Radioactivity levels and radiation hazard of healing mud from San Diego River, Cuba

Healing mud core samples were collected in the San Diego River (Southwest Cuba), in order to determine the behaviour of the radioactivity levels of 226 Ra, 137 Cs, 232 Th and 40 K and to evaluate their possible radiological impact on peloide therapeutic uses. The radionuclide concentration ranges in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry 2013-02, Vol.295 (2), p.1293-1297
Main Authors: Rizo, O. Díaz, Gelen Rudnikas, A., Arado López, J. O., D′Alessandro Rodríguez, K., González Hernández, P., Fagundo Castillo, J. R., Blanco Padilla, D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Diagnostic Radiology
Hadrons
Health aspects
Heavy Ions
Inorganic Chemistry
Nuclear Chemistry
Nuclear Physics
Nuclear radiation
Physical Chemistry
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Summary:Healing mud core samples were collected in the San Diego River (Southwest Cuba), in order to determine the behaviour of the radioactivity levels of 226 Ra, 137 Cs, 232 Th and 40 K and to evaluate their possible radiological impact on peloide therapeutic uses. The radionuclide concentration ranges in healing mud profiles on Bq kg −1 dry weight varied as follows: 226 Ra = 22–26, 137 Cs = 4.6–33.0, 232 Th = 18–31 and 40 K = 208–433. The calculated average radium equivalent activity (82 Bq kg −1 ), total absorbed dose rate (40 nGy h −1 ), external hazard index (0.23), annual gonadal dose equivalent (280 μSv h −1 ) and annual effective dose equivalent (48.5 μSv y −1 ) are less than international recommended values. Hence, the levels of radioactivity in healing muds from San Diego River are not an impediment for its use for medical proposes.
ISSN:0236-5731
1588-2780
DOI:10.1007/s10967-012-2207-y