Activity concentration and dose estimation of Ra-226, Th-232, K-40 and Cs-137 in drinking water of selected areas of Punjab, Pakistan

摘要

Radioactivity of naturally occurring (Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40) and anthropogenic (Cs-137) radioactive nuclides wasmeasured in 29 potable ground and surfacewater samples of Punjab, Pakistan. The results showed average activity concentrations for Ra-226, Th-232, K-40 and Cs-137 as 1.09, 0.55, 16.17 and 0.40 Bql(-1), respectively. Cs-137 was detected in only a few samples. The obtained results showed that, in general, activity concentrations of radionuclides (Th-232 and Cs-137) in drinking water samples did not exceed WHO recommendations. Ra-226 in the majority of samples exceeded WHO drinking water guidelines. The estimated committed effective dose due to intake of the water for three age-groups considered (< 1 y, 2-7 y and >= 17 y) was below the ICRP permissible limit (0.1 mSvy(-1)) except for Ra-226 and K-40.