UTILIZATION OF GAMMA SPECTROMETRY: QUANTIFYING RADIOACTIVE CONTENT OF EIGHT SPA WATER SAMPLES IN NORTHERN ALGERIA

Abstract

Thermal waters at Algerian spas, used for centuries for medicine, will be tested for radioactivity. A high-resolution HPGe γ-spectrometry instrument was used to evaluate the radioactive concentration of eight Spas waters in north Algeria for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ²³⁵U, and 40K. To achieve secular equilibrium between 226Ra and its short-lived daughter products before gamma spectrometry, water is embedded in Marinelli beakers and sealed for 28 days. Spa waters averaged 0.045–2.077 Bql^-1 in ²²⁶Ra activity, 0.17–3.416 in ²³²Th activity, 0.085–7,235 in ²³⁵U activity, and 1.402–15.156 in 40K activity. This research would assist users and government authorities in assessing radiation risks from spa bathing.