Radionuclides of uranium series in natural waters of South-Eastern Belarus

Contents of radionuclides of Ra 226, Pb 210 and Po 210 (mainly of natural origin) in natural resources of drinking water of Gomel and Mogilev regions have been established. It has been shown that content of Ra 226 and Pb 210 is significantly lower than interfering levels (0.50 and 0.20 Bq/kg), but content of Po 210 in specific cases approaches the interfering level (0.12 Bq/kg). It has been found that underground waters contain usually more Ra 226 and Po 210 than surface waters. As the depth of underground water changes from 40 to 300 m contents of Pb 210 and Po 210 vary in the wide limits, in this case content of Ra 226 does not change substantially. Maximum contents of Pb 210 and Po 210 in water were noted at the depth of about 100 m. (authors)