Investigation of natural radionuclide activity in drinking water in Hohhot, China
10.13491/j.issn.1004-714X.2026.02.001
- VernacularTitle:呼和浩特市饮用水中天然放射性核素活度调查
- Author:
Bo JU
1
;
Yulong BAO
1
;
Shuai ZHANG
1
;
Xiang LIU
2
;
Xiao XU
1
;
Zhichao SUN
1
;
Xiaojuan YANG
1
Author Information
1. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Academy of Preventive Medicine), Hohhot 010010, China.
2. Hohhot City Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hohhot 010070, China.
- Collective Name:Gerilemandahu;Haribala
- Publication Type:OriginalArticles
- Keywords:
Well water;
Tap water;
Radionuclide;
210Po;
226Ra;
Hohhot
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health
2026;35(2):159-164
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in drinking water (tap water and well water) in urban and rural areas of Hohhot, assess the safety of drinking water, and to provide data support for local drinking water radioactivity monitoring and management. Methods Representative samples of well water and tap water were collected from nine banners/counties/districts in Hohhot. Activity concentrations were measured using a low-background gross α/β counter, an α spectrometer, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and a radium/radon analyzer. Results A total of nine tap water samples and nine well water samples were analyzed. For the tap water samples, gross α activity concentrations ranged from 0.093 to 0.193 Bq/L, gross β from 0.091 to 0.225 Bq/L, uranium mass concentrations from 2.32 to 10.36 μg/L, thorium mass concentrations from 0.09 to 0.20 μg/L,210Po activity concentrations from below the minimum detectable limit to 0.41 mBq/L, and 226Ra activity concentrations from 8.70 to 13.35 mBq/L. For the well water samples, gross α activity concentrations ranged from 0.111 to 0.203 Bq/L, gross β from 0.111 to 0.270 Bq/L, uranium mass concentrations from 2.31 to 13.28 μg/L, thorium mass concentrations from 0.17 to 0.26 μg/L,210Po activity concentrations from 1.03 to 2.12 mBq/L, and 226Ra activity concentrations from 15.38 to 23.63 mBq/L. Conclusion The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in both well water and tap water in the Hohhot region were at environmental background levels and met national drinking water hygiene standards.
