ABSTRACT
A new two-phase media method was developed for determination of (226)Ra activity in water. The method was calibrated by applying 7 standard (226)Ra waters with known activities. The method detects alphas in two media; 80 ml of water in a glass bottle with air or a non-polar liquid such as olive oil on top of the water. Alpha particles from (226)Ra, (222)Rn and progeny were detected by two polycarbonate track detectors (PCTDs) which were mounted on a holder inserted in the bottle so that one PCTD is placed in water and the other in air or in the non-polar liquid. The bottles were hermetically sealed and kept for 40 or 48 d. The PCTDs in the bottles shaken every other day enhanced the sensitivity of the measurements. The Calibration Factors for the standard (226)Ra waters, air and olive oil above water are, respectively, (7.85 ± 0.25) × 10(-3), (7.94 ± 0.13) × 10(-3) and 3.02 × 10(-2) tracks.cm(-2) kBq(-1) h(-1) m(3).
