Dose assessment to members of the pulic in Tunisia from intakes of some naturally occurring radionuclides in bottled mineral water

Background: total α- and β- as well as radium isotopes (^226ra, ^228ra) and uraniumisotopes (^234u, ^238u) activity concentrations were determined in six most populartunisian bottled mineral waters samples. materials and methods: total alpha/betaactivity was measured by background gas-flow proportional counting system, andthe activity concentrations of uranium were studied by radiochemical separationprocedures followed by alpha spectrometry and that of radium isotopes bygamma-ray spectrometry. materials and methods: the total-a activity rangedfrom 48 to 94 mbq l−1 and the total-b activity between 45 and 430 mbq l−1. theactivity concentrations of ^238u, ^234u, ^226ra and ^228ra in water samples varied inrange 3.3 - 22.5 mbq.l−1, 4.0 - 34.2 mbq l−1, 2.0 - 67.0 mbq l−1 and 2.0 - 30.2 mbql−1, respectively. these values are comparable with those reported for many othercountries in the world for different types of water. the 234u/238u activity ratiowere found to be higher than 1 in all cases. results: based on the activityconcentration results obtained in this study, the estimated annual ingestiondose rates for three different age groups (< 1 year, 7-12 years, and > 17 years)due to the ingestion of radium and uranium isotopes through drinking waterare lower than the limit of intake prescribed by who. the annual dosesexceed the recommended value of 0.1 msv y-1 in one case for age group < 1year. conclusion: according based on the activity concentration results obtainedin this study, the estimated annual ingestion dose rates for three different agegroups (< 1 year, 7-12 years, and > 17 years) due to the ingestion of radium anduranium isotopes through drinking water are lower than the limit of intakeprescribed by who. the annual doses exceed the recommended value of 0.1 msv y-1 in one case for age group < 1 year.