Radiological risk assessment due to radon in bottled drinking water sold in Kahramanmaraş town, Turkiye

This research aimed to measure radon activity concentrations in bottled drinking water (BDW) samples consumed in Kahramanmaraş town, Turkiye. Also, to evaluate the health risk that may occur as a result of internal irradiation resulting from ingestion and inhalation of radon in BDW samples, the total annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) for infants, children, and adults (1-2 y, 2-12 y, and > 17 y) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for adults (> 17 y) had to be calculated. For these purposes, 32 water samples of different volumes belonging to 8 different commercial brands, representing a large part of the BDW consumed as drinking water and sold commercially in Kahramanmaraş were collected by purchasing from markets. Radon activity amounts of BDW samples were determined using the Durridge Rad7 detector. The average value of radon activity concentrations in BDW samples was found to be 21.21 ± 1.50 mBq/L. Radon activity concentrations ranged from 13.50 ± 1.30 to 31.70 ± 2.20 mBq/L. Estimated mean total AEDE values for infants, children, and adults (1-2 y, 2-12 y, and > 17 y) were 7.43E-05, 4.39E-05, 5.43E-05 mSv y^-1, respectively. The average ELCR value calculated for adults was calculated as 2.40E-07.