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Application of risk assessment technology to characterize radiation and chemical hazards when drinking spring water

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Abstract

The article presents the results of assessing the radiation and chemical hazards of drinking water from springs in the city using computational methods for assessing health risks. Different scenarios of water consumption are considered: water was settled for 3 days and consumed immediately after selection. The total ɑ- and β-activity and the activity of radon in spring water were established, the effective dose of radiation was calculated, and the lifetime risk of oncological diseases in the population was assessed. The calculation method determined the chemical risk (for chemical elements of a carcinogenic nature) and the hazard index, taking into account 18 chemical elements, the concentration of which was determined in water. A comparison of radiation and chemical risks for public health has been carried out. The lifetime carcinogenic radiation risk due to the radioactivity of radon dissolved in water and its decay products is estimated at 9.5 10−4. Similar risk of a carcinogenic nature from heavy metals present in spring water is 1.52 10−4. The calculated hazard index for somatic diseases of a non-cancerous nature is 0.40, that is, it is below the acceptability level (less than one).

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The authors wish to thank all who assisted in conducting this work.

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Correspondence to G. V. Lavrentyeva.

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Lavrentyeva, G.V., Roshchenko, V.A., Romantsova, I.V. et al. Application of risk assessment technology to characterize radiation and chemical hazards when drinking spring water. Int J Energ Water Res 8, 1–6 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-023-00265-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-023-00265-w

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