Abstract
<p>Waters of Mt. Etna are the main source of drinking water for the local population and are also distributed in municipal supply systems to neighbouring areas. Radioactivity in underground waters and surrounding rocks from the eastern flank of Mt.Etnawas investigated on the basis of 9 water and 8 rocks samples from 12 localities altogether. Three samples were from water drainage galleries and six from water wells. All water intakes are used for consumption. Activity concentration of uranium isotopes <sup>234,238</sup>U, radium isotopes <sup>226,228</sup>Ra and radon <sup>222</sup>Rn were determined with the use different nuclear spectrometry techniques. The determination of uranium isotopes was carried out with the use of alpha spectrometry. The measurements of radium and radon activity concentration in water were performed with the use of a liquid scintillation technique. Additionally, rocks surrounding the intakes were examined with gamma spectrometry. All water samples showed uranium concentration above Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA), with the highest total uranium (<sup>234</sup>U + <sup>238</sup>U) activity concentration equal to 149.2±6 mBq/L. Conversely, all samples showed radium isotopes activity concentrations below MDA. Radon activity concentration was within the range from 2.91±0.36 to 21.21±1.10 Bq/L, hence these waters can be classified as low – radon waters. Gamma natural background of the rocks surrounding the water sampling sites was found on the same levels as other volcanic rocks of Italy.</p>
Highlights
There is a growing concern about the health effects produced by natural radioactivity in the environment
The results of the analyses of groundwater and volcanic rocks collected in the present survey for the detection of radionuclides are described relatively to uranium isotopes, radium and radon and reported in Table 2 and corresponding figures
Uranium The activity concentrations for uranium isotopes varied from 1.5±0.5 mBq/L to 71.0±5.7 mBq/L for 238U and from 2.0±0.6 to 78.6±5.7 mBq/L for 234U
Summary
There is a growing concern about the health effects produced by natural radioactivity in the environment. 3. Results and discussion The results of the analyses of groundwater and volcanic rocks collected in the present survey for the detection of radionuclides are described relatively to uranium isotopes, radium and radon and reported in Table 2 and corresponding figures.
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