Radioactivity in drinking water supplies in the Vojvodina region, Serbia, and health implication

Abstract

© 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Drinking water may contain radioactive substances that could present a risk to human health (WHO, Guidelines for drinking-water quality: fourth edition incorporating the first addendum. World Health Organization, Geneva, 2017). Of particular significance for human radiation exposure from drinking water are the naturally occurring radionuclides that originate from the elements of the thorium and uranium decay series, such as 226Ra and 228Ra. These radionuclides can arise in water from natural processes in the ground or human activities involving naturally occurring radioactive materials (WHO, Management of radioactivity in drinking water. World Health Organization, Geneva, 2018). The measurement of radioactivity in drinking water allows the determination of population exposure to radiation by the habitual consumption of water. The aim of this study was to determine gross alpha and gross beta activities, and 226Ra and 228Ra activity concentrations in 28 drinking water samples from the Vojvodina region, in order to check compliance with recent Serbian and European regulations. Gross alpha and beta activity in drinking water samples were determined according to ASTM D7283-06 Standard test method for alpha- and beta-activity in water by liquid scintillation counting (ASTM D7283-06, Standard test method for alpha- and beta- activity in water by liquid scintillation counting. ASTM International West Conshohocken PA, https://www.astm.org, 2006), and measured by PerkinElmer liquid scintillation counter Quantulus 1220. The activity of 226Ra and 228Ra was determined by low-level gamma-spectrometry, and assuming the radioactive equilibrium between 226 and 228Ra and their progenies. For the analyzed radionuclides activity concentration in the water samples dose calculations were carried out. Gross alpha activity for all presented water samples exceeded the recommended guideline activity concentrations of 0.1 Bq L−1 (WHO, Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 2nd edn. World Health Organization, Geneva, 1993). The activity concentrations for 226Ra in 13 of investigated samples are higher than the legally established levels for radionuclide content in drinking water in Serbia and EU (Official Gazette, Rulebook on limits of radionuclides content in drinking water, foodstuffs, feeding stuffs, medicines, general use products, construction materials and other goods that are put on market, 2013; EC, Council Directive 2013/51/EURATOM, 2013). In 16 water samples concentration of 228Ra is higher than recommended. In 20 investigated samples, total dose GD from radionuclides in drinking water is higher than 0.1 mSv year−1 (EC, European Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 European Commission on the quality of water intended for human consumption. Off J L, 1998). The cancer risk caused by the intake of radium isotopes in drinking water during the lifetime was estimated, and the obtaining results are ranged in the acceptable cancer incidence (WHO, Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th edn. World Health Organization, Geneva, 2011; EPA, Cancer risk coefficients for environmental exposures to radionuclides. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 1999). The presence of 226Ra and 228Ra are explained on the basis of geological and hydrogeological characteristics of the Vojvodina region.