Gamma Irradiation to Sterilize Active Ingredients, Consumer Foodstuffs and Beverages in Bangladesh

Nowadays, the utilization of gamma irradiation (e.g., Cobalt-60 source) to sterilize different materials have been increasing enormously. As terminal sterilization, gamma irradiation is being used popularly to sterilize different materials throughout Bangladesh. Compare to other conventional methods of sterilization (e.g., alpha, beta, other chemicals), this method is highly applicable for its well acceptance in the world. It has high penetration power with the short wave lengths, isothermal characteristics for its negligible rise in the temperature, no contact with any toxic chemicals without having any unirradiated portion. In this process, the assurance level of the sterility of product is far better than other aseptic processing. The chemical bonds in the microbes are broken to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by gamma irradiation, and attack DNA/RNA of microbes for killing. The mutations in the genetic materials (DNA/RNA) of microbes are usually happened through gamma irradiation and consequently restrict the cellular division of microbes. This characteristic of gamma ray is mostly applicable in the commercial purposes. This review discusses the general applications of gamma irradiation to the broaden arena of different materials (active pharmaceutical ingredients, consumer products, beverages etc.). A summarized description of materials those are irradiated using Cobalt-60 source in Bangladesh, in particular, at the Institute of Radiation & Polymer Technology (IRPT), Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, is described here. The information may further assist to enhance the dissemination of the applicability of gamma irradiation throughout Bangladesh.