Estimation of radiation doses to members of the public in Italy from intakes of some important naturally occurring radionuclides (238U, 234U, 235U, 226Ra, 228Ra, 224Ra and 210Po) in drinking water

The radiological quality in some samples of drinking water collected in Italy has been evaluated in the paper. As far as the measured α or β radionuclides are concerned, the doses for all the analysed samples of drinking water are in the range of 1.80–36.2 μSv yr−1, all being well below the reference level of the committed effective dose (100 μSv yr−1) recommended by the WHO. As far as each measured α or β radionuclide is concerned, the dose contributions for most of the analysed water samples are in this order: 210Po>228Ra>226Ra>234U>238U>224Ra>235U, and 210Po and 228Ra can yield a significant contribution to the doses from the analysed drinking water samples. As far as the elements are concerned, the dose contributions are 48.0±27.9% from radium, 31.7±23.1% from polonium, and 20.3±14.1% from uranium. The water samples, No. 2, 7, 13, and 15, can lead to a dose of >10 μSv yr−1, mainly due to the dose contribution from 210Po and 228Ra, especially water samples No. 2 and 13. The obtained data can provide basic information for consumers and competent authorities regarding the internal exposure risk due to drinking water intake, and can possibly serve as a comparison when evaluating the dose contribution from artificial radionuclides released to the environment as a result of any human practices and accidents in the studied area.