Ground water samples, collected from two different regions (A : 40° 41' 171" E; 26° 03' 002" Ν and B: 44° 18' 299" E; 26° 30' 168" N), were investigated for natural radioactivity using high resolution α-spectrometry. Region A samples showed rather high uranium activity levels with 234 U/ 238 U activity ratios greater than one (1.1-2.3), while low activity concentrations (far below equilibrium levels) for 226 Ra were detected. High activity levels of 226 Ra and 228 Ra were found in samples of region B, while low activity concentrations were found for 238 U and 228 Th. Hence, ground waters of both regions clearly showed radioactive disequilibrium between nuclides of the same decay series. Mechanisms of leaching of the measured radionuclides are discussed, based on the obtained data.
Twenty-nine groundwater samples, collected from Wadi Nu'man wells, were analyzed for natural radioactivity to check for compliance with the national guideline values. Gross α and gross β screening, in addition to radon ( 222 Rn) measurements, were performed for all samples. Samples of gross activity levels exceeding the national guideline values set out for drinking water were subjected to further investigation for radium and uranium isotopes using liquid scintillation counting and α-spectrometry, respectively. The results showed that the anomalous source was natural uranium. The water contains high concentrations of 222 Rn and considerable levels of natural uranium. The 222 Rn concentration ranged from 10-100 Bq/L with an average value of about 40 Bq/L. The uranium concentration, in samples of gross activity levels exceeding the national guideline value, ranged from 9 to 55 μg/L. The levels of 226 Ra and 228 Ra were below the detection limit of the counting system in all samples. The variation in the 222 Rn and uranium concentrations was found to be linked with the local lithology. The higher values were recorded in the wells of Nu'man complex aquifer, where the predominating mineral is foliated monzonite. Recommendations and advices for water management to reduce radiation exposure to users are presented.
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