scholarly journals Monitoring of Natural Radioactivity in Drinking Water and Food with Emphasis on Alpha-Emitting Radionuclides

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Zehringer
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Natural Radioactivity

How can flow system approach help to understand the natural radionuclide content of the drinking water originated from groundwater sources? Case study in the vicinity of a granitic complex

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Baják ◽  
Katalin Csondor ◽  
Heinz Surbeck ◽  
Bálint Izsák ◽  
Márta Vargha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Natural Radioactivity ◽  
System Approach ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Flow System ◽  
Drinking Water Source ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Gross Alpha

<p>In groundwater, the soluble members of the uranium decay chain such as uranium, radium, and radon can be found in significant concentration. Their distribution is affected by physicochemical properties such as pH, redox potential and chemical composition of the groundwater. Uranium can be mobilised under oxidising conditions especially in the water where the pH is near neutral and has high alkalinity. In contrast, radium is mobile in reducing environment, enhanced by the presence of carbonate, sulphate, chloride. These parameters vary along the groundwater flow paths and with regard to the change of regime characteristics. Areas with recharge regime and discharge points of local flow systems are characterised by oxidising environment while discharge areas of higher-order systems tend to be reducing. The natural radioactivity of groundwater, as a possible threat for human health, has been investigated for a few decades as groundwater is a very common drinking water source. In Hungary, 96% of the water supply relies upon groundwater. Following the Euratom Drinking Water Directive the radioactivity of drinking water is screened in Hungary by gross alpha and gross beta activity measurements. Whenever the measured concentrations surpass the limit values the long-term consumption of the water can lead to health issues. High values of gross alpha activity can be found in the foreland of Lake Velence. Previous studies have already shown high uranium concentration values (compared to average crust values) related to the Velence Granite Formation in Velence Hills and to the carbonatic and organic-rich beds of the Ujfalu Formation in the foreland of Lake Velence. Until recently no observations and measurements were made regarding the radioactivity of the groundwater. Therefore, uranium, radium, and radon concentration measurements were carried out in the adjacent area and interpreted in flow system context. A total of 53 samples were taken from surface water as well as from groundwater. Alpha spectrometry applied on Nucfilm discs was used to measure the uranium (U-234, U-238) and radium (Ra-226) activity while radon (Rn-222) activity was determined by TriCarb 1000 TR liquid scintillation detection. Pressure-elevation profiles, hydraulic cross-sections, tomographic potential maps were compiled to understand the groundwater flow directions and regime characteristics in the wider area. The areal distribution of the activity concentration values was interpreted regarding the groundwater flow system, physicochemical parameters measured onsite and in the laboratory. Those areas can be delineated where according to the flow conditions and the related geochemical environment the mobility of the uranium or radium and thus elevated activity concentration can be expected in groundwater. The results of the study have proved that the areal variability of the natural radioactivity of the groundwater is strongly affected by the groundwater flow conditions along with geological features. This flow system approach and its methodology may facilitate the safe water management of drinking water supply systems.</p><p>This study was supported by the ÚNKP-17-4 and ÚNKP-18-3 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities and it has also received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 810980.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Age-dependent annual effective dose estimations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 222Rn from drinking water in Baling, Malaysia

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisar Ahmad ◽  
Jalil ur Rehman ◽  
Muhammad Rafique ◽  
Tabassum Nasir
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Natural Radioactivity ◽  
Annual Effective Dose ◽  
World Health ◽  
Hpge Detectors ◽  
The World ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Effective Doses ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Drinking Water Samples

Abstract Natural radioactivity and radon concentration were studied in drinking water samples from Baling area, Kedah, Malaysia, using HPGe and RAD-7 detectors, respectively. Average concentrations obtained for 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 222Rn were 44.2 ± 3.9, 38.1 ± 5.0, 140.9 ± 10.6 mBq l−1 and 5.7 ± 0.68 Bq l−1, respectively. Cumulative annual effective doses due to ingestion of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 222Rn for infants, children and adults were estimated to be 13.77, 2.857 and 2.581 μSv y−1, respectively. Average annual effective doses due to inhalation of radon released in the air during consumption and ingestion of drinking water were separately estimated to be 15.2 and 1.2 μSv y−1, respectively. A positive correlation (R2 = 0.87) was observed between 222Rn and 226Ra determined by RAD-7 and HPGe detectors, respectively. In this study, the estimated annual effective doses due to ingestion of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 222Rn for infants, children and adults were found to be below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits of 0.1 mSv y−1.

scholarly journals Natural radioactivity in drinking water in private wells in Finland

2005 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 556-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Vesterbacka ◽  
I. Mäkeläinen ◽  
H. Arvela
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Natural Radioactivity ◽  
Private Wells

scholarly journals PATH MODELLING ANALYSIS OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN DRINKING WATER AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
LISA MARTINS ◽  
ALCIDES PEREIRA ◽  
ALCINO OLIVEIRA ◽  
LUÍS SANCHES FERNANDES ◽  
FERNANDO PACHECO
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Natural Radioactivity ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Modelling Analysis ◽  
Path Modelling
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