Assessment of Chemical Parameters and Natural Radionuclides Concentrations in Carbonated Natural Mineral Water and Contribution to Radiation Dose

摘要

This study has great importance for assuring the quality of natural mineral waters especially regarding the radioactivity concentration: highlighted in the Council Directive 2009/54/EC of June 2009 and Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom of October 2013 on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters, laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption. Seasonal influence over the chemical composition due to long period of water sample collection was studied regarding the major-ion composition and possible rain infiltrations. In this regard, strong correlations were found between Ca 2 + ' 2 + 2 + ^{2+} , Mg 2 + ' 2 + 2 + ^{2+} and HCO 3 − ' ? 3 3 ? _{3}^{-} content for the present sample collection. The activity concentrations of gross alpha and gross beta, of 40 ' 40 40 ^{40} K and from natural decay chains of 238 ' 238 238 ^{238} U, 232 ' 232 232 ^{232} Th were determined, as well as the associated effective dose for these radionuclides. The results obtained for the effective doses calculated for an adult member in Romania, derived from the intake of naturally occurring radionuclides in water vary between: 1.24-2.08 ( upmu ' upmu upmu upmu Sv/yr) for 40 ' 40 40 ^{40} K; 0.90–3.45 for 238 ' 238 238 ^{238} U; 1.00–7.21 ( upmu ' upmu upmu upmu Sv/yr) for 232 ' 232 232 ^{232} Th and 11.24–46.00 ( upmu ' upmu upmu upmu Sv/yr) for 226 ' 226 226 ^{226} Ra. The obtained values are below the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) recommended reference levels.