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226 Ra and 228 Ra in Water Supplies
Author(s) -
Lucas Henry F.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1985.tb05607.x
Subject(s) - conventional pci , radium , positive correlation , environmental science , nuclear medicine , radiochemistry , chemistry , medicine , myocardial infarction
An early objective of this study was to develop a method for predicting the concentration of radium in well waters based on the well's location, the details of its construction, and the geological structures it penetrates. However, as in Aurora, Ill., 226 Ra concentrations ranging from 3.8 to 18 pCi/L were found for wells of nearly identical construction located within relatively short distances from each other. Even larger deviations were found for comparisons among cities. The 228 Ra concentration was determined in 140 of these samples and ranged from 0.3 to 32 pCi/L. Data obtained by other investigators in Iowa put the median 228 Ra to 226 Ra ratio at 0.64. Regression analysis, however, does not suggest any meaningful correlation of 228 Ra and 226 Ra. Because high concentrations of 228 Ra have been found in areas with low 226 Ra concentrations and 228 Ra is not detected by gross‐alpha analysis, it appears that a large‐scale survey of 228 Ra in water is needed.