Natural radioactivity of groundwater in Serbia

Abstract

Activity concentrations of radionuclides ⁴⁰K, ²²⁸Ra, ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁸U and Th²³² and gross alpha and beta activities were analyzed in more than 100 samples of groundwater in Serbia. The highest gross alpha activity was recorded at 1.33 Bq/L (average 0.12 Bq/L), while the highest beta activity was 5.43 Bq/L (average 0.68 Bq/L). The potassium isotope ⁴⁰K exhibited the highest active concentration (2.6 Bq/L) and was the largest contributor to the gross natural beta activity. Among the analyzed samples, 28 were found to have elevated beta activity concentrations, of which five samples also measured elevated alpha activity. All the groundwater samples that exhibited elevated radioactivity were of the HCO₃-Na type and were genetically associated with granitic rocks. Their TDS levels and CO₂ gas concentrations were also elevated.