Radon levels in different types of bottled drinking water and carbonated drinks in Iraqi markets

Abstract

In the present work, radon concentration was measured for different types of bottled drinking water and carbonated drink samples that are available in Iraqi markets. Radon measurements were carried out using a RAD-7 electronic radon detector. Annual effective dose was also calculated. The measured radon concentration in samples of bottled drinking water ranged from 0.0354 to 0.248 Bq/l with a mean value of 0.11265 Bq/l and the measured radon concentration in the samples of the carbonated drinks lay between 0.0354 and 0.283 Bq/l with a mean value of 0.1418 Bq/l. The mean values of the effective dose in all samples of bottled drinking water and carbonated drinks were found to be 0.410844 and 1.022 μSv/y respectively. The results of this work revealed that the radon concentrations were lower than the recommended limits indicated by the World Health Organization and by the regulatory bodies of the European Union.