Determination of 226Ra concentration in bottled mineral water and assessment of effective doses, a survey in Turkey

There is a rapid increase worldwide in the consumption of mineral waters which may contain different level of radioactive elements, especially [226]Ra, in addition to varying amounts of beneficial salts. Therefore, a comprehensive study was planned and carried out in order to determine concentration of [226] Ra natural radionuclide in bottled mineral waters that commercially available in Marmara Region of Turkey. The method used for [226] Ra concentration analysis bases on the measurement of Radon [[222] Rn] coming from [226] Ra dissolved in the water. The measurements were performed using RAD 7, a solid state alpha detector, with RAD H2O accessory manufactured by DURRIDGE COMPANY Inc. The [226] Ra concentration in mineral waters was found to vary from <0.074 to 0.625 Bql[-1] with an average value of 0.267 Bql[-1].The committed effective doses due to ingestion of 226Ra from the one year consumption of these waters were estimated to range from 10.8 to 90 microSvy[-1], from 9 to 75 microSvy[-1] and from 3.15 to 26.25 microSvy[-1], for infants, children and adults, respectively. The results obtained in this study indicate that the committed effective doses are below the WHO [World Health Organization] recommended reference level of 100 microSvy[-1]

Uranium, radium and radon exhalation studies in geological samples belonging to some areas of punjab, using track etching technique.

With a view to prospect the uranium, radium and radon concentration and related health risk assessments in areas of Muktsar and Ferozepur districts in Punjab, the fission track registration technique has been used for the analysis of water and soil samples. Uranium content in water ranged from 5.47 to 10.19 microg/l(-1) and 6.28 to 11.74 microg/l(-1) for Muktsar and Ferozepur respectively. Uranium content in soil samples of Muktsar and Ferozepur ranged from 1.14 to 1.90 mg/kg(-1) and 1.26 to 2.44 mg/kg(-1) respectively. Radium concentration in these soil samples has been found to vary from 3.97 to 15.94 bq/kg(-1) and 7.24 to 24.14 bq/kg(-1) for Muktsar and Ferozepur respectively. The radon exhalation values were calculated in terms of area (E(A)) and mass (E(M)). The values of E(M) ranged from 4.9 to 20.6 (mbqkg(-1) hr(-1)) for Muktsar and 9.4 to 31.3 (mbqkg(-1)hr(-1)) for Ferozepur and values of E(A) ranged from 173 to 728 (mbqm(-2)hr(-1)) for Muktsar and 330 to 1102 (mbqm(-2)hr(-1)) for Ferozepur district. These values in general are low and not significant from health hazard point of view. The values of uranium concentration in water samples of these areas are lower than those reported for soil and water samples of Himachal Pradesh. These values are also lower than those reported by Singh et al. for the rocks belonging to uranium and copper mines of Bihar.