Assessment of 222Rn Activity in Bottled Water from Baghdad and Its Radiological Impact

This study investigates the radiological impact of 222Rn activity concentrations in bottled drinking water sourced from local markets in Baghdad, Iraq. Utilizing the solid-state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) technique with CR-39 detectors, 222Rn activity concentrations were measured in 25 bottled water samples. Concentrations ranged from 1.5 to 11.12 Bq/L, with an average value of 4.58 Bq/L. To assess the potential health risks, the annual effective dose (AED) due to 222Rn ingestion was calculated. The potential radiation doses ranged from 3.21×10−6 Sv/y for infants to 1.17×10−5 Sv/y for adults. These values are significantly lower than the established dose limit of 0.1×10−3 Sv/y, thereby indicating a negligible radiological risk to consumers. The study also explored the correlation between total dissolved solids (TDS) and 222Rn concentrations, finding a direct relationship between higher TDS values and elevated 222Rn levels. The findings of this research contribute to the understanding of natural radionuclide levels in drinking water and their implications for public health.