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Radioactivity measurements and radiation dose evaluation in tap waters of Central Italy
Author(s) -
Desideri Donatella,
Roselli Carla,
Assunta Meli Maria,
Feduzi Laura,
Rongoni Alba,
Saetta Daniela
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.200700116
Subject(s) - radium , radiochemistry , natural radioactivity , effective dose (radiation) , chemistry , environmental science , zoology , radionuclide , nuclear medicine , environmental chemistry , toxicology , medicine , physics , biology , quantum mechanics
Consumption of drinking water is very important for human nutrition and its quality must be strictly controlled. A study of radioactivity content in tap water samples collected in the Central Italy was performed in order to check the compliance with recent European regulations. Gross alpha and beta activity, 226 Ra, 238 U and 234 U concentrations were measured. Gross alpha and beta activities were determined by standard ISO 9696 and ISO 9697; for 226 Ra determination liquid scintillation was used. 238 U and 234 U concentrations were determined by alpha spectrometry after separation from matrix by extraction chromatography and electroplating. Recommended WHO guideline activity concentrations for drinking water (0.1 and 1.0 Bq/L for gross alpha and gross beta activity, respectively) are exceeded in two cases for gross alpha activity and are not exceeded in any case for gross beta activity. The concentrations (mBq/L) of 226 Ra, 238 U and 234 U ranged from < 1.70 to 15.3, 0.65 to 48.8 and 0.780 to 51.5, respectively. Effective dose due to the uranium isotopes and radium was calculated for children and adults using the dose coefficients reported by EC Directive 96/29 EURATOM and annual water intake. For all class ages, the doses are quite similar and much lower than 0.1 mSv/year.