Radium-226 in thermal and mineral springs of Croatia and associated health risks

Results of Ra-226 determination in thermal and mineral water springs, mostly spas and health, resorts, in the Republic of Croatia, are presented. These waters have been used on a large scale for medical and bathing purposes; for therapy, rehabilitation and recreation, while mineral waters from several locations are also used for drinking. The Ra-226 content of thermal and mineral waters ranged from 0.07 to 4.40 Bq l(-1). In the spas in which waters were used both for bathing and drinking purposes, Ra-226 activities in some springs were found to exceed the maximal permissible level of 1 Bg l(-1) for drinking water. On the assumption that a drinking cure contains 1 litre of mineral water daily for 1 week, the radium body burden originating from drinking this water would be on average 2.1 times higher than that originated from the consumption of 1 litre per day of tap water over 1 year. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited