Radioactivity of Bottled Water from Trade Network in Kyiv

Abstract

In 2018-2019, we examined the radioactivity of 40 samples of bottled water of popular brands produced both in Ukraine and abroad, which were purchased in one Kyiv supermarket. The first stage of the study provided for the identification of total alpha and total beta activities. In the case of excessing their regulated values, we proceeded to the determination of the content of radium-226 and natural mixture of uranium isotopes. The study results evidenced that total alpha and total beta activities of low mineralization water do not exceed the regulated values. Total alpha activity exceeded the regulated value of 0.1 Bq/l ten times in specific cases and total beta-activity exceeded the value of 1.0 Bq/l almost three times for the majority of high mineralization water brands.
 The results of measuring total alpha and total beta activities depending on time elapsed from the moment the sample was prepared to the start of the measurements showed an increase in the alpha activity over time is typical for individual water samples, which indicates the accumulation of radioactivity from radium-226 decay products. However, the results of measuring the activity of radium-226 and a natural mixture of uranium isotopes did not reveal cases of exceeding regulated levels, which allows considering water of all brands suitable in terms of radionuclide content.
 Assessment of radiation doses from consumption of bottled water containing the measured values of radium-226 and natural mixture of uranium isotopes did not reveal exceeding regulated value of 0.1 mSv/year. Only one bottled water brand was an exception, since the estimated radiation dose for it was 0.2 mSv/year for the category of children aged 12 to 17 years with 98 % of its value due to radium-226. Such a radiation dose value was received assuming an annual consumption of 1.5 liters per day.