Radioactive Contamination and Health Risk Assessment of Well Water in Safi Industrial Zone, Morocco

This study assesses the contamination of drinking water from wells in the industrial zone of Safi, Morocco, by analysing ²³⁸ U and ²³² Th concentrations from phosphate waste via Solid State Nuclear Trace Detector (SSNTD) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) techniques. The results show significant geographical variability and signs of contamination linked to industrial activities. Measured alpha volumetric activities for ²³⁸ U ranged from 176 mBq L ^− 1 to 342 mBq L ^− 1 , and for ²³² Th from 19 mBq L ^− 1 to 102 mBq L ^− 1 , presenting a potential health risk. The study examined the committed annual effective doses resulting from ingestion of 238U and 232Th via well water for individuals of different ages (< 1 year, 1–2 years, 2–7 years, 7–12 years, 12–17 years, and > 17 years). However, these doses remain below the WHO-recommended threshold of 100 mSv y ^− 1 for most age groups, except for children under one year of age. No correlation between pH, conductivity, and radionuclide concentrations, suggesting that other factors, such as industrial discharges and local geological conditions, have a greater influence on their distribution.