µSv/y well below recommended international thresholds. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was also calculated, with results indicating a negligible impact on public health. These findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of radioactive contaminants in imported food products to ensure consumer safety. Additionally, the study provides critical insights for policymakers, emphasizing the need for regulatory measures to control radioactivity levels in imported foods. This research supports Ghana's public health initiatives and alignment with global food safety standards.