Establishment of a method for measurement of gross alpha/beta activities in water from Vojvodina region

Very important part of environmental studies is the determination of the quality of drinking water, which often requires measuring of alpha and beta activity in analyzed water samples. The usual method for monitoring of low-level α and β radioactivity is to use gas-proportional detectors where ionization and proportional regions are used for α and β counting, respectively Simultaneous measurement of gross alpha and gross beta activities by liquid scintillation counting technique using Quantulus 1220 liquid scintillation counter (LSC) equipped with Pulse Shape Analyzer (PSA) is described. Water samples were prepared for measurements according to the ASTM D 7283-06 Standard Test Method. More than 50 samples of drinking water from Vojvodina region were measured. The data obtained can provide important information for the consumer regarding the preliminary dose exposure risk due to water intake.

► The results of gross alpha–beta analyses of drinking are presented.
► Measurements were performed by LSC Quantulus 1220.
► Alpha/beta activity in water samples was determined according to ASTM D 7283-06.
► Dose exposure risk due to water intake was determined.