Study of Well Waters from High-Level Natural Radiation Areas in Northern Vietnam

Duong Van-Hao, Thanh-Duong Nguyen, Miklos Hegedus, Erika Kocsis and Tibor Kovacs
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Duong Van-Hao: Geophysics Department, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, No 18, Vien Street, Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi 100 000, Vietnam
Thanh-Duong Nguyen: Geophysics Department, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, No 18, Vien Street, Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi 100 000, Vietnam
Miklos Hegedus: Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, H-8200 Veszprem, Hungary
Erika Kocsis: Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, H-8200 Veszprem, Hungary
Tibor Kovacs: Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, H-8200 Veszprem, Hungary

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-9

Abstract: The determination of natural radionuclide concentrations plays an important role for assuring public health and in the estimation of the radiological hazards. This is especially true for high level radiation areas. In this study, 226 Ra, 228 Ra and 238 U concentrations were measured in well waters surrounding eight of the high-level natural radiation areas in northern Vietnam. The 226 Ra, 228 Ra and 238 U activity concentrations vary from <1.2 × 10 −3 –2.7 (0.46), <2.6 × 10 −3 –0.43 (0.07) and <38 × 10 −3 –5.32 Bq/L (0.50 of median), respectively. 226 Ra and 238 U isotopes in most areas are in equilibrium, except for the DT-Thai Nguyen area. The calculated radiological hazard indices are generally higher than WHO (World Health Organization) recommendations. Average annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk values due to drinking well water range from to 130 to 540 μSv/year and 7.4 × 10 −6 to 3.1 × 10 −5 , respectively.

Keywords: 226 Ra; 228 Ra; 238 U; well water; radiological hazards; REE and uranium mines; northern Vietnam (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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