Role of lithology in the presence of natural radioactivity in drinking water samples from Tarragona province

One hundred and ninety-six drinking water samples from the different regions of Tarragona province (Catalonia, Spain) were analysed to determine the gross alpha and beta activity. Individual alpha emitting isotope activities were also determined to evaluate a possible relationship between their radiological content and the lithological and hydrogeological formations present in the studied area. The results obtained showed that approximately 23% of the analysed samples, mainly from five of the evaluated regions, had a gross alpha index exceeding the parametric value of 0.1 Bq/L for waters intended for human consumption according to the current legislation. This could be related to the presence of natural radionuclides in these water samples. The differences between the radiological content in these samples could be related to the different lithological conditions of the areas included in this study. High activity levels of 234U, 238U, 224Ra, 226Ra and 228Ra were detected in specific samples, mainly from granitic and carbonate areas. This research also focuses on evaluating the radiological risk associated with water ingestion. In this regard, consuming 95.5% of the drinking water samples analysed would not imply a health risk to the population as the annual effective doses calculated were below 0.1 mSv/year. There was only one sample that exceeded this level with a value of 0.33 mSv/year. 226Ra activity concentration was the radionuclide that mainly contributed to this dose.