Assessment of Radon Levels In Bottled Drinking Waters From Natural Sources In Elaziğ, Türkiye

Radon is a radioactive gas that constitutes an important component of natural radiation sources and may pose a risk to human health, particularly when present in drinking water. The present study aimed to determine 222Rn concentrations in commercially available bottled water samples and to evaluate the associated radiological effects. Radon measurements were carried out using the CR-39 passive nuclear track detector. The results showed that the 222Rn concentrations ranged from 0.009 to 0.618 Bq/L. Based on these values, the annual effective dose was calculated to vary between 0.023 and 1.580 µSv/y, with total exposure being predominantly attributable to ingestion. In addition, the estimated lifetime cancer risk values were found to be on the order of 10−6. These findings indicate that the radon concentrations in the investigated bottled water samples remained below international reference levels and that the corresponding radiological risk was generally low. Overall, the results highlight the importance of monitoring the radiological quality of drinking water.