Phan Long Ho, Le Dinh Hung, Vu Tuan Minh, Dang Van Chinh, Tran Thien Thanh & Chau Van Tao
Scientific Reports Volume 10, Article number: 4299 (2020)
Abstract:
This paper presents information on the gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations of two hundred twenty-six groundwater samples collected by gas ow proportional counters in southern Vietnam. The gross alpha results in the water samples ranged from 0.024 to 0.748 Bq L−1 with a mean of 0.183 ± 0.034 Bq L−1, and the gross beta results in the water samples ranged from 0.027–0.632 Bq L−1 with a mean of 0.152 ± 0.015 Bq L−1. The values obtained in this work were compared with those previously published for various regions or countries. Next, untreated and treated groundwater samples were analyzed to assess their in uences on the treatment process. The results showed that there
were di erences in the minimum detection concentrations and the mean activity values between the untreated and treated groundwater samples (The p-value of the mean comparison tests is signi cant with p < 0.05). In both sample groups, there was a strong positive correlation of the gross alpha versus the gross beta results (r > 0.6). This means that among the radionuclides, the major sources of beta radiation are uranium and thorium decay series radionuclides. Finally, the annual e ective dose for adults (>17 years) was calculated based on the assumption that major radionuclides have the highest e ective dose conversion factors. In general, the results for Pb-210, Ra-226, and Ra-228 were observed to be lower than the recommended reference values established by the World Health organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency, except for the value of Po-210.
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