11–16 May 2014
Casino Conference Centre
Europe/Prague timezone

Radioactivity in mineral waters from Iberian Peninsula

15 May 2014, 15:30
30m
Mirror Hall (Casino Conference Centre)

Mirror Hall

Casino Conference Centre

Reitenbergerova 4/95, Mari&#225;nsk&#233; L&#225;zn&#283;, Czech Republic <font color=white>
Invited Radionuclides in the Environment, Radioecology Radionuclides in the Environment, Radioecology 3

Speaker

Dr Fernando P. Carvalho (Instituto Superior Técnico/ LPSR)

Description

Bottled mineral and spring waters in a total of 38 commercial brands from Portugal and Spain, all available from shelf in supermarkets, were analyzed for natural occurring radionuclides such as uranium and thorium isotopes, radium (226Ra), 210Pb, 210Po and tritium (3H). Radionuclide concentrations vary widely depending on the geological formation of the water source and the chemical characteristics of water. Uranium (238U) activity concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 297 mBq/L, 226Ra varied from 0.5 to 949 mBq/L, radioactive lead (210Pb) from 1.7 to 78 mBq/L and 210Po from 1.2 to 75 mBq/L. Radionuclide activity concentrations particularly those of uranium, thorium, and radium are assessed in conjunction with dissolved salts and major ions present in water. Isotopic ratios of uranium are analyzed and discussed in relationship with characteristics of water sources. Radioactivity intake through consumption of these waters was assessed and concluded that daily consumption of some of these waters may give rise to internal radiation doses above the recommended dose limit of 0.1 mSv/y for water consumption. Results are compared with data on other bottled waters in the European Union market , and discussed in the perspective of radiation protection of members of the public and current EU Directives.

Primary author

Dr Fernando P. Carvalho (Instituto Superior Técnico/ LPSR)

Presentation materials