Pollution and Health Risk Evaluations from Gross Radioactivity in Drinking Waters in Reyhanli District, Hatay

The natural gross radioactivity concentrations in drinking water collected from the Reyhanli District, Hatay, were measured. The gross alpha/beta radioactivity levels were measured in August 2021. A proportional counter was used to determine gross alpha/beta radioactivity levels in drinking waters. The activity levels of gross alpha/beta in drinking waters ranged from 0.001 +/- 0.000 to 0.020 +/- 0.002 Bq/L and 0.015 +/- 0.003 to 0.715 +/- 0.126 Bq/L, respectively, according to results obtained from the activity measurements. The results of the gross beta radioactivities were found reasonably high compared to the results of the gross alpha activity levels. The measured gross alpha/beta activity concentrations are smaller than the 0.5-Bq/L and 1-Bq/L limit values recommended by WHO and EPA. The annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk parameters were calculated using gross alpha/beta radioactivity concentrations.