Abstract
Radon and progeny concentration measurements in various drink samples are intrinsically important for assessing the health risks resulting from daily consumption of these drinks. In this study the comparison between two Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTDs), the CR-39 and the CN-85 has been conducted for the purpose of evaluating the radon concentration, annual effective dose, the rate of exhalation of radon and the effective radium content in thirty-two different samples of soft drink, water, and milk available in the local Iraq markets. The results showed that there are significant differences in the measurement results for the two detectors. The annual effective dose of the investigated samples is still below the limit of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendation in the measurements of both detectors.
•A comparison of relative alpha detection efficiency of CR-39 and CN-85 track detectors has been conducted.•The annual effective dose of radon concentrations, effective radium content, areal and the mass exhalation rate of radon were measured and calculated for 32 samples.•Changing the etching parameters such as increasing the temperature, time and/or NaOH concentration were found to improve the CR-39 efficiency.•The annual effective dose of the investigated samples is still below the limit of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendation in the measurements of both detectors.