Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8209857 | Applied Radiation and Isotopes | 2015 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
This paper reports the behavior of the dissolved U-isotopes 238U and 234U in groundwater providing from 15 cities in Amazonas State, Brazil. The isotope dilution technique accompanied by alpha spectrometry were utilized for acquiring the U content and 234U/238U activity ratio (AR) data, 0.01-1.4 µg Lâ1 and 1.0-3.5, respectively. These results suggest that the water is circulating in a reducing environment and leaching strata containing minerals with low uranium concentration. A tendency to increasing ARs values following the groundwater flow direction is identified in Manaus city. The AR also increases according to the SW-NE directions: UariniâTefé; ManacapuruâManaus; Presidente FigueiredoâSão Sebastião do Uatumã; and Boa Vista do RamosâParintins. Such trends are possibly related to several factors, among them the increasing acid character of the waters. The waters analyzed are used for human consumption and the highest dissolved U content is much lower than the maximum established by the World Health Organization. Therefore, in view of this radiological parameter they can be used for drinking purposes.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Physics and Astronomy
Radiation
Authors
Márcio Luiz da Silva, Daniel Marcos Bonotto,