Natural radionuclides in water using inductively coupled plasma - sector field mass spectrometry

Simultaneous analysis of radionuclides in water had not been performed by mass spectrometry of the magnetic sector. Some international organizations indicate that it is necessary to know the contamination of drinking-water, including radioactive aspects. The novelty of this study was to determine simultaneously radioisotope radium, thorium, uranium and lead stable. Experiments were performed in an accredited laboratory (International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission-7025:2005). The radionuclides of thorium, uranium and some of their descendants were obtained. The reported values are in the range of 7E^-7-24.28 µg L^-1. Their presence decreases in the order thorium>uranium>radium in drinking water and uranium>thorium>radium in seawater. These results do not represent any risk to the population because very low concentrations were determined.

Keywords:
natural radionuclides; water; simultaneous analysis; inductively coupled plasma - sector field