Measurement of Natural Radionuclides in Drinking Water and Risk Assessment in a Volcanic Region of Italy, Campania

Abstract

The physical–chemical properties of water are closely linked to the geological nature of the site where they are located. This aspect becomes even more interesting when analyzing the natural radionuclides in the drinking water of a volcanic territory such as Campania in southern Italy. This study concerned the measurement of activity concentration of gross alpha and beta, radon, and tritium to evaluate their biological impact. The measurements were carried out using alpha spectrometry for alpha emitters, proportional counter for beta emitters, the electret system for radon in water, and finally liquid scintillation for the measurement of tritium concentration. The biological impact was assessed considering the indicative dose, if applicable, and the effective annual dose of radon. Although the results show that the values are below international and national references, the radiological characterization of drinking water is of fundamental importance to optimize the radiation protection of the population.