Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Materials at water treatment plant on the Poços de Caldas Plateau Region, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT Oil and gas, mining, among others, are examples of facilities where naturally occurring radioactive materials can be found. This study aims to evaluate the presence of natural radioactive series, especially those of 238U and 232Th, in the water treatment plants of Poços de Caldas City, Minas Gerais. The presence of these series was investigated in samples of raw water, treated water, sludge from decanters, and scale from Parshall gutters. The sludge, input, and scale samples were submitted to the gamma spectrometry technique to determine the 226Ra, 228Ra, and 210Pb radionuclides. For U and Th, ultraviolet visible spectrophotometry was performed, and for the alpha and beta total values, radiochemical separation and subsequent alpha and beta total counts were performed. The results indicate that water samples are within the Ministry of Health Ordinance n° 5 (2017). Due to the different concentrations of radionuclide activity in the sludge, it was not possible to affirm the same order of magnitude with the sediment from the catchments. However, the values are in accordance with those established by the European Union Council for Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Materials. In the scale, the contents of 1192, 1704, and 301 Bq kg−1 were identified for 226Ra, 228Ra, and 210Pb, respectively. In the inputs of aluminum sulfate and calcium hydroxide, no relevant activities were identified. The results obtained in the study can serve as an indicative regarding the need for a more detailed evaluation of the radiological issue in question concerning public water supplies.