Radiological risk assessment and characteristics of ²¹ºPo in selected water sources in Quang Nam and Da Nang, Vietnam

Abstract

²¹ºPo, one of the harmful natural isotopes with a long enough half-life, plays a significant role in environmental processes. 48 samples, including groundwater (dug wells, thermal water, and drill wells) and surface water (lakes, rivers, and streams) in the Da Nang - Quang Nam region of Vietnam were analyzed by an alpha spectrometer. Relatively low activities of ²¹ºPo have been observed, whose mean values ranged from 0.15 to 4.58 and 1.34 mBq.L-¹. There is no significant variation in ²¹ºPo activities between groundwater and surface water groups. The average ²¹ºPo activity of those groups is 1.28 and 1.40 mBq.L-¹, respectively. The geological conditions of the study area, neutral pH values, and predominant oxidizing conditions supported the low ²¹ºPo activities in the selected water sources. Average annual effective doses for adults, children, and infants due to the consumption of water containing ²¹ºPo were found to be 1.15, 1.21, and 2.94 µSv.y-¹, respectively.