238u and 222rn Activity Concentrations and Total Radioactivity Levels in Lake Waters

Abstract

The concentrations and distributions of natural radioactivity, uranium and radon in lake waters from around Van, Turkey were investigated with an aim of evaluating the environmental radioactivity. Fourteen lake waters were collected from different six lakes around Van (Turkey) to determine U-238, Rn-222 and total alpha and total beta distributions in 2009. The total alpha and total beta activities were counted by using alpha/beta counter of the multi-detector low background system (PIC-MPC-9604) and the U-238 concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (Thermo Scientific Element 2) and radon concentrations were measured with the solid state nuclear track detector technique. The activity concentrations ranging from ND to 0.039 Bq L-1 and from 0.026 to 3.728 Bq L-1 for total alpha and beta, respectively, and uranium concentrations ranging from 0.083 to 3.078 mu g L-1, and radon concentrations varying between 47.80 and 354.86 Bq m(-3) were observed in the lake waters.