Natural radioactivity content in groundwater of Mt. Etna’s eastern flank and gamma background of surrounding rocks

Waters of Mt. Etna are the main source of drinking water for the local
population and are also distributed in municipal supply systems to neighbouring
areas. Radioactivity in underground waters and surrounding
rocks from the eastern flank of Mt. Etna was investigated on the basis of
9 water and 8 rock samples from 12 localities altogether. Three samples
were from water drainage galleries and six from water wells. All water intakes
are used for consumption. Activity concentration of uranium isotopes
234,238U, radium isotopes 226,228Ra and radon 222Rn were
determined with the use different nuclear spectrometry techniques. The
determination of uranium isotopes was carried out with the use of alpha
spectrometry. The measurements of radium and radon activity concentration
in water were performed with the use of a liquid scintillation technique.
Additionally, rocks surrounding the intakes were examined with
gamma spectrometry. All water samples showed uranium concentration
above Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA), with the highest total uranium
(234U + 238U) activity concentration equal to 149.2±6 mBq/L.
Conversely, all samples showed radium isotopes activity concentrations
below MDA. Radon activity concentration was within the range from
2.91±0.36 to 21.21±1.10 Bq/L, hence these waters can be classified as
low-radon waters. Gamma natural background of the rocks surrounding
the water sampling sites was found on the same levels as other volcanic
rocks of Italy.

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