The effect of radiation treatment with braking radiation on the reduction of nitrites and nitrates in root crops and tuberous agricultural products

In recent decades, the accumulation of nitrates and nitrites in vegetables and root crops has become a pressing issue due to the increasing use of mineral fertilizers and the growing demand on the agro-industrial sector. Excessive levels of these compounds pose risks to human health, reducing the nutritional value of products and contributing to the formation of carcinogenic compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of braking (X-ray) radiation on the reduction of nitrates in root crops and tuberous agricultural products, as well as to determine optimal treatment doses for practical use in the food industry. The scientific significance of the work lies in identifying an effective radiation treatment method that ensures product safety and prolongs storage life. The methodology included irradiation of potato, carrot, and beet samples using the ILU-10 industrial electron accelerator at doses of 0.1–0.5 kGy, followed by nitrate determination using the potentiometric method. Results demonstrated that nitrate content in potatoes and beets significantly decreased at doses above 0.2 kGy, whereas carrots exhibited an opposite trend with increased accumulation. This indicates crop-specific sensitivity to radiation exposure related to physiological and varietal characteristics. The contribution of this research is the clarification of nitrate metabolism alterations under ionizing radiation and the development of approaches for applying braking radiation as a method for nitrate reduction. The practical significance lies in the potential application of radiation treatment in the agro-food sector of Kazakhstan and beyond to enhance food safety and extend shelf life.

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