The concentration of 238U and the levels of gross radioactivity in surface waters of the Van Lake (Turkey)

摘要

Gross α and gross β activities and 238U concentrations were determined in 18 surface water samples collected from Van Lake. The instrumentations used to count the gross α and gross β activities and to determine the 238U concentrations were α/β counter of the multi-detector low background system (PIC-MPC-9604) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (Thermo Scientific Element 2), respectively. Concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 0.021 Bq L−1 and from 0.111 to 2.794 Bq L−1 were observed for the gross α and β activities in surface waters, respectively. For all samples the gross β activities were higher than the corresponding gross α activities. The results indicated that the gross α radioactive contamination in water samples was lower than recommended values for the guideline of drinking waters and most of the gross β activities in water samples were higher than those in the same procedure. The 238U concentrations ranged from 74.49 to 113.2 μg L−1 in surface waters. The obtained results have showed that 238U concentrations are higher than guideline values for uranium.