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Gross Alpha and Gross Beta Activity in the Water Sample from Northern Region of Bangladesh |
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PP: 21-27 |
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doi:10.18576/jrna/050104
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Author(s) |
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A. Rahim,
M. S. Sultana,
J. Ferdous,
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Abstract |
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| Natural water is not completely free of radioactive isotopes due to the presence of beta and alpha emitters. Thus, measurements of natural radioactivity in ground, surface and domestic water have been performed in many parts of the world, mostly for assessment of the doses and risk resulting from consuming water. Gross alpha and gross beta particle activity is selected for the screening of radioactive species. The purpose of this study is to determine gross alpha and gross beta activities in water samples and asses the dose from the collected water samples. The radioactivity levels in 45 water samples were collected from tube-wells, shallow pumps, ponds and the river from different places of Kurigram district in the northern region of Bangladesh. The gross alpha and gross beta activities were measured using ZnS(Ag) scintillation counter. The average gross alpha activity concentrations were found to be 9.3±3.5 mBq/l for tube-wells, 12±4.2 mBq/l for shallow pumps, 16±3.8 mBq/l for ponds and 22±4.5 mBq/l for the river. The average beta activity concentrations were found to be 83±24 mBq/l for tube-wells, 80±24 mBq/l for shallow pumps, 252±26 mBq/l for ponds and 248±35 mBq/l for the river. The results show that the natural activities of alpha and beta emitting radionuclides in water samples did not exceed WHO recommended levels and were comparable with the data available in other parts of the world. It suggests that the radioactivity in drinking water for the people residing Kurigram is not yet a problem. This study has been undertaken to measure the radioactivity levels in water samples, as a part of environmental radioactivity-monitoring program for the assessment of radiation exposure to the population of Bangladesh.
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