Measurement of Tritium Activity Concentrations in Water Samples of Al-Amara City in Misan Province-Iraq, using Liquid Scintillation Counter

Abstract

This research work aims to measure the concentration of tritium activity in the Tigris river and samples of tap water collected from different places of Al-Amara city in Misan province using a Tri-Carb 3110TR liquid scintillation counter (LSC) and to calculate an annual effective dose due to the ingestion of water samples. The mean values of the tritium activity concentrations measured in the water samples were 0.562 ± 0.126 Bq/L (4.763 ± 1.075TU) and 0.521 ± 0.060 Bq/L (4.422 ± 0.512TU) for Tigris River and tap water samples, respectively. The mean annual effective doses are given to the infants, children and adults because of the intake of the tritium were (252.95 ± 57.116) ×10–5 μSv/y and (234.81 ± 27.222) ×10–5 μSv/y, (354.13 ± 79.962) ×10–5 μSv/y and (328.734 ± 38.111) ×10–5 μSv/y, and (738.614 ± 166.778) ×10–5 μSv/y and (685.645 ± 79.489) ×10–5 μSv/y for Tigris river and tap water samples, respectively. The results indicated that the concentrations of tritium activity in measured water samples have been found below the limit of 100 Bq/L, which is the recommended measure by the European Commission for drinking water, and the recommended annual effective dose by the World Health Organization for the members of the public was much less than the individual dose criterion of 100 μSv/y. Hence, the waters of the Tigris river and tap in the study area (Al-Amara city) are not threatened to cause health risks because of tritium concentration.