Radon transfer from water to milk

Abstract

Radon, as naturally occurring radioactive gas, is responsible for 50% of the total background radiations in human. Radon gas is able to enter to human body through eating and drinking. So, measurement of received radiation in the human body is essential. In this study, the presence of radon in milk and its dose was examined. This experiment was conducted using 12 Rayeni goats which have been categorized in a completely randomized design by 4 treatments and 3 replication (Treatment A = Radon-containing water + zero antioxidant, Treatment B = Radoncontaining water + antioxidant, Treatment C = healthy water + antioxidant, Treatment D = healthy water+ zero antioxidant). The experiment was prolonged for 60 days. During the experiment the goats were milked every day. The samples were transferred to laboratory to determine the milk compounds and properties, as well as to measure its radon level. Presence of radon in milk was detected using Rad7 device. The averaged radon concentration in milk samples (for treatments A and B) receiving radon was about 126 Bq m-3. There was no significant difference between protein. But there was a significant difference between the percentages of fat, lactose, total antioxidant capacity and the number of somatic cells. Radon did not change pH and Malondialdehyde contents of the treatments. We also determined annual received radon dose per person from drinking milk. It was different among age groups. Newborns were at higher risk of internal radon exposure from contaminated milk. Radon can enter the livestock milk. According to our findings, with, this radon amount in milk was not higher than the allowable level in valid resources for human health.

Keywords

• Effective Dose
• Antioxidant
• Milk
• Radon