²³⁴U/²³⁸U and ²³⁵U/²³⁸U ratios in domestic water from the environs of Obuasi mine in Ghana

Activity concentrations of U-238, U-235 and U-234 were determined in different sources of drinking water at the Obuasi gold mines and its surrounding areas in Ghana. Water samples collected from the mines and its surrounding areas were analyzed using direct gamma-ray spectrometry and neutron activation analysis. The U-234/U-238 and U-235/U-238 ratios were calculated and the mean values range from 1.27 to 1.38 and from 0.044 to 0.045 respectively. The average U-234/U-238 ratio was from 1.27 for groundwater to 1.38 for treated water, demonstrating the lack of equilibrium. The average U-235/U-238 activity ratio is 0.045, indicating that only natural uranium was detected in the samples investigated.