Abstract
This paper presents information on the gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations of two hundred twenty-six groundwater samples collected by gas flow proportional counters in southern Vietnam. The gross alpha results in the water samples ranged from 0.024 to 0.748 Bq L−1 with a mean of 0.183 ± 0.034 Bq L−1, and the gross beta results in the water samples ranged from 0.027–0.632 Bq L−1 with a mean of 0.152 ± 0.015 Bq L−1. The values obtained in this work were compared with those previously published for various regions or countries. Next, untreated and treated groundwater samples were analyzed to assess their influences on the treatment process. The results showed that there were differences in the minimum detection concentrations and the mean activity values between the untreated and treated groundwater samples (The p-value of the mean comparison tests is significant with p < 0.05). In both sample groups, there was a strong positive correlation of the gross alpha versus the gross beta results (r > 0.6). This means that among the radionuclides, the major sources of beta radiation are uranium and thorium decay series radionuclides. Finally, the annual effective dose for adults (>17 years) was calculated based on the assumption that major radionuclides have the highest effective dose conversion factors. In general, the results for Pb-210, Ra-226, and Ra-228 were observed to be lower than the recommended reference values established by the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency, except for the value of Po-210.
Highlights
Www.nature.com/scientificreports method is the first step of radiological characterization in the field of radioecology, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications
The minimum detectable concentrations (MDCs) of gross alpha and gross beta were calculated in Eq (3)
The gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations were determined for 108 untreated groundwater and 118 treated groundwater samples, which were collected in southern Vietnam
Summary
Www.nature.com/scientificreports method is the first step of radiological characterization in the field of radioecology, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications. Its major advantages are its low cost and simplicity[9,20]. The gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations of two hundred twenty-six groundwater samples in southern Vietnam were determined from untreated and treated samples. The annual effective doses of groundwater ingestion for the adult age group were evaluated and compared to the reference dose recommended for radionuclides in drinking water. No study has been performed in this region on groundwater radioactivity
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