The first investigation on the radiotoxicity risks associated with ingesting radium in drinking water from the Oujda Region-Morocco and some bottled mineral waters

Drinking water is essential to human life. However, it can be polluted by various factors, including radioactive substances such as radon 222Rn and radium 226Ra. Therefore, the determination of their concentrations is important for public health. The aim of this work is to measure the concentration of 226Ra in samples of tap, natural spring and well water taken from different sources in the eastern region of Morocco, as well as in a few samples of bottled mineral water. We used an AlphaGUARD detector with an AlphaKit accessory and an RTM1688-2 to carry out measurements of radon in secular equilibrium with radium. The got results show that the 226Ra activity is less than 0.104 ± 0.023 Bq/L, the Annual Effective Dose (AED)) for adults and children is less than 29.1 ± 4.7 μSv.y−1and 123.8 ± 4.7 μSv.y−1 for infants. The chemical toxicity risk evaluated using the Lifetime Average Daily Dose (LADD) was found less than 0.23 ± 0.05 μgkg−1day−1. The obtained results are reasonable in relation to international guidelines, and do not present any radiological hazard to consumers that could be attributed to the radium and radon in the analyzed water samples. •Radioactive Substance Assessment: The study evaluates radon and radium concentrations in drinking water, shedding light on potential health risks.•Regional Focus - Eastern Morocco: Providing localized insights, the research emphasizes the importance of region-specific water quality assessments for public health considerations.•Precision in Measurement: Utilizing an Alpha GUARD detector with an AlphaKit accessory demonstrates the study's meticulous measurement approach, ensuring the reliability of results.•Safety Confirmation: Results indicate that 226Ra activity is below international recommendations, assuring the safety of tap, spring, and well water and confirming compliance.