Radium and (40)K in Algerian bottled mineral waters and consequent doses

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Radiological Health
• Food Safety

Background:

• Bottled mineral water is a popular beverage globally, including in Algeria.
• Natural radionuclides like radium-226 ((226)Ra), radium-228 ((228)Ra), and potassium-40 ((40)K) can be present in mineral water sources.
• Assessing the radiological impact of ingested radionuclides is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the concentrations of (226)Ra, (228)Ra, and (40)K in popular Algerian bottled mineral waters.
• To estimate the annual effective dose from ingesting these radionuclides for different age groups (infants, children, adults).
• To compare estimated doses against established reference dose levels.

Main Methods:

• Gamma-ray spectrometry was used to measure the activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (228)Ra, and (40)K.
• Annual effective doses were calculated using the World Health Organization's (WHO) default water intake rates.
• Dose estimations were performed for three age categories: infants, children, and adults.

Main Results:

• Activity concentrations ranged from 13.9 to 148.9 mBq l(-1) for (226)Ra, 7.2 to 52.9 mBq l(-1) for (228)Ra, and <0.07 to 2.19 Bq l(-1) for (40)K.
• The ratio of (226)Ra to (228)Ra activities varied from 1.0 to 13.66, with a mean of 5.62.
• Annual effective doses for children and adults were below the 0.1 mSv y(-1) reference level, but exceeded this limit for infants, contributing 12% to their mean annual natural dose.

Conclusions:

• While most age groups receive acceptable doses, infants consuming Algerian bottled mineral water may be exposed to doses exceeding recommended limits.
• The presence of natural radionuclides in bottled water warrants continued monitoring and assessment, especially for vulnerable populations.
• Further research could explore the specific geological sources contributing to radionuclide levels in Algerian mineral waters.