| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1875832 | Applied Radiation and Isotopes | 2015 | 6 Pages |
•We studied 222Rn and 226Ra levels of drinkable water sources in the Thu Duc, Vietnam.•222Rn found in groundwater did not originate from 226Ra compounds soluble in water.•High levels of 226Ra in groundwater was explained by pH and alkaline conditions.
The results of 222Rn and 226Ra activity measurements in drinkable water supplies of the Thu Duc region in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, are presented in this paper. The measurements were performed using a RAD 7 radon detector manufactured by Durridge Company, Inc. Mean concentrations of 222Rn and 226Ra were found to be 0.11±0.01 Bq l−1 and 0.11±0.02 Bq l−1 in 14 drinking water samples. They are 0.12±0.01 Bq l−1 and 0.10±0.02 Bq l−1 in 15 tap water samples, respectively. The mean 222Rn concentration of 1.40±0.03 Bq l−1 in the 20 groundwater samples of this study is also lower than the WHO advised level of 100 Bq l−1. Fifty percent of groundwater samples analysed have 226Ra levels in excess of the USEPA recommended maximum contaminant level of 0.185 Bq l−1. The occurrence of elevated concentrations of 226Ra in groundwater samples was explained by pH and alkaline conditions.
