Investigation of radioactive level of drinking water sources in the Upper Yangtze River of Chongqing city

摘要

The radioactivity and radiation levels in the Three Gorges reservoir area have been performed using gross alpha and beta measurements and dose calculation, respectively. Ranges of gross alpha and beta activities vary from 2 to 70 mBq/L and from 55 to 263 mBq/L, which are lower than that of the National and WHO permissible limits. The annual effective dose of residents is below the reference level of 0.1 mSv/y. The regional distribution characteristics of the gross alpha and beta is mainly caused by the local geological conditions. Suggestions on setting up long-term monitoring sites in the future are put forward.