Evaluation of radon uptake in Saudi coffee: A case study for radiological survey and health control

This study aims to address this gap by quantifying Radon (²²²Rn) radioactivity and evaluating the associated radiological hazards in 24 commercially Saudi-produced coffee samples. Measurements were carried out using CR−39 nuclear track detectors. The results showed that ²²²Rn activity concentrations ranged from 47.43 ± 64.71–256.09 ± 49.01 Bq.m⁻³ , with Mahila coffee samples exhibiting the highest values. The corresponding effective radium content (Ra_eff), estimated from ²²²Rn measurements, varied between 0.038 ± 0.0509 and 0.202 ± 0.0385 Bq.kg⁻¹ . Mass and surface ²²²Rn exhalation rates were also estimated, ranging from 0.0068 ± 0.0092–0.0367 ± 0.0070 Bq.kg⁻¹ .h⁻¹ and from 0.69 ± 0.94–3.74 ± 0.72 Bq. m⁻².h⁻¹ , respectively. Although regional variations were observed, which likely reflect differences in geological and environmental conditions, the calculated radioactivity indices remained within the range reported in similar studies on food radioactivity. These findings indicate that routine consumption of within the range of samples analyzed, the measured radiometric parameters did not show a high radiometric significance. This work provides the baseline on ²²²Rn in Saudi coffee products and highlights the importance of considering dietary exposure pathways in environmental radiological safety assessments.