Uranium, radium and K-40 isotopes in bottled mineral waters from Outer Carpathians, Poland

摘要

Radioactivity content in commercially bottled mineral waters from Outer Carpathians was investigated on the basis of 28 samples. Activity concentration results for radium isotopes Ra-226.228, uranium isotopes U-234.238 and isotopic ratios U-234/U-238 were determined. The correlations between investigated isotopes and calculated potassium K-40 ions dissolved in water were carried out. The results show a correlation between TDS (total dissolved solids) values and dissolved radionuclides. High correlation coefficients were observed between total radium content and 40K. The isotopic ratio of U-234/U-238 varies in the range from 1.6 to 7 in all investigated waters which means that there is no radioactive equilibrium between the parent nuclide U-238 and its daughter U-234. The effective radiation dose coming from studied radium and uranium radionuclides consumed with mineral water from the Outer Carpathians obtained by a statistical Pole is equal to 4.3 mu Sv/year (581/year water consumption) and do not exceed the permissible limit equal to 100 mu Sv/year. Assuming 0.51 consumption per day, i.e. 182.51/year, the effective dose is equal to 13.4 mu Sv/year. what is still below the unit. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.