MEASUREMENT OF 224Ra, 226Ra AND 228Ra IN NATURAL WATERS THROUGH GAMMA-RAY SPECTROMETRY

MEASUREMENT OF 224Ra, 226Ra AND 228Ra IN NATURAL WATERS THROUGH GAMMA-RAY SPECTROMETRY Feng-Yun J. Huanga,*, Feng-Chih Changb, Jiunn-Hsing Chaoc aDepartment of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology: No.666, Buzih Road, Beitun District, Taichung City, 40605, Taiwan; bChemical Division, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research: No.1000, Wenhua Road, Jiaan Village, Longtan District, Taoyuan City, 32546, Taiwan; cNuclear Science and Technology Development Center, National Tsing Hua University: No.101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu City, 30013, Taiwan; *Corresponding Author Email Address: fyhuang@ctust.edu.tw Introduction Radium in drinking water may expose the public to significant doses of radiation. In this study, a gamma-ray spectroscopic technique was established to determine radium isotopes, which were preconcentrated from natural waters as barium sulfate. Additionally, the concurrent determination of radium isotopes (224Ra, 226Ra, and 228Ra) in hot spring waters and associated sludge was performed in the Beitou hot spring area in Taiwan. Description of the Work A field survey utilizing gamma-ray spectroscopic technique was conducted in the Beitou hot spring area, where radium activity in hot spring waters and sludge was found to be higher than elsewhere in Taiwan. According to the results, the activity of 224Ra in spring waters was highly correlated with 228Ra due to their identical chemical behavior and original decay chain series. Additionally, concentrations of these radium isotopes (226Ra, 228Ra) and some chemical analogues in sludge were linearly related to one another, revealing their similar chemical behavior and that they may transport and distribute together in the environment. Conclusions Gamma-ray spectroscopic technique was sensitive and alternative way to determine radium isotopes in natural and drinking waters. Radioactivity of radium isotopes in Beitou hot spring waters was relatively high levels compared with elsewhere in Taiwan and not safe for use as drinking water. Concentration of 226Ra/228Ra was correlated with selected chemical analogues in sludge from moderate (Ba and Sr) to strong (Pb) correlation. Keywords: Beitou; radium; gamma-ray; hot spring; natural waters References Huang, F. Y. J., Hsu, F. Y., & Chao, J. H. (2019). Radiation dose due to naturally occurring radionuclides in soils from varying geological environments. Health Phys, vol.116, 657-663