Determination of the activity and the average annual dose of absorbed uranium and polonium in drinking water from Warsaw

Ilona Sekudewicz,Michał Gąsiorowski

doi:10.1007/s10967-018-6351-x

Ilona Sekudewicz, Michał Gąsiorowski

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6351-x

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Abstract

Uranium and polonium isotopes were measured in tap water and groundwater from the Warsaw area (Poland). The mean values of 210Po, 234U and 238U in surface intakes were 0.12, 3.91 and 2.75 mBq dm−3 and for deep water intakes were 0.25, 0.24 and 0.20 mBq dm−3, respectively. The annual dose absorbed as a result of the consumption of drinking water by a inhabitant was calculated on the basis of measurements of polonium and uranium activity. The calculated value is only a negligible part (approximately 0.02%) of the dose taken from natural sources, which is estimated at 2.4 mSv year−1.

Highlights

The occurrence of the radioactive isotopes 238U, 234U, 210Po and their decay products in water is a natural phenomenon
The indicative dose (ID) in water intended for human consumption should be no more than 100 μSv year−1
We evaluate the activity of 238U, 234U and 210Po in drinking water of the Warsaw agglomeration (Poland) and try to characterize uranium and polonium activities in water from different sources

Summary

Introduction

The occurrence of the radioactive isotopes 238U, 234U, 210Po and their decay products in water is a natural phenomenon Their concentration in groundwater depends on the quantity and seasonal diversity of precipitation, the infiltration time and the type of rocks through which the water flows etc. We evaluate the activity of 238U, 234U and 210Po in drinking water of the Warsaw agglomeration (Poland) and try to characterize uranium and polonium activities in water from different sources. Based on these measurements, we calculated doses absorbed by the average citizen of Warsaw and compared them with norms and data from other cities. The obtained results have made it possible to verify that the activity of radionuclides in water samples is not higher than the reference values described in the EU directive

Materials and methods

Sampling procedure

Results

Discussion and conclusions