Abstract
Since 2013, the Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom has been regulating the content of radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption. However, mineral waters are exempted from this regulation, including self-bottled springs waters, where higher radon concentration are expected. Therefore, a systematic survey has been conducted on all the 33 mineral spring waters of Lazio (a region of Central Italy) in order to assess if such waters, when self-bottled, may be of concern for public health. Waters have been sampled in two different ways to evaluate the impact of bottling on radon concentration. Water sampling was possible for 20 different spring waters, with 6 samples for each one. The results show that 2 (10%) of measured mineral spring waters returned radon concentrations higher than 100 Bq L−1, i.e., the parametric value established by the Council Directive. These results, if confirmed by other surveys involving a higher number of mineral spring waters, would suggest regulating also these waters, especially in countries like Italy for which: (i) mineral water consumption is significant; (ii) mineral concession owners generally allow the consumers to fill bottles and containers, intended for transport and subsequent consumption, directly from public fountains or from fountains within the plant; (iii) the consumers’ habit of drinking self-bottled mineral water is widespread.
Highlights
Exposure to radon dissolved in drinking waters can derive indirectly from the inhalation of air containing radon degassed from water and directly from ingestion of water[1,2]
The Directive 2013/51/Euratom for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption contains several requirements to Member States about radon concentration in water, including: (i) to adopt a parametric value above which the risk has to be evaluated and remedial actions have to be considered, and (ii) to carry out representative surveys in order to identify water sources whose radon content might exceed such a parametric value[5]
The present study shows an exceedance of 100 Bq L−1, the parametric value for radon in water intended for human consumption established by Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom[5], for two mineral spring waters in two different areas, one in North-West basin of Tiber river and one in Sacco and Liri-Garigliano rivers basin
Summary
Exposure to radon dissolved in drinking waters can derive indirectly from the inhalation of air containing radon degassed from water (as during showers or dishwashing, due to the volatility of dissolved radon gas which increases with temperature) and directly from ingestion of water[1,2]. Due to the relatively low solubility of radon in water, about 90% of the dose attributable to radon in drinking waters comes from inhalation rather than ingestion[3]. The latter exposure pattern should not be neglected as a potential risk for public health[4]. Is the first country in Europe for mineral water consumption, with more than 200 L per person per year[6]. This exemption refers both to bottled and not-bottled mineral waters.
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