Determinación de concentraciones de radio (226Ra), radón (222Rn) y torón (220Rn) en suministros de agua potable de los cantones Riobamba, Guamote, Alausí y Chunchi

Abstract

The objective of this research was to monitor 25 drinking water supplies from the cantons of Chunchi, Alausí, Guamote and Riobamba in the province of Chimborazo. The water samples were analysed to determine the concentrations of radon-222, thoron (radon-220) and radium-226 using the emanometric technique that takes advantage of the predisposition ofradon gas to migrate into the air. The experimental setup consisted of a silicon semiconductor detector incorporated into the RAD7 monitor and the RAD H2O kit degassing system, manufactured by the Durridge Company. The highest results for radium-226 were obtained at the Bacún source in the Chunchi canton with a value of 0.526 ±0.088 Bq/l; for radon-222, they were obtained at the Chipo Chico source located in the Guamote cantón with a result of 7.488±0.211 Bq/l and for thoron analysis they were detected at the Llio 7 well, in the Riobamba canton, with a value of 0.141±0.081 Bq/l. The results show that all the sources studied have low concentration values for radon-222, radium-226 and thoron with respect to the reference level recommended by the European Union in Directive 2013/51/EURATOM (European Atomic Energy Community). From these basic processes it is recommended to follow the sampling protocol to avoid erroneous data.