Radon concentration and physicochemical properties measurement and internal exposure assessment in different brands of commercial soft drinks consumed in Türkiye

Abstract

Energy drinks (EDs) are soft drinks with energy-boosting ingredients such as caffeine, taurine, vitamin B, and herbal extracts. In this study, the first-ever radon activity concentrations of thirty-five canned ED samples from mostly preferred sixteen assorted brands consumed in Türkiye were analyzed by using a monitoring system. Also, radiological risk resulting from internal exposure due to the ionizing radiation emitted from radon, and its short-lived decay daughters were assessed for adults. Additionally, some physicochemical parameters of ED samples were determined by well-known instruments. Radon activity concentrations analyzed in ED samples ranged from 21.3±0.8 to 37.5±1.8 mBq/L and these values are significantly below the limits recommended for drinking water by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the European Union directive. The values of physicochemical parameters determined for ED samples ranged 2.56 to 4.30 (pH), 593 to 3030 μS/cm (electrical conductivity), 525 to 2680 mg/L (total dissolved solids) and 1.30 to 13.20% (Brix values). Since the annual effective doses estimated based on the annual consumption of soft drinks and EDs per capita in Türkiye are well below the individual dose criterion of 100 μSv, the radiological risk is at a negligible level.