Investigation of alpha emitters and health risk assessment in powdered milk samples consumed in Iraq using SSNTDs

In this study, alpha emitter concentrations of natural radionuclides (²²²Rn, ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁸U, ²¹⁴Po, and ²¹⁸Po) were measured in twenty brands of powdered milk consumed in Iraq to ensure food safety. CR-39 solid-state track detector was used to monitor radon levels and their daughters. The results show that alpha emitter concentrations from radon-222, radium-226, uranium-238, polonium-214, and polonium-218 in powdered milk ranged from 28.4 to 112.5 Bq/m³, 0.09–0.35 Bq/kg, 0.012–0.983 ppm, 8.8–34.8 Bq/m³ on the chamber wall, and 4.8–18.9 Bq/m³ on the detector surface, with the mean concentrations of 59.7 Bq/m³, 0.19 Bq/kg, 0.107 ppm 18.5 Bq/m³, and 10.0 Bq/m³ respectively. As a result of these studies, the mean values of alpha emitter concentrations were below the world standard. Some parameters related to health risk assessment have also been calculated for samples, including annual effective dose, excess lifetime cancer risk, and effective dose rate to different body organs or tissues for three groups. The mean annual effective dose for adults, children, and infants in the powdered milk samples have been found to be 0.008, 0.014, and 0.060 μSv/y, respectively. The mean excess lifetime cancer risk for adults, children, and infants in the powdered milk samples 0.031 × 10⁻⁶, 0.056 × 10⁻⁶, and 0.232 × 10⁻⁶ respectively. Results indicate that the consumption of these samples is safe.