An in-depth examination of the natural radiation and radioactive dangers associated with a regularly used medicinal plant in Egypt

Specific activity of U-238 and Th-232, as well as K-40 radionuclides in twenty-five investigated medicinal herbs used in Egypt have been measured using high purity germanium (HP Ge) detector. The measured values are ranged from the BDL to 20.71 with mean of 7.25 (Bq kg − 1 ) for uranium-238, from the BDL to 29.35 with mean of 7.78 (Bq kg − 1 ) for thorium-232, and from the 172 to 1181.2 with mean of 471.4 (Bq kg − 1 ) for Potassium-40. Individual herbs with the highest activity levels were found to be 20.71 (Bq kg − 1 ) for uranium-238 (H4, Thyme herb), 29.35 (Bq kg − 1 ) for thorium-232 (H20, Cinnamon) and 1181.2 (Bq kg − 1 ) for Potassium-40 (H24, Worm wood). Ingestion-related effective doses over the course of a year of uranium-238 and thorium-232, as well as Potassium-40 estimated from measured activity concentrations are 0.002304 (minimum), 0.50869 (maximum), and 0.0373 (average) (mSv/yr). This is the first-time natural radioactivity of therapeutic plants has been measured in Egypt. In addition, no artificial radionuclide (for example, 137Cs) was discovered in any of the samples. Therefore, the current findings are intended to serve as the foundation for establishing a standard safety and guideline for using these therapeutic plants in Egypt.