Gross alpha radioactivity and chemical trace element content of thermal waters measured by SSNTD and XRF methods

Abstract

We have developed a new method to study the gross alpha activity concentration of thermal waters. The method is based on applying track etch, (CR-39) alpha autoradiography on solid tablets prepared from the dry mineral residue of these natural waters. The same tablets served for additional chemical element analysis performed by XRF method. The two methods were applied in a complex study of 31 thermal wells situated in the NE part of the Great Hungarian Plain. From the comparison of the gross alpha activity concentration and the chemical element contents it appeared that the alpha activity well correlates with the calcium and strontium content of the samples. As they are chemically homologues of the radium it strongly suggests that the alpha radioactivity of thermal waters correspond to their 226Ra content. This idea is supported by the results of independent 222Rn measurements in the same water samples performed by another novel “track etch radon monitor in a glass vessel”, method.