Assessment of radioactivity and chemical contaminants in domestic water at supply stations in Long Phu District, Vietnam, to prevent public health risks

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 737; p. 140291
• Main Authors: Ho, Phan Long, Hung, Le Dinh, Minh, Vu Tuan, Van Chinh, Dang, Thanh, Tran Thien, Van Tao, Chau
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2020
• Subjects: Annual committed effective dose; Discriminant analysis; Gamma spectrometry; Gross alpha/beta; Groundwater; ICP-OES; Gross alpha/beta; Discriminant analysis; Annual committed effective dose; Groundwater; ICP-OES; Gamma spectrometry
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140291

This paper presents information on the concentration of radioactivity and chemicals at 12 water stations that used groundwater as their raw water supply source. The groundwater's radioactivity was higher than the treated, tap, and surface water, but lower than the national and international recommendations. At five stations (41.7%), the gross alpha contents were higher than the levels advised by Vietnam's regulations, but met the WHO and IAEA's recommendations. The mean activity (Bq L−1) gross alpha, gross beta, Ra-224, Ra-226, and Ra-228 were 0.093 ± 0.012, 0.221 ± 0.020, 0.031 ± 0.004, 0.028 ± 0.004, and 0.035 ± 0.001, respectively. The contribution of Ra-226 to the gross alpha was in a range of 23%–60% (r = 0.91, p value <0.001), and the ratio of Ra-226/Ra-228 ranged from 0.49–1.06. For the treated and tap water, each age groups' annual committed effective dose was lower than the international regulations. The concentration of the total dissolved solids, sulfate, chloride, sodium, barium, and manganese met the national regulations. However, during the rainy season, the surface water in the area was affected by saltwater intrusion, with salinity up to 4.1‰. Discriminant analysis was applied to study the differences among the water groups. As a result, the treated and tap water were separated from the others. [Display omitted] •This study assessed the water quality according to regulations for public health risk prevention.•This study validated that the water contaminants were effectively removed based on discriminant analysis.•We identified the relationship between Ra-226 and the gross alpha, gross beta, K, Ra-226/Ra-228, and Ra-226/Ra-224.•The annual committed effective dose in the treated water for specified age groups was lower than international regulations.•Strong disequilibrium was demonstrated between Ra-224 and Ra-228 in the groundwater samples.