A peer-reviewed journal published by K. N. Toosi University of Technology

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Nuclear Engineering‎, ‎Faculty of Engineering‎, ‎Islamic Azad University‎, ‎Science and Research Branch‎, ‎Tehran‎, ‎Iran.

2 Department of Medical Radiation Engineering‎, ‎Faculty of Engineering‎, ‎Islamic Azad University‎, ‎Science and Research Branch‎, ‎Tehran‎, ‎Iran.

Abstract

‎The concentration of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in surface water and irrigation wells is measured using gamma ray spectrometry by HPGe detector‎. ‎Measurement was carried out for samples that were collected over seventeen points in Tehran city and its suburbs‎. ‎The samples were prepared in compliance with the principles from irrigation wells of city‎. ‎The specific radioactivity of Ra-226‎, ‎Th-232 and K-40 were measured and the results from different locations covered a range with the minimum being below "minimum detectable activity‎" ‎up to maximum of 4.04‎, ‎and 6.85 and 4.7 Bq per liter of water‎, ‎respectively‎. ‎The accumulation of radioactive materials in the samples from southern areas of Tehran was more than that of central areas‎. ‎Also‎, ‎concentration of Ra-226 in all the samples was less than the Derived Release Limit of Canada and Environmental Protection Agency standard threshold‎.

Highlights

  • Natural radioactivity of water resources in city of Tehran is measured.
  • A precisly calibrated HPGe detector has been employed.
  • Radioactivity concentration is higher at south part of Tehran.
  • Activity is mostly due to Th-232 and K-40 but little from Ra-226.
  • Results show that the whole activity is more than many countries but comparable with standards.

Keywords

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