Measurement of Natural Radionuclides in Drinking Water and Risk Assessment in a Volcanic Region of Italy, Campania

The physical–chemical properties of water are closely linked to the geological nature of the site where they are located. This aspect becomes even more interesting when analyzing the natural radionuclides in the drinking water of a volcanic territory such as Campania in southern Italy. This study concerned the measurement of activity concentration of gross alpha and beta, radon, and tritium to evaluate their biological impact. The measurements were carried out using alpha spectrometry for alpha emitters, proportional counter for beta emitters, the electret system for radon in water, and finally liquid scintillation for the measurement of tritium concentration. The biological impact was assessed considering the indicative dose, if applicable, and the effective annual dose of radon. Although the results show that the values are below international and national references, the radiological characterization of drinking water is of fundamental importance to optimize the radiation protection of the population.

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Characterization of an array of gas-flow proportional counters for determination of gross alpha and gross beta in drinking water

Journal of Instrumentation ◽

10.1088/1748-0221/14/06/t06009 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (06) ◽

pp. T06009-T06009

Author(s):

O. Aviv ◽

E. Daniely ◽

Y. Barazani ◽

T. Baziza ◽

J. Koch

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Gas Flow ◽

Gross Beta ◽

Gross Alpha ◽

Proportional Counters

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EVALUATION OF RADIOACTIVITY IN THE PHOSPHOGYPSUM STOCKPILE OF “HIV” VELES, THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Contemporary Materials ◽

10.7251/comen2001027j ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mitko Janchev ◽

Ivan Boev ◽

Zdenka Stojanovska ◽

Blazo Boev

Keyword(s):

Natural Radionuclides ◽

Radiation Risk ◽

Waste Product ◽

Gross Alpha ◽

Mean Values ◽

The Mean ◽

Specific Activities ◽

The Republic ◽

High Concentrations

The production of phosphoric acid from natural phosphate ore generates an industrial waste product named phosphogypsum. Phosphogypsum contains considerable amounts of natural radionuclides from the 238U chain, originating from the ore but enriched during the technological process. In order to perform radiological characterization of the “HIV” (Chemical Industry Veles) phosphogypsum stockpile, five phosphogypsum samples were collected and analyzed. The mean values of gross alpha and beta specific activities ± standard deviation values were: (950±104) Bq/kg and (1694±220) Bq/kg, respectively. Further analysis showed increased gross activities of radionuclides of the 238U chain, while the radionuclides of the 232Th chain and 40K were below the detection limit. The mean values of the specific activities of 238U and 226Ra were (360±55) Bq/kg and (280±84) Bq/kg, respectively. The estimated annual outdoor effective dose, at 1m received by adults was 0.25 mSv/y, which is below a dose limit of 1 mSv/y for members of general public. The results obtained in this study show that radionuclides, although present in relatively high concentrations in the phosphogypsum pile, do not imply an increased external radiation risk for members of the population. The possible use of phosphogypsum in civil construction and agriculture may not be excluded if conditions of prior good planning taking into account the radionuclides activities exist.

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Assessment of natural irradiation doses in rare earth mines of Muong Hum, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province

Journal of Mining and Earth Sciences ◽

10.46326/jmes.2021.62(5).10 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 62 (5) ◽

pp. 106-115

Author(s):

Dung Van Nguyen ◽

Huan Dinh Trinh ◽

Tuong Van Phan ◽

Keyword(s):

Rare Earth ◽

Soil Water ◽

Natural Radionuclides ◽

Annual Dose ◽

Radiation Dose Rate ◽

Effective Annual Dose ◽

Lao Cai ◽

High Concentrations ◽

The Impact ◽

Rare Earth Mine

The rare earth mine containing high concentrations of natural radionuclides (238U, 232Th, and 40K) in Muong Hum commune, Nam Pung, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, a mine with large reserves of rare earth resources in Vietnam, will be exploited and processed in the near future. The activity of natural radionuclides in the environment of air, soil, water, and effective annual dose are important parameters in assessing the impact of radiation on the environment when the mine goes into operating and processing rare earth ore. Investigating and determining radioactivity in soil, water, and plants at Muong Hum rare earth mine by means of radioactive gas measurement (RAD-7), gamma radiation dose rate (DKS-96), sample analysis using an ICP-MS mass spectrometer, will be performed in this study. The results showed that some soil samples had radionuclides activity 238U, 232Th higher than the allowed standard. The annual effective dose value in the region is 6.1 times higher than the world average (2.4 mSv/year). The obtained results are the basis for monitoring the impact of the radioactive environment and providing solutions to minimize the effects of radioactive substances on the ecological environment when the mine goes into mining and processing of rare earth ores.

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CONTENT OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN MINERAL NATURAL DRINKING WATER OF ST-PETERSBURG AND LENINGRAD REGION

Radiatsionnaya Gygiena = Radiation Hygiene ◽

10.21514/1998-426x-2018-11-2-20-27 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 20-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. V. Kaduka ◽

L. N. Basalaeva ◽

T. A. Bekyasheva ◽

S. A. Ivanov ◽

N. V. Salazkina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Water Samples ◽

Radiation Safety ◽

Natural Radionuclides ◽

Beta Activity ◽

Leningrad Region ◽

Gross Alpha ◽

Total Contribution ◽

Natural Mineral ◽

Specific Activities

The aim of the study was to estimate the radiation characteristics of the mineral natural drinking table and medical-table water, consumed by the population of St-Petersburg and Leningrad region. This study was focused on the bottled natural mineral drinking water, available in St-Petersburg and Leningrad region market, as well as on the natural mineral drinking water sampled from the St-Petersburg groundwater supplies. Data on the levels of radionuclides specific activities in the sources under investigation was obtained using radiochemical analysis with the subsequent radiometric or spectrometric measurement of the counting samples. 107 samples of mineral natural drinking water were analyzed during the period from1999 till the December of 2017. Assessment included estimation in different combinations of the levels of gross alpha- and beta activities, specific activities of226Ra,224Ra,228Ra,210Pb,210Po,238U,234U,40K and222Rn, as well as the estimation of the index of conformance of the water to the requirements of the radiation safety. The mentioned index is the sum of the ratios of the specific activities of the individual radionuclides to the corresponding guidance levels. Exceedance of the index of conformance for the gross alpha-activity was detected for 87% of analyzed water samples; for the gross beta-activity – for 18% of the samples. Exceedance of the index of conformance of the water to the requirements of the radiation safety was detected for 40% of the analyzed samples. Exceeding of the guidance level of radionuclide in drinking water was found: in 24% water samples for226Ra concentration, in 24% – for228Ra concentration, in 3,5% – for224Ra concentration. An exceedance of the guidance levels for210Pb,210Po,238U,234U, 40K and222Rn in analyzed samples was not detected. The main contribution to the sum of the ratios of the specific activities of the natural radionuclides to the corresponding guidance levels and, correspondently to the exposure dose to the population of St-Petersburg and Leningrad region from the consumption of the mineral drinking water give226Ra,228Ra and222Rn the total contribution of which to the mentioned value exceeds 90%.

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Natural Radionuclides in Ground Water in Finland

Radiation Protection Dosimetry ◽

10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a080263 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 24 (1-4) ◽

pp. 163-166 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

L. Salonen

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Ground Water ◽

Natural Radioactivity ◽

Annual Effective Dose ◽

Natural Radionuclides ◽

Nationwide Survey ◽

Effective Dose Equivalent ◽

Dose Equivalent ◽

Gross Alpha ◽

Gross Alpha And Beta

Abstract A nationwide survey of the natural radioactivity in drinking water was conducted in Finland throughout the 1970s and has continued in the 1980s with the emphasis on drinking water originating from drilled wells, which may be rich in natural radionuclides (mean 222Rn 1020 Bq.l-1, maximum 77,000 Bq.l-1). Between 1981 and 1987, 3000 ground water samples were analysed for 222Rn, some of them for gross alpha and beta, 226Ra, 210Pb, 210Po and U. In recent years the occurrence of 210Pb and 210Po in ground water has been studied. Preliminary results suggest that the contribution of 210Pb and 210Po to the total annual effective dose equivalent is higher than the contribution of 226Ra or U in that water.

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