Concentrations of Radium-226 in Shawllow Well Waters and Bottled Waters in Surat Thani Province

Abstract

         The study of Radium-226 concentrations in Surat Thani province in shallow well waters (30 samples) and bottled waters containing 20 liters (10 samples) was conducted during May-September 2008. The results showed that Radium-226 concentrations in shallow well waters ranged from <4.18 to 138.2 mBq/l, with geometric mean of 11.85 mBq/l. Radium-226 concentrations in two samples shallow well waters exceeded USEPA Maximum Contaminate Level (111 mBq/l), accounting for 6.7 percent. The Radium-226 concentrations in bottled waters ranged from <4.18 to 80.5 mBq/l geometric mean of 7.9 mBq/l. The estimated annual uptake in case of shallow well water consumptions was 2.4 μSv/year and 1.6 μSv / year for bottled waters and yet still below UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committe on the Effects of Atomic Radiation) committed dose of 8 μSv/ year.

Key words: Radium-226, well water, bottled water, dose