An alternative method for Ra determinations in water
Concentrations of /sup 226/Ra and /sup 224/Ra in 13 wells distributed throughout McCulloch and Mason counties in the Hickory Aquifer of the Llano Uplift Region of West-Central Texas are reported. Measurable alpha-particle activity is present in all wells, with seven wells having /sup 226/Ra radioactivity concentrations greater than 185 Bq m-3 (5 pCi L-1). An alternative methodology for measuring /sup 226/Ra, /sup 224/Ra and /sup 228/Ra is described. The EPA-approved methodology for estimating total Ra is shown to be invalid for aquifers containing significant levels of /sup 224/Ra. Alpha-particle activity measurements made in the interval of 12 to 300 h after Ra isolation lead to self-consistent solutions for radioactivity concentrations of /sup 226/Ra and /sup 224/Ra, with negligible contributions from /sup 228/Ra. Radioactivity concentrations of /sup 228/Ra can be calculated from grow-in terms for this isotope used with alpha-particle activity measurements at post-isolation times significantly longer than 800 h. Comparison of the /sup 226/Ra radioactivity concentration with that reported previously by the Texas Department of Health for a single well indicates acceptable agreement. However, the radioactivity concentration attributable to /sup 228/Ra for the same well was found to be in significant disagreement with the Texas Department of Health value.
- Research Organization:
- Angelo State Univ., San Angelo, TX (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5826929
- Journal Information:
- Health Phys.; (United States), Vol. 57:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
RADIUM 224
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIUM 226
RADIUM 228
TEXAS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER WELLS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
ALPHA PARTICLES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVITY
WATER SUPPLY
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBON 14 DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHARGED PARTICLES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION VI
HEAVY ION DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
POLLUTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM ISOTOPES
USA
WELLS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
520300* - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1989)