Assessment of Uranium Concentrations in Drinking Water Supply Sources Based on the Results of Laboratory Analysis of 238U and 234U Specific Activities and Laboratory Determination of Uranium According to GOST R 54499–2011

Abstract

Introduction. The cause of toxicity and damaging effects of uranium and its compounds on the body lies in radioactivity of uranium isotopes and their decay products as well as their high chemical activity. In view of the above, we conducted parallel studies of specific activities and concentrations of uranium in household and drinking water supply sources. Materials and methods. We studied specific activities of uranium-234 and uranium-238 in the centralized drinking water supply sources of the Republic of Khakassia exceeding control levels in terms of specific total alpha activity (Aα) and converted them to mass concentrations of uranium. Parallel analyses of uranium concentrations in water using the luminescent method according to GOST R 54499–2011 were performed. Results. Our assessment of the radionuclide composition of centralized drinking water supply sources showed that Aα levels exceeding control levels were largely due to natural radionuclides uranium-238 (contribution up to 25%) and uranium-234 (contribution up to 69%). Based on the specific activities of uranium-234 and uranium-238, we estimated masses (concentrations) of uranium in water ranging from 0.007 to 0.06 mg/L depending on the water source. In the parallel tests of water samples according to GOST R 54499–2011, uranium concentrations ranged from 0.007 to 0.061 mg/L. Conclusions. The uranium concentrations in the republican centralized drinking water supply sources estimated on the basis of uranium-234 and uranium-238 specific activities differed from the concentrations of uranium measured by the luminescent method according to GOST R 54499–2011 within the error of the test method. In some settlements uranium concentrations in water exceeded the hygienic standard of 0.015 mg/L (GN 2.1.5.2280–07).