Human activities may lead to increased levels of naturally occurring
radioactive material and heavy metals in waters relative to undisturbed
natural environment, consequently to reduced safety of environment.
Therefore, evaluation of water quality from coal-fired power plants is
essential to both environmental protection and protection of the human
health. In this paper the concentrations of metals (K, Sr, and Pb) and
corresponding radionuclides (40K, 90Sr, and 210Pb) for 22 water samples in
the vicinity of five coal-fired power plants in Serbia were determined. The
total metal concentrations were measured using an atomic absorption
spectrometer. The activities of radionuclides 40K and 210Pb were determined
by gamma spectrometry using HPGe detector, while the activity of 90Sr was
determined by radiochemical analytical method and measured using low-level
gas proportional counter. The water pollution status was assessed by the
prospective method that is defined in this study. The preliminary results
indicated that operation of the coal-fired power plants has no significant
impact on the surrounding environment with regard to the radiological
characteristics and content of metals of the investigated waters that can be
used for suitable in future applications.