title: 210Po and 238U isotope concentrations in commercial bottled mineral water samples in Spain and their dose contribution.
abstract: (210)Po is a naturally occurring radionuclide, belonging to the uranium series, which is present in minute amounts in the different environmental compartments (water, soil, biota). Through its route along the trophic chain, it can be incorporated in the human body via ingestion of waters and/or food. This radionuclide is highly radiotoxic, being one of the main contributors to the committed effective dose via ingestion by the general population. In this work, the contribution of this radionuclide to the committed effective dose received by the Spanish population via consumption of bottled mineral waters is evaluated. With this end, the (210)Po activity concentrations in a total of 32 different commercial bottled mineral waters have been determined by alpha-particle spectrometry. The determined contribution is also compared with the contributions of other natural radionuclides such as (234)U and (238)U.
authors.affiliation: Grupo Física Nuclear Aplicada, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Díaz-Francés
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mantero
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manjón
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García-Tenorio
mesh_terms: D060766:Drinking Water; D006801:Humans; D008903:Minerals; D011059:Polonium / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D008903:Minerals; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium; D011059:Polonium