Published 1990 | Version v1
Journal article

Radioactivity in mineral waters

  • 1. Service Central de Protection contre les Rayonnements Ionisants, 78 - Le Vesinet (France)

Description

In France, there are more than 1 400 thermal springs. Among them we have, until now, analysed the radioactivity of 750. Radioactivity in 26 of them, including the best-known mineral waters in France, has been the object of a thorough survey regarding the amount of or activity in Radium (226Ra), Uranium (238U, 234U), Thorium (232Th, 230Th, 228Th), Potassium (40K), and for some of them, Radon (222Rn). A particular attention has been brought to the radioactive equilibrium and disequilibrium in these waters, and more especially to the disequilibrium by excess of concentration of 234U which we have stated in 6 French thermal springs. The results of this study show that radioactivity in French mineral waters is very low, sometimes non measurable with usual technical means, and that the health hazards linked with the consumption of these waters are negligible. 2 figs., 7 tabs., 16 refs

Abstract (French)

Il existe, en France, plus de 1 400 sources thermales dont 750 ont ete analysees au SCPRI. La radioactivite de vingt-six d'entre elles, comportant les eaux minerales les plus consommees en France, fait l'objet du present travail qui porte sur les teneurs ou les activites en: Radium (226Ra), Uranium (238U, 234U), Thorium (232Th, 230Th), 228Th), Potassium (40K) et, pour certaines, Radon (222Rn). Une attention particuliere a ete apportee aux equilibres et desequilibres radioactifs dans ces eaux, en particulier sur le desequilibre par enrichissement en Uranium 234 que nous avons mis en evidence dans 6 sources thermales francaises. Il ressort de cette etude que la radioactivite des eaux minerales francaises est faible, parfois non mesurable avec les moyens techniques habituels, et que les risques sanitaires lies a la consommation de ces eaux sont negligeables

Additional details

Additional titles

Original title (French)
Eaux minerales et radioactivite

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Hydrogeologie
Journal Issue
no.4
Series
Hydrogeologie.
CODEN
HYGEE