Abstract
Reliable determination of 226Ra content in drinking water, surface water and groundwater is required for radiological health-risk assessment of populations and radiation-dose calculations after ingestion and inhalation. This study aimed to determine 226Ra presence in the untreated water samples on a liquid scintillation counter via Cherenkov radiation detection. Cherenkov counting is a faster, simpler, less expensive technique than other commonly used methods for 226Ra determination. Step-by-step optimization of this technique on the Quantulus detector is presented in this paper. Improvement of detection limit/efficiency in the presence of sodium salicylate was investigated in this study. The main parameters of the method obtained were detection efficiency 15.87 (24)% and detection limit 0.415 Bq/L achieved for 1000 min of counting in 20 mL of sample volume. When 1 g of sodium salicylate was added, efficiency increased to 38.1 (5)%, with a reduction in the detection limit to 0.248 Bq/L for 500 min of counting. A satisfactory precision level of Cherenkov counting was obtained, the results deviating between 5% and 20% from reference values. The precision and accuracy of the Cherenkov counting technique were compared to liquid scintillation counting (EPA Method 913.0 for radon determination) and gamma spectrometry (the direct method for the untreated water samples on HPGe spectrometer). An overview of the advantages/disadvantages of each technique is elaborated in this paper.
Highlights
Drinking water may contain radioactive isotopes that pose potential risks to human health
The aim of the paper was to investigate the detection of 226 Ra in water via Cherenkov radiation detection for monitoring of untreated water samples, and for that purpose, calibration samples and intercomparison samples were prepared with distilled water spiked with 226 Ra solution
We report that significant improvement in detection efficiency, and lower detection limits, were achieved with the addition of sodium salicylate to the counting vial
Summary
Drinking water may contain radioactive isotopes that pose potential risks to human health. Isotopes from the primordial uranium-238 series are the predominant contribututors to irradiation risks due to the ingestion of drinking water [1]. Determination of 226 Ra in natural water is needed to assess the dose due to ingestion and the properties of 226 Ra deposition in the bones and the urinary tract. It has been demonstrated [2] that mortality rate due to bone cancer significantly increased in the areas where tap water contained 226 Ra in concentrations greater than 110 mBq/L.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
