GROSS ALPHA, GROSS BETA AND GAMMA ACTIVITIES IN BOTTLED NATURAL MINERAL WATER FROM ROMANIA

The activity concentrations of U-238, Ra-226 and Th-232 were analysed in eleven natural mineral waters sources, non-carbonated ones from Northern Romania. The samples were collected for a period of three years. The waters originate from a volcanic aquifer containing carbonate rocks. It was found that the concentration of uranium isotope U-238 varied in the ranges 0.07-0.48 Bq L-1. The activity ratio between uranium isotope U-238 and radium isotope Ra-226 was between 0.03-1.05. The calculated doses for the analysed samples are in the range 8.84-40.75 mu Sv/year, with an average value of 20.08 mu Sv/year, where the reference level of 100 mu S/year is the committed effective dose recommended by WHO and the EU Council.