Radionuclides in drinking water from an industrial region in western Serbia and public health risk assessment

Drinking water that contains elevated levels of radioactive substances can pose a potential risk for the development of cancer. Therefore, regular monitoring of radioactivity in water intended for human consumption is essential. In this context, a long-term investigation was carried out across 13 sites in the Mačva District (Western Serbia) during the 2010–2020 period. This region has notable industrial activity, including the phosphate and chemical industries. In this region, the opening of a lithium mine is planned in the near future, making it necessary to establish reliable baseline data on the radiological quality of drinking water before the start of mining activities. Gross alpha and beta activities were assessed using liquid scintillation spectrometry, while gamma spectrometry was used to determine the activity concentrations of radionuclides such as ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra, ⁴⁰K, ¹³⁷Cs, and ¹³⁴Cs. All recorded values for alpha and beta activities remained below the regulatory thresholds of 0.1 Bq L^-1 and 1 Bq L^-1, respectively. Similarly, the activity concentration levels of all analyzed radionuclides complied with the recommended safety limits, resulting in an annual ingestion dose well under 0.1 mSv. Notably, no traces of radiocaesium were found in drinking water samples after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. The findings indicate that the drinking water in this region poses no significant radiological threat, and that local industrial processes have not led to increased radionuclide concentrations.