Natural radionuclides measurements in drinking water by liquid scintillation counting methods and results

Warwick, Peter; Forte, Maurizio; Rusconi, R.; Caprio, Elisabetta Di; Bellinzona, S.; Sgorbati, G.

doi:10.1039/9781847550781-00128

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In the meantime systematic campaigns for assessing levels of radon in waters started as well [48]. Since 1996 the Environmental Protection Agency of Lombardia (ARPA Lombardia) has performed detailed studies on radioactivity in both mineral and tap waters [49][50][51][52][53][54][55]. Radiometric data on drinking waters are available for central Italy too [56][57][58][59][60][61].…”

Section: Available Results Of Monitoring Campaignsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radioactivity in drinking water: regulations, monitoring results and radiation protection issues

Nuccetelli

Rusconi

Forte

2012

Annali Dell'Istituto Superiore Di Sanità

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Abstract. Introduction. Drinking waters usually contain several natural radionuclides: tritium, radon, radium, uranium isotopes, etc. Their concentrations vary widely since they depend on the nature of the aquifer, namely, the prevailing lithology and whether there is air in it or not. Aims. In this work a broad overview of the radioactivity in drinking water is presented: national and international regulations, for limiting the presence of radioactivity in waters intended for human consumption; results of extensive campaigns for monitoring radioactivity in drinking waters, including mineral bottled waters, carried out throughout the world in recent years; a draft of guidelines for the planning of campaigns to measure radioactivity in drinking water proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA) of Lombardia.Key words: radioactivity, drinking water, water quality, public health. Riassunto (Radioattività nell'acqua potabile: le normative, i risultati dei monitoraggi e i problemi di radioprotezione).Introduzione. L'acqua potabile contiene normalmente molti radionuclidi naturali: trizio, radon, isotopi del radio e dell'uranio, ecc. La loro concentrazione è molto variabile perché dipende dalla natura dell'acquifero, dalla presenza di aria in esso e dalla litologia prevalente. Scopi. In questo lavoro è presentata un'ampia rassegna sul tema della radioattività nelle acque potabili: le norme nazionali e internazionali per limitare la presenza di radioattività nell'acqua destinata al consumo umano; i risultati di estese campagne di monitoraggio nelle acque potabili, comprese le acque minerali imbottigliate, condotte nel mondo negli ultimi anni; una proposta di linea guida per la pianificazione di campagne di misura della radioattività nell'acqua potabile elaborata dall'Agenzia Regionale di Protezione Ambientale (ARPA) della Lombardia.Parole chiave: radioattività, acqua potabile, qualità dell'acqua, sanità pubblica.

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Section: Available Results Of Monitoring Campaignsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radioactivity in drinking water: regulations, monitoring results and radiation protection issues

Nuccetelli

Rusconi

Forte

2012

Annali Dell'Istituto Superiore Di Sanità

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“…First results have been reported in full detail elsewhere [10]. Gross alpha activity ranged from values lower than minimum detectable activity (8 mBq/L) to about 350 mBq/L; 38% of values were higher than WHO reference level.…”

Section: Tap Water Surveymentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Former results [9,10] showed that almost 50% of tap water samples in Lombardia district exceeded 0.1 Bq/L gross alpha activity. Alpha activity was mostly due to uranium isotopes contribution, while 226 Ra concentration was lower by 1-2 orders of magnitude.…”

Section: High Sensitivity Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Each sample was counted for 1000 min; the MDA for total uranium content was 0.4 mBq/L. The method was tested, with good results, by comparison with values obtained on 15 different water samples by two independent methods, namely: (1) semiconductor alpha spectrometry on electrodeposited samples and (2) ICP mass spectrometry [9]. It was also used in the recent inter-laboratory study promoted by IAEA 'Determination of radium and uranium radionuclides in water'; the performance evaluation report is not yet available.…”

Section: High Sensitivity Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The method was tested with good results on two water samples by comparison with values obtained by emanometry [9] and used in the above mentioned inter-laboratory study promoted by IAEA.…”

Section: High Sensitivity Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of drinking water radioactivity content by liquid scintillation counting: set up of high sensitivity and emergency procedures

Rusconi

Azzellino

Bellinzona

et al. 2004

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

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In our institute, different procedures have been developed to measure the radioactivity content of drinking water both in normal and in emergency situations, such as those arising from accidental and terrorist events. A single radiometric technique, namely low level liquid scintillation counting (LSC), has been used. In emergency situations a gross activity screening is carried out without any sample treatment by a single and quick liquid scintillation counting. Alpha and beta activities can be measured in more than one hundred samples per day with sensitivities of a few Bq/L. Higher sensitivity gross alpha and beta, uranium and radium measurements can be performed on water samples after specific sample treatments. The sequential method proposed is designed in such a way that the same water sample can be used in all the stages, with slight modifications. This sequential procedure was applied in a survey of the Lombardia district. At first tap waters of the 13 largest towns were examined, then a more detailed monitoring was carried out in the surroundings of Milano and Lodi towns. The high sensitivity method for the determination of uranium isotopes was used to check the presence of depleted uranium in Lake Garda. Reduced equipment requirements and relative readiness of radiochemical procedures make LSC an attractive technique which can also be applied by laboratories lacking specific radiochemistry facilities and experience.

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Evaluation of groundwater quality based on radiological and hydrochemical data from two uraniferous regions of Western Iberia: Nisa (Portugal) and Ciudad Rodrigo (Spain)

Pereira

Neves

et al. 2014

Environ Earth Sci

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The regions of Nisa (Portugal) and Ciudad Rodrigo (Spain) are characterized by a high radiation background due to the presence of uranium-enriched rocks. To evaluate the water quality of the shallow aquifers and the relationship between radiological and non-radiological variables, a set of 41 samples was collected (mainly from springs) and analyzed for the radioisotopes 238 U, 234 U, 226 Ra and 222 Rn as well as for some major and minor cations. The results obtained for the cationic composition in both areas show some differences in terms of geological bedrock, with higher mineralization and hardness in the Spanish samples (Ca-Mg facies); the Nisa samples are included in the Na-K facies. The indicative effective dose was calculated for several age groups. On average, the effective dose is higher in Nisa due to the activity in 226 Ra, and 25 % of the total dataset puts 222 Rn above the recommended acceptable maximum. Despite the low-scale ancient uranium exploitation works in the Nisa area in comparison to those carried out on the Spanish side, the higher risk calculated in the Portuguese region reinforces the importance of taking into account the natural background when the goal is to control the exposure of the population to ionizing radiation.

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Natural radionuclides measurements in drinking water by liquid scintillation counting methods and results

Cited by 8 publications

References 15 publications

Radioactivity in drinking water: regulations, monitoring results and radiation protection issues

Radioactivity in drinking water: regulations, monitoring results and radiation protection issues

Assessment of drinking water radioactivity content by liquid scintillation counting: set up of high sensitivity and emergency procedures

Evaluation of groundwater quality based on radiological and hydrochemical data from two uraniferous regions of Western Iberia: Nisa (Portugal) and Ciudad Rodrigo (Spain)

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