Assessment of the annual effective dose and lifetime cancer risks associated with tritium in groundwater within different age groups

Abstract

Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that emits low-energy radiation. When humans are exposed to tritium, the primary concern is internal exposure through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption through the skin. The severity of the adverse health effects depends on the duration, amount, and route of exposure. Therefore, estimating the tritium levels in groundwater and the corresponding health risks within different age groups is essential. The annual effective dose is determined by considering several factors, including the concentration of tritium, the volume of water consumed, and the duration of exposure. The calculated annual effective doses were then compared to the safety limit as directed by international organizations. The estimated tritium concentration in the searched groundwater samples was significantly low, ranging from 0.014 to 0.114 Bq/L. The annual effective dose of tritium exposure for infants, children, and adults varies from 0.028 to 0.605 μSv/y and is within the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations. The lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) for the consumer in the searched areas was estimated for males and females based on the average lifetime. Mortality and morbidity rates varied slightly between males and females across samples due to differences in activity concentrations and locations. However, the estimated LTCR values were below the radiological cancer risk limit. These findings will provide valuable insights to regulatory authorities, assisting them in developing strategies to ensure public safety against human exposure to tritium.