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Pujol L. Validation of a method for measuring radon-222 in water using two-phase liquid scintillation counting according to the ISO/IEC 17025 criteria. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08313-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Radiological investigation of natural carbonated spring waters from Eastern Carpathians, Romania. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08195-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe current study presents a radiological water-quality assessment on 64 spring water samples from four Romanian counties. The study area is abundant in CO2-rich spring waters consumed by locals and tourists. Gross alpha activities ranged between 21 ± 2 and 7530 ± 658 mBq L−1, with 27% of the samples exceeding the WHO threshold. Gross beta values ranged from 40 ± 2 to 5520 ± 430 mBq L−1, with 29% exceeding the recommended values. Radionuclide activities fluctuated between 0.6 ± 0.08 and 81 ± 6 Bq L−1 for 222Rn, 15 ± 2 to 1154 ± 112 mBq L−1 for 226Ra, and from 18 ± 2 to 64 ± 5 mBq L−1 for 210Po. The annual effective doses attributed to radium varied between 0.002 and 0.23 mSv yr−1.
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Stojković I, Todorović N, Nikolov J, Radulović B, Guida M. Cherenkov Radiation Detection on a LS Counter for 226Ra Determination in Water and Its Comparison with Other Common Methods. MATERIALS 2021; 14:ma14216719. [PMID: 34772242 PMCID: PMC8587417 DOI: 10.3390/ma14216719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Reliable determination of 226Ra content in drinking water, surface water and groundwater is required for radiological health-risk assessment of populations and radiation-dose calculations after ingestion and inhalation. This study aimed to determine 226Ra presence in the untreated water samples on a liquid scintillation counter via Cherenkov radiation detection. Cherenkov counting is a faster, simpler, less expensive technique than other commonly used methods for 226Ra determination. Step-by-step optimization of this technique on the Quantulus detector is presented in this paper. Improvement of detection limit/efficiency in the presence of sodium salicylate was investigated in this study. The main parameters of the method obtained were detection efficiency 15.87 (24)% and detection limit 0.415 Bq/L achieved for 1000 min of counting in 20 mL of sample volume. When 1 g of sodium salicylate was added, efficiency increased to 38.1 (5)%, with a reduction in the detection limit to 0.248 Bq/L for 500 min of counting. A satisfactory precision level of Cherenkov counting was obtained, the results deviating between 5% and 20% from reference values. The precision and accuracy of the Cherenkov counting technique were compared to liquid scintillation counting (EPA Method 913.0 for radon determination) and gamma spectrometry (the direct method for the untreated water samples on HPGe spectrometer). An overview of the advantages/disadvantages of each technique is elaborated in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Stojković
- Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Nataša Todorović
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
- Department of Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics (DIEM), University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Jovana Nikolov
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
| | - Branka Radulović
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
| | - Michele Guida
- Department of Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics (DIEM), University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy;
- Institute of Construction Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Riga Technical University, 1658 Riga, Latvia
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Radium interference during radon measurements in water: comparison of one- and two-phase liquid scintillation counting. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 72:205-215. [PMID: 34587671 PMCID: PMC8576753 DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2021-72-3480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Assessment of radiation exposure to drinking, surface, and groundwater and of the associated health risks calls for accurate and precise 226Ra and 222Rn measurements. One method that fits the bill is liquid scintillation counting (LSC), which allows measurements in one-phase (homogenous) or two-phase samples. The aim of our study was to compare the measurement efficiency with both variations in Niška Banja spa water, known for its elevated 222Rn content to get a better insight into the stability and behaviour of the samples and 226Ra interference in samples spiked with 226Ra with 222Rn measurement. 226Ra interference was more evident in homogenous, one-phase and much lower in two-phase samples. However, one-phase samples offer more accurate indirect 226Ra measurements. Water-immiscible cocktails (in two-phase samples) have shown a limited capacity for receiving 222Rn generated by Ra decay from the aqueous to organic phase when 222Rn/226Ra equilibrium is reached. We have also learned that samples with naturally high 222Rn content should not be spiked with 226Ra activities higher than the ones found in native samples and that calibration of two-phase samples can be rather challenging if measurements span over longer time. Further research would require much lower 226Ra activities for spiking to provide more practical answers to questions arising from the demonstrated phenomena.
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Bem H, Długosz-Lisiecka M, Mazurek-Rudnicka D, Szajerski P. Occurrence of 222Rn and 226,228Ra in underground water and 222Rn in soil and their mutual correlations for underground water supplies in southern Greater Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2021; 43:3099-3114. [PMID: 33507469 PMCID: PMC8310503 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-020-00792-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
European Union Council Directive 2013/51/EURATOM recently sets out so-called indicator parameters for: radon, tritium and indicative dose of water intended for human consumption. The aim of this research was to elaborate an effective procedure for determination of radon and radium 226,228Ra isotopes (which are potentially the main contributors to the internal dose from drinking and cooking water) and to find the possible relationships between these radionuclides in underground water reservoirs and 222Rn concentration in the soil gas in their vicinity. The research was performed by applying a non-volatile and water-immiscible scintillation cocktail based on a pure diisopropylnaphthalene (Ultima Gold F: UGF), which allow for efficient radon extraction from 0.5 dm3 of water samples to 20 cm3 of scintillation phase and its direct determination with a detection limit of 5 × 10-3 Bq dm-3. The further preliminary concentration of 3 dm3 of crude water samples by evaporation to 0.5 dm3 samples led to the removal of all unsupported 222Rn activity and allowed the 226Ra determination via equivalent 222Rn detection after one-month samples storage using a low-background Triathler liquid scintillation counter in the α/β separation counting mode. Together with determination of 226Ra isotope in water samples, the simultaneous measurements of 228Ra and 222Rn radionuclides concentrations in water as well as 222Rn activity in the soil gas around the water supply sites were performed. The achieved limit of 226Ra detection was at a very low level of 10-3 Bq dm-3. The measured values of 226Ra concentration in 50 public underground water supply units for the Kalisz district of Poland were relatively low and ranged from below detection limit to 28.5 × 10-3 Bq dm-3 with arithmetic mean and median values of 12.9 and 12.2 × 10-3 Bq dm-3, respectively. Weak correlations were observed between activity concentrations of 226Ra and 222Rn in the crude water samples (R2 = 0.31) and 222Rn in water and its concentration in the nearby soil gas (R2 = 0.48).
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Affiliation(s)
- Henryk Bem
- Calisia University - Kalisz, Poland, Nowy Swiat 4, 62-800, Kalisz, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Długosz-Lisiecka
- Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Wroblewskiego 15, 93-590, Lodz, Poland
| | | | - Piotr Szajerski
- Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Wroblewskiego 15, 93-590, Lodz, Poland.
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Gowing CJB, Dinsley JM, Gallannaugh EL, Smedley PL, Marriott AL, Bowes MJ, Green KA, Watts MJ. Method development for rapid quantification of Rn-222 in surface water and groundwater. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2020; 42:1109-1115. [PMID: 31175489 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-019-00335-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the risks of a developing unconventional hydrocarbons industry, including shale gas, to the chemical quality of surface water and groundwater involves firstly establishing baseline compositions against which any future changes can be assessed. Contaminants of geogenic origin are of particular interest and radon has been identified as one potential contaminant from shale sources. Robust measurement and monitoring of radon in water at environmental concentrations is essential for ensuring protection of water sources and maintaining public confidence. Traditional techniques for Rn-222 determination in water, such as inference by gamma spectrometry and direct alpha counting, are impractical for direct field measurement, and the relatively short half-life of Rn-222 (~ 3.82 days) means that longer analytical protocols from field to the laboratory may result in greater uncertainty for Rn-222 activity. Therefore, a rapid and low-cost method would be beneficial. We have developed and refined a laboratory procedure for Rn-222 monitoring using liquid scintillation counting (LSC). The accuracy of Rn-222 activities obtained via this procedure was evaluated by the analysis of almost 200 water samples collected from streams and boreholes as part of a detailed baseline investigation in the Vale of Pickering, Yorkshire, one potential location for future shale gas exploration. LSC was preferred for measurement of Rn-222 and had comparable accuracy to gamma spectrometry and direct alpha counting. The methodology provided a rapid, portable and low-maintenance option relative to the two established techniques and is shown to be a favourable choice for the measurement of radon in surface water and groundwater at environmental concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles J B Gowing
- Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK.
| | - James M Dinsley
- Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Elizabeth L Gallannaugh
- Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Pauline L Smedley
- Groundwater Science Directorate, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Andrew L Marriott
- Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Michael J Bowes
- Groundwater Science Directorate, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Kay A Green
- Groundwater Science Directorate, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Michael J Watts
- Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
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Du S, Deng Z, Liu Y, Zhang L, Xu H, Yang H. Evaluation of surface water–groundwater interaction using environmental isotopes (D, 18O and 222Rn) in Chongli Area, China. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06588-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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