Low-background Gamma Spectrometry Research Articles

Can metals and radionuclides in Shiveluch (Kamchatka) volcanic ash affect human health?

Volcanic eruption is associated with the release of large volumes of pollutants in the environment, which can pose a risk to humans and other living organisms. The elemental and radioisotope composition of ash released during the Shiveluch Volcano eruption in 2023 was analyzed using ICP-MS and low-background gamma spectrometry. The ash consisted of 59% SiO2, 16.7% Al2O3, 5.3% CaO, 4.6 % Na2O, 4.5% Fe2O3, 1.4% K2O, 0.48% TiO2, 0.17% P2O5, 0.15% S, 0.078% MnO and 44 trace elements. Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index were calculated in order to evaluate the potential health risks to children and adults due to exposure to contaminants via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact. All values were below the unit, indicating a low probability of non-carcinogenic and cancerogenic risk occurrence in target groups. The average activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides were 350, 12.4 and 4.84 Bq/kg for 40K, 226Ra and 232Th. Radiological indices, including external and internal risk assessment, radium equivalent activity, annual effective dose, gamma index, and excess lifetime cancer risk were calculated to estimate the radiological hazard for the population. The values of all indices were below the recommended safety limits, indicating a low level of hazard for the exposed population.

Evaluation of natural radioactivity and assessment of dose increase due to the use of fertilizers produced in Poland

Some types of fertilizers may contain various amounts of natural radionuclides like 238U, 232Th, 226Ra, 40K (Kuzmanoviæ et al. in J Radioanal Nucl Chem 331(12):5825–5834, 2022. 10.1007/s10967-022-08646-x; H Hamamo et al. in J Radioanal Nucl Chem 194(2): 331–336, 1995. 10.1007/BF02038431; M García-León et al. in J Radioanal Nucl Chem 197(1): 173–184, 1995. 10.1007/BF02040229). In this study 16 samples of commercially available fertilizers produced in Poland were selected for preliminary radiological evaluation. The samples were measured by means of low background gamma spectrometry. The results showed high concentrations of 40K in potassium and multinutrient fertilizers (2.3–13.8 kBq kg−1), and relatively high concentrations of uranium and radium isotopes in phosphate fertilizers. The obtained results allowed to calculate radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate increase and increase in annual effective dose equivalent.

Spectroscopic performance evaluation and modeling of a low background HPGe detector using GEANT4

Low background gamma spectrometry employing HPGe detectors is a sensitive technique for measuring low-level radioactivity in environmental applications, material screening, and for rare decay searches. This work presents spectroscopic performance evaluation and modeling of a low background measurement setup developed at IIT Ropar in Punjab, India, to measure trace natural radioactive elements, with a particular interest in studying low-level radioactivity in soil and/or rock samples to generate specific inputs for low background experiments. The performance test and characterization of a low background cryocooled HPGe detector with relative efficiency of ∼33% have been carried out. An effective detector model has been developed using GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulation to determine the response of the detector over an energy range of 80.9–1408 keV and compared with the experimental performance of the detector. The response of the detector obtained using Monte Carlo simulations agrees reasonably well within 93% level of confidence, indicating only 7% deviation in the comparison. The present setup offers improved detection limits of primordial radionuclides (U/Th and K) to measure radioactive contamination in environmental matrices, which has been used elsewhere (Thakur, 2023).

Radiological Screening of Bottom Sediments of The Tisza River: High Mountain Part

The results of the radiological study of the sediments from the sources of the Tisza River in the highlands of the Carpathians are presented. For the first time, data were obtained on the structure of sediments' natural activity and its transformation during the altitude lowering of the riverbed lowering for 400 m. The sediment samples were taken from 12 sampling points and investigated under low-background gamma spectrometry experiments. The content of natural, in particular, daughter isotopes of the U / Th series, 40K, and artificial (137Cs) radionuclides in the sludge was controlled. They can serve as markers of the studied areas' spatial, geochemical, and anthropogenic characteristics. Standards of the content of the radionuclides - marks along the Tisza riverbed and in the vicinity of its tributary rivers have been established. Significant changes in the range of U/Th components under the lowering of the Tisza riverbed are shown, indicating geochemical anomalies in these areas. The cluster and factor analysis methods were used to study the stability of statistical indicators based on the radionuclide content in the highlands of the Tisza River and the nature of latent factors that determine their statistical equivalency and grouping conditions. The radiological research data in the sediments' samples allows for estimating the abundance of chemical elements U, Th, and K as important geochemical and geothermal characteristics of its catchment area. The importance and prospects of radiological monitoring from the origin and in all the Carpathian basins of the Tisza River are discussed, given its importance for the formation of water resources in Eastern Europe.

Low-background gamma spectrometry and neutron diffraction in the study of stony meteorites

Non-destructive characterisation of meteorites is here performed on a stony meteorite. The identification of the sample is performed by low-background γ-ray spectrometry in order to determine the presence of certain cosmogenic radionuclides, whereas a mineralogical phase quantitative analysis is carried out by Time-of-Flight Neutron Diffraction (ToF-ND) on the sample as-it-is. The protocol is then validated by applying micro-Raman Spectroscopy (μRS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). This paper is focused on γ-ray spectrometry, proving the meteoric origin of the sample, and it also presents some preliminary results of ToF-ND.

Radioactive Isotopes as a Tool for Pairing Identification of the HAH 346—Hammadah al Hamra 346—Ordinary Chondrites from Two Separate Find Areas

In this study, low-background gamma spectrometry was used to confirm the identity of a set of ordinary chondrites found in 2018 and 2019, by different expeditions, in a part of the Al-Hamada al-Hamra desert, in the region of Al-Dżabal al-Gharbi, in Libya. Ten specimens of ordinary chondrites from two different campaigns were investigated. An analysis was carried out using a unique gamma spectrometry system to obtain the optimal measurement conditions for the quantitative identification of the radioactive isotopes. Chondrite radiometric studies enabled a detailed analysis of the activities of radioactive isotopes—the short-lived 22Na, 54Mn, 60Co, and long-lived 26Al, 40K. For most isotopes, the activities are expected to be similar for ordinary chondrites with the same irradiation history. Short-lived radionuclide concentrations can be considered, as a specific fingerprint of the chondrite terrestrial age, to confirm whether meteorites originate from a single fall. The HaH 346 group of chondrites was classified in February 2021. The data sets have been analyzed based on multivariate chemometric techniques, including K-means, PCA, and clustering analysis, to derive essential information and confirm similarities or significant differences between the studied specimens.

SOIL AND ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL CONTAMINATION AT THE TERRITORIES OF INFLUENCE OF FORMER URANIUM PRODUCTION FACILITIES “PRIDNIPROVSKY CHEMICAL PLANT”

Problems Statement and Purpose. The territory of the former Uranium production facility “Prydniprovsky Chemical Plant” (“PChP”) are located in Kamensky city, Dnipropetrovsk region, occupy the area of the upper and lower terraces of the Dnieper River (more than 300 hectares), where the remained legacy facilities and residues of the former uranium ore processing are located. After 1991 the production of Uranium concentrates ceased without remediated. Thus, up to 40 million tons of radioactive and chemical mineral residues of uranium production have accumulated within its industrial site and at the adjacent territories. Systemic monitoring studies began only in 2005. The studied environment characteristics were soils contamination, the tailings facilities where Uranium ore processing residues had accumulated, as well as atmospheric contamination by airborne aerosols. The purpose of this study stage is a comprehensive analysis of the spatial distribution of radionuclides of Uranium series at the legacy site territory and factors that can lead to a significant expansion of the contaminated area and scale of chronic environmental pollution under the influence of atmospheric transport and human exposure by inhalation. Data & Methods. The field sampling and analytical methods (gamma, alpha spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting methods) for determination of radionuclides of U-Th decay series were in use for this study. Soils samples from the top layers (0–5 cm) and gamma-dose rate surveys performed. A two-week continues integrated sampling data on the radioactive aerosols ambient activity concentrations and radioactive atmospheric fallout from 7-th locations at the legacy site and adjacent areas used for the environment radioactivity site-specific analyses. For determination of radionuclides in the environment samples (aerosols, soils and in the raw ore mineral residues) the low background gamma-spectrometry method with HPGe detectors have been in use. The content of metals associated with aerosols measured on filters using atomic absorption spectrometry methods. The data analysis for longterm series of observations (2005–2017) carried out using statistical methods. The compliance environment contamination analyses for the legacy site were carried comparing averaged observed data with the established safety criteria and regional background observation data. Results. The main current sources of radiation emission to the environment at the legacy site are open dispersed residues of Uranium production accumulated at the tailings facilities and at the former U‑extraction infrastructure. The spatial analyses of the gamma dose rate at the U‑production legacy site and its soil chemical contamination showed that about 30% of its territory requires decontamination. It is shown that the effects of aerosol radioactive particles dispersion from the contaminated “hot spots” at the territory such as tailings and former U‑production infrastructure are local and do not extend significantly beyond the industrial site. The greatest effects of wind re-suspension and propagation observed during the period of earthworks during construction of the U‑tailings covers and residues management at the contaminated facilities. In worst cases during earthwork at the U‑tailings facilities specific activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra associated with aerosols (dust) nearby the tailings facilities may exceed 100 times above background radioactivity concentrations level observed at the distance about 10 km from the legacy site in the Kamyanske city. However, the air contamination with radioactive dusts in the worst meteorological conditions (dry windy period observation) did not exceed safe level of air concentrations according national radiation safety standards of Ukraine. The content of metals associated with aerosol particles can also increase by 2–10 times, but also their transfer by wind at the site is local and does not have a significant impact on residential areas of the city. Significant inhalation risks may arise during the dismantling of production equipment and buildings of former uranium production. Therefore, during implementation of any engineering remediation works, it is advisable to provide dust suppression control and to remove all dispersed materials from the former Uranium extraction before dismantling of the contaminated buildings and U‑production equipment. The introduced methods of air sampling at the PChP legacy site and low background analytical methods for radionuclide determination in the laboratories allow to recommend them for site specific environment monitoring programs bringing the radioactive contamination PChP site in a safe state

Investigation of neutron shielding materials for low-background gamma spectrometry

In gamma spectrometers located at ground-level or in shallow-underground laboratories, muon-induced neutrons contribute significantly to the background. We studied several neutron-shielding materials including water, pure polyethylene (PPE), borated polyethylene (BPE) and lithiated polyethylene (LPE) positioned inside the lead shield. Neutrons are scattered and absorbed inside these materials, however, sequential (n,n′γ), (n,γ) and (n,α) reactions generate gamma emissions. The resulting background increased by 35.9% for water and 37.6% for PPE. For BPE, the background increased by 11.3% only and it decreased by 9.4% for LPE, owing to the absorption of neutrons by boron and lithium, respectively.

Early diagenesis of radium 226 and radium 228 in lacustrine sediments influenced by former mining sites

Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive element commonly found at low levels in natural systems such as lacustrine or marine sediments. Anthropogenic activities including former uranium mining activities can lead to the dissemination of radium isotopes having high radiological toxicities, which potentially threaten the safety of nearby environments. Although radium mobility in oxidized environments is known to be largely governed by sorption/desorption onto Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides and coprecipitation with sulfate minerals (e.g. barite), little is known regarding its behavior under reducing conditions, which are the conditions typically encountered in organic-rich systems such as wetlands and lake sediments.The present study aims at understanding the behavior of long-lived radium isotopes (226Ra and 228Ra), during early diagenesis of lake sediments contaminated by former uranium mining activities. Solid and pore water concentrations of 226Ra and 228Ra were determined using ultra low background gamma spectrometry, which allowed improvement of detection limits and measurement accuracy.This study shows that the downcore distribution of radium isotopes is closely related to the reductive dissolution of iron and manganese oxyhydroxides below the sediment-water interface. The resulting diffusive fluxes of 226Ra and 228Ra (4.1 10−25 and 4.7 10−28 mol cm−2.s−1) are however significantly lower than other radium-impacted environments, such as uranium mill tailings pond and phosphate industry-impacted sediments, and are similar to those reported for natural marine environments. Hence, in the reduced lake sediments of Saint-Clement, the major fraction of radium is trapped by the solid phase, while early diagenesis only induces a slight mobility of this radioelement.

Destructive and Nondestructive Determination of <sup>226</sup>Ra and <sup>228</sup>Ra in Drinking Water by Gamma Spectrometry

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) mandates that the drinking water should be monitored for 226Ra and 228Ra isotopes and establishes the Maximum Contaminant Level of 185 mBq/L (5 pCi·L-1) for the sum. In addition, SDWA regulates the Detection Limit (DL) of 37.0 mBq/L (1 pCi/L) for each isotope. The purpose of this work is to develop a working method for the determination of radium isotopes in drinking water satisfying the regulatory requirements of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by utilizing our extensive experience in low-background gamma spectrometry at this laboratory. Two versions of the method were studied: destructive and non-destructive. Destructive method used the BaSO4 coprecipitation as well as 133Ba tracer for chemical recovery. We have used three gamma spectrometers: low-background 102% and 134% efficient with top muon guards, as well as an ultralow-background 140% efficient with full muon guard. We obtained a range of DLs from 5.3 to 22.6 mBq/L for 226Ra and from 7.4 to 30.4 mBq/L for 228Ra using the destructive method. For non-destructive method, the DL range was 26.0 to 26.9 mBq/L for 226Ra and 27.6 to 28.6 mBq/L for 228Ra using the 140% detector. To verify the methods, 7 to 10 laboratory control samples were spiked with both 226Ra and 228Ra at two different activities of 37.0 and 185 mBq/L. The results were evaluated by performing a combined location/variance chi-square test at a right-tail significance of 0.01 (99% Confidence Level), as stipulated by EPA. The verification results passed the chi-square tests at both activity levels. The destructive method can be accomplished using low-background gamma spectrometry, whereas non-destructive method requires ultralow-background gamma spectrometry.

Dating the Anthropocene in deep-sea sediments: How much carbon is buried in the Irminger Basin?

Evaluation of biogeochemical processes in Anthropocene deep-sea sediments require accurate dating techniques. Here we show the results of an approach using high resolution low level background gamma spectrometry with two simultaneous hyper-pure germanium (HPGe) detectors. The quantitative role of the deepest zones (>3000 m depth) of the Irminger Basin (Subpolar North Atlantic Ocean) as a carbon sink during the Anthropocene is evaluated combining a chronology based in the natural radionuclide 210Pb with sedimentological analysis and elemental composition. The average sedimentation rate of the central Irminger is 1.28 ± 0.18 mm·yr−1, with a mean weighted flux to the sediment for inorganic and organic carbon of 46 ± 15 g·Cinorg·m−2·yr−1 and 8 ± 1 g·Corg·m−2·yr−1. The biogenic fraction of the mass flux is increased since the XXth century. The contribution of the deepest zones of the Irminger Basin to the Anthropocene carbon sequestration in the North Atlantic Ocean is considerable at basin-scale.

Formation of 107Cd radionuclide impurities during 18F production

Cd isotopes (107Cd and 109Cd) are generated from the silver target body during the bombardment of [18O]water in the routine production of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose ([18F]FDG) for PET (Positron Emission Tomography) diagnosis. Cadmium isotopes contribute significantly to the total activity of generated impurities and, due to being potentially radiotoxic to living organisms, they should be effectively reduced from FDG to prevent accidental injection of even small concentrations into patients. Purification of the final [18F]FDG can be based on a set of columns, fulfilling various functions in the cleaning process. To assess cadmium impurities and the efficiency of the purification process, a low background gamma spectrometry system with high resolution has been applied.Even activity of 3.5 kBq and 290 kBq has been measured on QMA (Sep-Pak Light Accell Plus QMA) columns for 109Cd and 107Cd isotopes, respectively. 107Cd activity in the five column set was higher than that of 109Cd. The rate of 18F production process was about 1 GBq/min, while that of 107Cd and 109Cd radionuclides was about 4.2 kBq/min and 50 Bq/min respectively.The same purification efficiency of both isotopes has been obtained at each step of the process. The production rate of 107Cd and 109Cd radionuclides was insignificant compared to the 18F production rate. Therefore [18F]FDG final product for use in injections before PET diagnostics was efficiently purified from cadmium radionuclide impurities.

Recovery of ilmenite mud as an additive in commercial Portland cements.

This work is focused on the manufacture of commercial cement using as additive ilmenite mud, a waste generated during TiO2 pigment production. The cements were produced by adding different proportions of mud (2.5, 5 and 10wt%) to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The ilmenite mud and the ilmenite mud cements (IMCs) were characterised physico-chemically by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Moreover, the technological properties of the IMCs were evaluated and compared with a reference material (OPC). Since waste from the TiO2 industry is classified as a NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material), the concentrations of radionuclides were measured by high-resolution low-background gamma and alpha spectrometry techniques. Finally, the TCLP leaching test (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure, USEPA), the radiological index ("I") and the Ra equivalent concentration were also calculated to evaluate the environmental risks. As a final conclusion, it can be pointed out that the addition of ilmenite mud to OPC plays a beneficial role since it reduces the heat of hydration, the final setting time, the expansion and the linear retraction compared to standard OPC. The compression strength improves with the addition of up to 5wt% mud. Moreover, the environmental impact of IMC2.5 and IMC5 can be considered negligible.

A set of analytical methods for the estimation of elemental and grain-size composition of volcanic ash

A combined approach to the analysis of volcanic ash (VA) was proposed. Ash particles were separated by size using a combination of vibration sieving on sieves (140, 70, 40 μm) and field-flow fractionation in a rotating coiled column (for separation of nano- and submicron particles). Initial samples and obtained fractions were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and static light scattering. Their elemental composition was determined using ICP-MS and ICP-AES methods. The radionuclide composition of the VA was studied by the low-background gamma spectrometry. The studies were carried out by the example of ashes from Puyehue volcano, the Puyehue Cordon Caulle volcanic group, Andes (Santiago, eruption on June, 2011), which were taken immediately after eruption and after first rain. It was shown that up to 15% of major elements (such as P, Ca, and К) and trace elements (such as Be, Hg, Tl, As, Sb, and Bi) could be extracted from the ash by rain and migrate into environment. It was also found that the content of radionuclides (U235, Th234, Pb214, Bi214, Be7) after rain decreases by 30–40%. Of special interest are ash nanoparticles (up to 200 nm), in which the contents of Cu, Pb, Tl, Bi, Sn, As, and Sb are over an order of magnitude higher than the bulk contents of these elements in the ash. This regularity was found in samples taken both prior to and after rain. The proposed methodology of fractionation, study, and analysis of ash particles may be applied for a wide range of soil, ash, and dust samples of different nature.

Gamma emitters in atmospheric precipitation in Krakow (Southern Poland) during the years 2005–2015

The results of the sum of dry and wet activity deposition for naturally occurring 7Be, 210Pb, 40K, 22Na and anthropogenic 137Cs radionuclides in Krakow (Southern Poland) for the samples collected over 10 years (from August 2005 to July 2015) are presented and discussed. The radionuclides were determined using low background gamma spectrometry with HPGe detectors. Additionally, in this paper there are shown the results of activity concentrations in water from air precipitation for 7Be, 210Pb, 22Na, 40K and 137Cs radioisotopes from the period of 7 years (from August 2008 to July 2015). For all these series the statistical analysis including Spearman correlations, effects of seasonal variation and multiple regression models were conducted. After excluding two months from 2011 affected by the Fukushima accident, high Spearman correlation factors (R > 0.5) for activity deposition were noticed for the pair of the cosmogenic radionuclides 7Be and 22Na (R = 0.508) and between 210Pb and 7Be (R = 0.570). High correlation was noted between activity deposition and amount of precipitation for 7Be (R = 0.677). The seasonal correlations between 7Be–22Na, 40K–137Cs, 210Pb–137Cs and 7Be–210Pb were investigated and the highest correlation coefficient R = 0.731 for the 40K–137Cs pair was in the spring season. High correlations were observed also between 210Pb and 7Be for autumn (R = 0.594), 40K–137Cs in summer (R = 0.582), 7Be–22Na in spring (R = 0.635) and 210Pb–137Cs in autumn (R = 0.672). The multiple regression approach showed the interesting difference in scavenging mechanisms of cosmogenic and terrestrial radionuclides. According to that model, the deposition of cosmogenic nuclides was noticeably related to the amount of precipitation, while the deposition of terrestrial radionuclides did not show such dependence.

Manufacture of Ceramic Bodies by Using a Mud Waste from the TiO<sub>2</sub> Pigment Industry

The main objective of this paper is focused in the use of waste generated by the TiO2 pigment industry, ilmenite mud (MUD), on the production of ceramic bodies. These ceramic bodies were produced from mixtures of a commercial red stoneware mixture (RSM) with different concentrations of mud (3, 5, 7, 10, 30 and 50 wt%). The samples were sintered to simulate a fast-firing process. The sintering behaviour of the fired samples was evaluated according to ISO rules by linear shrinkage, water absorption and porosity measurements. Both green powder and fired samples were characterised by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC/TG), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and bending strength measurements. Moreover, the activity concentrations of radionuclides were measured by high-resolution low-background gamma spectrometry, because this mud is a NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) waste. Finally, the TCLP leaching test (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure, USEPA) was performed to assess the risks of use tiles from an environmental perspective. The results demonstrated that MUD can be successfully valorisated in the manufacture of red stoneware ceramic bodies with similar, or even better technological properties than commercial materials used currently.

Gamma-spectrometric determination of 232U in uranium-bearing materials

The 232U content of various uranium-bearing items was measured using low-background gamma spectrometry. The method is independent of the measurement geometry, sample form and chemical composition. Since 232U is an artificially produced isotope, it carries information about previous irradiation of the material, which is relevant for nuclear forensics, nuclear safeguards and for nuclear reactor operations. A correlation between the 232U content and 235U enrichment of the investigated samples has been established, which is consistent with theoretical predictions. It is also shown how the correlation of the mass ratio 232U/235U vs. 235U content can be used to distinguish materials contaminated with reprocessed uranium from materials made of reprocessed uranium.

Application of the Monte Carlo efficiency transfer method to an HPGe detector with the purpose of environmental samples measurement

Monte Carlo efficiency transfer method was used to determine the full energy peak efficiency of a coaxial n-type HPGe detector. The efficiencies calibration curves for three Certificate Reference Materials were determined by efficiency transfer using a 152Eu reference source. The efficiency values obtained after efficiency transfer were used to calculate the activity concentration of the radionuclides detected in the three materials, which were measured in a low-background gamma spectrometry system. Reported and calculated activity concentration show a good agreement with mean deviations of 5%, which is satisfactory for environmental samples measurement.

Purification of selenium from thorium, uranium, radium, actinium and potassium impurities for low background measurements

Summary A technique of selenium purification from 232Th, 238U, 226,228Ra, 227Ac and 40K was developed. This technique is simple to perform and employs a minimum number of highly pure reagents (bidistilled water, nitric acid). Operations carried out during purification (elution, evaporation) practically exclude losses of the target product (chemical yields of Se > 99%). A test purification of 100 g of selenium was carried out using this technique. The efficiency of this technique was confirmed by low background gamma spectrometry of the purified selenium sample. Distribution coefficients of Th, U, Ra and Ac on DOWEX 50W-×8 cation-exchange resin at different concentrations of selenium and nitric acid were experimentally determinated. Instrumental neutron activation analysis of bidistilled water, deionized water and nitric acid was performed.

Validation of <sup>226</sup>Ra and <sup>228</sup>Ra Measurements in Water Samples Using Gamma Spectrometric Analysis

Radium isotopes can be analyzed by different analytical methods based on gamma spectrometric measurements or alpha spectrometry. An improved method was developed to determine radium isotopes from water using gamma spectrometry after radiochemical separation. The Radium was selectively extracted from acidified samples using co-precipitation procedure with iron hydroxide and followed by precipitation of radium as radium sulphate Ba(Ra)SO4. The precipitate Ba(Ra)SO4 was filtered through the Millipore filter paper, dried and weighed to calculate chemical yield. 226Ra and 228Ra activities were measured using low-background gamma spectrometry in water samples. Radium was pre-concentrated from environmental samples by co-precipitation with BaSO4. The amounts of 226Ra and 228Ra on the sample were obtained by gamma-ray spectrometry for the 351 keVγ-ray from 214Pb and for the 911 keV γ-ray from 228Ac, both in radioactive equilibrium with precursors, respectively. The accuracy, selectivity, traceability, applicability and Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) of the technique were discussed. Also, the effect of physical and chemical characteristics of the water samples such as TDS, pH, soluble species, sulphate and bicarbonate that effect on the radium determination were taking into consideration. The method has been validated with a certified reference material supplied by the International Atomic Energy Agency and reliable results were obtained. The radiochemical yields for radium were 70% - 90% and recovery was 97% and 80% for 226Ra and 228Ra, respectively.