Title: 228Ra, 226Ra and 210Pb in sediment and water of the São Francisco River in Petrolina-PE/Brazil

Authors: C.M. Silva; J.N. Tabosa; C.E.O. Costa Júnior; C.A. Silva Filho; J.A. Souza Neto

Addresses: Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco, Avenida General San Martin, 1371, Bongi, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil ' Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco, Avenida General San Martin, 1371, Bongi, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil ' Departamento de Energia Nuclear, Grupo de Estudos em Radioproteção e Radioecologia (GERAR), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Professor Luiz Freire, 1000, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil ' Centro Regional de Ciências Nucleares do Nordeste, Av. Professor Luiz Freire, 1000, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil ' Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Acadêmico Hélio Ramos s/n, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract: The purpose of this of this research is to determine 228Ra, 226Ra and 210Pb concentrations in the water and sediment of the São Francisco River, nearby from farms producing fruits in Petrolina City. Concentrations of 228Ra, 210Pb and 226Ra in the water samples varied from <19.0 (detection limit) to 22.0 mBq.l−1; <4.0 (detection limit) to 13.0 mBq.l−1; and 12.0 to 42.0 mBq.l−1, respectively. For sediments samples, in this order, the concentrations ranged from <7.0 (detection limit) to 35.0 Bq.kg−1; <3.5 (detection limit) to 15.0 Bq.kg−1; and 12.0 to 92 Bq.kg−1. These results indicate that there are spots in São Francisco River, Petrolina, which have high concentrations of 228Ra, 226Ra and 210Pb in sediments.

Keywords: natural radionuclides; environmental contamination; food chain; aquatic environment; sediments; fruit farming; agriculture; environmental pollution; water pollution; low radiation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2013.055608

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2013 Vol.9 No.2, pp.147 - 159

Received: 11 Sep 2012
Accepted: 16 Apr 2013

Published online: 13 Sep 2014 *

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