Measurement of radioactivity in spa waters using gamma spectrometry and evaluation of health risks

Raouen Graichi; Linda Chabouni; Neserine Hamitouche; Ali Benbourenane; Omar Amri

doi:10.57056/ajet.v8i2.132

Authors

Raouen Graichi Radiological expertise department, Nuclear Research Center of Algiers, 02, Bd Frantz Fanon B.P. 399 Alger-Gare, Algeria
Linda Chabouni Radiological expertise department, Nuclear Research Center of Algiers, 02, Bd Frantz Fanon B.P. 399 Alger-Gare, Algeria
Neserine Hamitouche Radiological expertise department, Nuclear Research Center of Algiers, 02, Bd Frantz Fanon B.P. 399 Alger-Gare, Algeria
Ali Benbourenane Radiological expertise department, Nuclear Research Center of Algiers, 02, Bd Frantz Fanon B.P. 399 Alger-Gare, Algeria
Omar Amri Radiological expertise department, Nuclear Research Center of Algiers, 02, Bd Frantz Fanon B.P. 399 Alger-Gare, Algeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57056/ajet.v8i2.132

Keywords:

Radionuclides, Spa waters, Gamma spectrometry, HPGe detector, WHO, UNSCEAR, ICRP

Abstract

Exposure of human beings to radiation from natural sources is a permanent and unavoidable part of life on earth, in this study; we are interested in measuring the concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides in spa water, such as ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th, ²³⁵U, ²²⁶Ra and ²³⁸U, using gamma spectrometry with a hyper pure germanium (HPGe) detector. We analysed four samples from different regions of Algeria. The samples were imbedded in 1L vials and stored for at least 21 days to achieve secular equilibrium between ²²⁶Ra and its short-lived daughter products before analysing by gamma ray spectrometry. To assess the radiological effects of these four samples, we calculated the annual effective dose AED. The doses received by the public are calculated based on the values of specific activities of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ⁴⁰K and ²³⁵U. The average activity concentrations for the samples were 7.4± 0.7 to 10.78± 0.70 Bq/L for ²³⁸U; 1.53± 0.09 to 3.5± 0.15 for ²²⁶Ra; 0.08± 0.01 to 1.4± 0.08 for ²³²Th; 2.30± 0.12 to 5.51± 0.2 for ²³⁵U and 8.06± 0.4 to 40.30± 2.11 for ⁴⁰k.The estimated doses for ²²⁶Ra exceed the WHO and UNSCEAR recommended values of 0.26 mSv/y and 0.29 mSv/y respectively in all samples. The total annual effective doses for sample S02 exceed the ICRP recommended limit 1 mSv/y.

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