Investigation of Radon Concentration and Its Health Risk Assessment in Blood Samples of Cigarette, Vape, and Hookah Smokers and of Non-Smokers

The concentration of radon gas was measured in human blood samples for smokers and non-smokers collected randomly in Kurdistan region, Iraq. The study was carried out using a CR-39 detector. The average 222Rn concentrations in powdered blood samples for cigarette, vape, and hookah smokers and for non-smokers were 228, 275, 290, and 21.9 Bq/m3, respectively. Thus, the hookah smokers had greater average values of 222Rn concentration in blood samples than the other smokers. The average values of 222Rn concentration for smokers were slightly higher than the global permissibility limit of exposure to radon (200 Bq/m3) recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), and for non-smokers they were far below the world standard limit. The average annual effective dose due to inhalation of 222Rn for cigarette, vape, and hookah smokers and non-smokers in powdered blood samples were 5.76, 6.93, 7.30, and 0.27 mSv/year, respectively, being within the recommended limit (3–10 mSv/year) for smokers. The results indicate that smokers have a higher risk of lung cancer because they inhale more radon.