Natural radionuclides in thermal mineral springs in Edipsos Greece

Abstract

Abstract Natural thermal and mineral therapeutic springs exist all over Greece. A radiological survey has been carried out in the municipality of Edipsos to study the naturally occurring alpha emitter radionuclides, 226Ra and the uranium isotopes. Thirteen thermal spring water samples and six tap water samples which were collected from five locations in the municipality of Edipsos, were analysed and measured by a-spectrometry. The obtained results show that 238U activity varies between 2.8 ± 0.3 and 65.0 ± 5.3 mBq/L in hot springs and between 2.70 ± 0.35 and 10.6 ± 0.9 mBq/L in tap water samples. The 234U/238U activity ratio lying between 1.12 ± 0.17 and 2.12 ± 0.30 indicates enrichment in the 234U concentration that can be explained through its ability to be easily leached from mineral surfaces. The 226Ra activity concentration varies between 3.5 ± 0.4 and 1470 ± 127 mBq/L in hot springs and between 6.5 ± 0.9 and 28.2 ± 2.8 mBq/L in tap water samples. Based on these results the estimated doses in this study are below the recommended dose of 1 mSv/y. Highlights A radiological survey was carried out in the thermal springs of Edipsos, one of the most popular spa towns in Greece. Determination of uranium isotopes and 226Ra via a-spectrometry was performed. Low uranium content was a common characteristic for all the samples.