Assessment of 222Rn level in the Hilla River using a biosensor, and association with water quality parameters in Babylon Governorate, Iraq

This research paper will measure radon gas ( 222 Rn) levels in water from the Hilla River and determine the radiological health hazards posed by radon gas to the people of Hilla City, Iraq.The study also examines the association between radon concentrations and other water quality parameters.Radon concentrations were measured along the Hilla River, and 20 samples were collected using a novel aptamer-based biosensor.The findings revealed that the 222Rn concentration was between 0.18 Bq/L and 3.38 Bq/L (mean 1.19 Bq/L), much lower than the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 100 Bq/L.The calculated Annual Effective Dose (AED) ranged from 0.459 μSv/y to 8.635 μSv/y (mean 3.054 μSv/y), and the Lifetime Cancer Risk (LCR) ranged from 1.77 to 33.248 (mean 11.76), both of which are insignificant compared to international reference levels.pH ranged from 6.8 to 8.8 (mean 7.65 ± 0.52), E.C ranging from 1201 to 1456 µS/cm (mean 1340.45 ± 67.28 µS/cm), TDS ranged from 721 to 874 mg/L (mean 799.85 ± 44.96 mg/L), Cl ranged from 134 to 181 mg/L (mean 159.85 ± 12.83 mg/L), T.H values ranging from 311 to 388 mg/L CaCO₃ equivalent (mean 345.15 ± 21.75 mg/L), SO4 level ranged from 321 to 430 mg/L (mean 371.15 ± 31.66 mg/L).