²²⁶Ra and natural uranium in Bulgarian mineral waters

Abstract

A complex investigation on Bulgarian mineral waters from certain frequently used sources have been carried out. Specific activities of 226Ra and concentration levels of natural uranium in mineral waters samples were analyzed using nuclear and analytical methods. 226Ra is a naturally occurring radioisotope with a period of half live 1 600 years, which specific activity in water was determined through analysis of the daughter 222Rn. The measurements were carried out using a low-level liquid scintillation counting in a Packard Tri-Carb 2770 TR/SL liquid scintillation spectrometer. Uranium concentration was measured in water samples using a luminescent method. In addition to 226Ra and natural uranium, determination of gross alpha and beta activities of waters was made by means of the same liquid scintillation spectrometer. The concentrations values obtained were compared with data reported by other authors in different countries and with reference values accepted for drinking water. The expected annual effective doses for ingestion of natural uranium and 226Ra in the analysed waters were calculated.

Natural Radionuclides in Bottled Mineral Waters Consumed in Turkey and Their Contribution to Radiation Dose

“…However, BMW may contain many predominant dissolved natural radionuclides that cause health hazards. , Therefore, the radiological quality of mineral water bottled for commercial distribution, whose consumption is increasing year after year in the world, must be carefully and systematically controlled or ensured to be of low radioactivity. When the literature is viewed from this point of view, it is seen that, in recent years, there has been an increased worldwide interest in studies on natural radioactivity measurements in BMWs and extensive studies have been carried out in many countries. − ,,,− The available literature shows that there are only a few studies on the determination of activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in Turkish BMWs. Kopya et al measured the activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 137 Cs, and 40 K and gross α/β in 13 mineral water samples collected from six different provinces in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey.…”