Determination of Radon Content in Water Respecting to Directive of Council 2013/51/EURATOM

Adrian Jakowiuk¹, Zuzanna Jarosz², Sylwia Ptaszek¹, Łukasz Modzelewski¹, Ewa Kowalska¹, Katarzyna Wołoszczuk²

¹Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Warsaw, Poland.
²Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection, Warsaw, Poland.

DOI: 10.4236/wjnst.2015.53019                

Abstract

In accordance with the recommendations of the most recent Directive of Council EURATOM No. 2013/51, which concerns requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption, we are obligated to monitor the level of approximate dose of radioactive substances. The directive indicates two basic isotopes: tritium and radon, which ought to be monitored continuously. Essential are also para-metric values as well as frequency, methods of monitoring of radioactive substances and equipment requirements. Directive states that measurements of content of tritium and radon ought to be taken as well as calculations of approximate dose natural and artificial radionuclides content should be done, apart from tritium, potassium-40, radon and short-living products of radon disintegration. In case if one of radioactive concentrations is over 20% of computational value or concentration of tritium is over parametric value analysis of additional radionuclides is required. A detailed list of radionuclides is presented in appendix No. 3 in the Directive. Laboratory of Nuclear Control Systems and Methods in the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology (INCT) worked out a Miniature Liquid Scintillation Counter (LCS) [1] [2], within a project titled “New generation of intelligent radiometric devices with cordless transmission of information” (UDA-POIG.01.03.01-14-065/08) co-financed by European Union from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This Miniature Liquid Scintillation Counter may be used as a basic equipment resulting in the above mentioned directive. This article presents results of conducted research based on LCS and comparison of this results with the measurements carried out by Accredited Laboratory for Cali-bration of Dosimetric and Radon Instruments in Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection in Warsaw (CLOR).

Keywords

Liquid Scintillation Counter, Radon in Water

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Bartak, J., Machaj, B. and Pieńkos, J. (2002) Apparatus for Measuring Radon Concentration in Air. Nuclear Technology in Industry, Medicine, Agriculture and Environment. Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Warsaw, 303-312.
[2]	Jakowiuk, A., Pieńkos, P.J., Kowalska, E., Filipiak, P. and Swistowski, E. (2012) Wireless System for Radiometric Measurements. Nukleonika, 57, 637-641.
[3]	Passo, C.J. and Cook, G.T. (1994) Handbook of Environmental Liquid Scintillation Spectrometry: A Compilation of Theory and Methods. Packard Instrument Company.
[4]	Machaj, B. and Urbański, P. (1999) Continuous Measurement of Radon Concentration in the Air with the Lucas Cell by Periodic Sampling. Nukleonika, 44, 579-594.
[5]	http://saphymo.de/products/slides/alphaslide14.html
[6]	AquaKIT-manual 12/2008, Saphymo GmbH, Germany.
[7]	Machaj, B. and Pieńkos, J. (2003) Pomiar stezenia radonu w wodzie za pomoca komory Lucasa. Raporty IChTJ seria B nr 1/2003, Instytut Chemii i Techniki Jadrowej.