Radioanalytical investigations of uranium concentrations in natural spring, mineral, spa and drinking waters in Hungary

Viktor Jobbágy; Norbert Kávási; János Somlai; Péter Dombovári; Richárd Kardos; Tibor Kovács

doi:10.1007/s10967-010-0711-5

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Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Volume/Issue:: Volume 286: Issue 2

Radioanalytical investigations of uranium concentrations in natural spring, mineral, spa and drinking waters in Hungary

Authors:

Viktor Jobbágy

Viktor Jobbágy

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Norbert Kávási

Norbert Kávási

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János Somlai

János Somlai Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, P.O. Box 158, 8201 Veszprém, Hungary

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Péter Dombovári

Péter Dombovári Paks Nuclear Power Plant Ltd., P.O. Box 71, 7031 Paks, Hungary

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Richárd Kardos

Richárd Kardos Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, P.O. Box 158, 8201 Veszprém, Hungary

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Tibor Kovács

Tibor Kovács Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, P.O. Box 158, 8201 Veszprém, Hungary

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Pages:: 417–422

Online Publication Date:: 18 Aug 2010

Publication Date:: 01 Nov 2010

Article Category:: Research Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-010-0711-5

Keywords:: Uranium; Alpha spectrometry; Natural waters; Dose estimation; Water quality

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Abstract

Within this work, the activity concentrations of uranium isotopes (²³⁴U, ²³⁵U, and ²³⁸U) were analyzed in some of the popular and regularly consumed Hungarian mineral-, spring-, therapeutic waters and tap waters. Samples were selected randomly and were taken from different regions of Hungary (Balaton Upland, Bükk Mountain, Somogy Hills, Mezőföld, and Lake Hévíz). Concentration (mBq L⁻¹) of ²³⁴U, ²³⁵U, and ²³⁸U in the waters varied from 1.1 to 685.2, from <0.3 to 7.9, and from 0.8 to 231.6 respectively. In general, the highest uranium concentrations were measured in spring waters, while the lowest were found in tap waters. In most cases radioactive disequilibrium was observed between uranium isotopes (²³⁴U and ²³⁸U). The activity ratio between ²³⁴U and ²³⁸U varies from 0.57 to 4.97. The calculated doses for the analyzed samples of spring water are in the range 0.07–32.39 μSv year⁻¹ with an average 4.32 μSv year⁻¹. This is well below the 100 μSv year⁻¹ reference level of the committed effective dose recommended by WHO and the EU Council. The other naturally occurring alpha emitting radionuclides (²²⁶Ra and ²¹⁰Po) will be analyzed later to complete the dose assessment. This study provides preliminary information for consumers and authorities about their internal radiological exposure risk due to annual intake of uranium isotopes via water consumption.

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Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Print ISSN:: 0236-5731

Online ISSN:: 1588-2780

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Journal of Radionalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Language	English
Size	A4
Year of Foundation	1968
Volumes per Year	1
Issues per Year	12
Founder	Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher	Akadémiai Kiadó Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245. CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible Publisher	Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN	0236-5731 (Print)
ISSN	1588-2780 (Online)