DETERMINATION OF RADIUM ISOTOPES CONCENTRATIONS IN MINERAL WATERS BY LIQUID SCINTILLATION METHOD

A. Hetman, J. Dorda, W. Zipper

Institute of Physics, Silesian University, 4 Uniwersytecka Str., 40-007 Katowice, Poland


The method of the determination of radium isotopes 226Ra and 228Ra in the saline and mineral waters based on the LSC with the separation of a and b rays is presented. Concentrations of radium isotopes were calculated using Bateman equations for a and b components of 226Ra, 228Ra, without waiting for the radioactive equilibrium. The concentrations of these isotopes are very low in most mineral waters found in the market with the exception of two waters where the concentration of long life isotope 226Ra is high. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the radium isotopes concentration in drinking mineral waters.