Abstract

BOVEDA, Luz; GOMEZ, Rafael; CABELLO, Julio  and  MICHAJLUK, Boris. Preliminary Evaluation of the activity concentration of cesium-137 present in bottled drinking water sold in supermarkets in Asuncion and the metropolitan area by gamma spectrometry. Rev. ciente. UCSA [online]. 2023, vol.10, n.2, pp.14-19. ISSN 2409-8752.  https://doi.org/10.18004/ucsa/2409-8752/2023.010.02.014.

Cesium-137 is a radionuclide that is formed as a byproduct of nuclear fission in nuclear reactors. Once released into the environment, it can be absorbed by living organisms, producing negative effects on human health. The purpose of this research was to preliminarily evaluate the concentration of cesium-137 activity in bottled drinking water in Asuncion and the metropolitan area. Drinking water samples were collected at twenty sampling points in Asuncion and the metropolitan area using a convenience sampling method. The determination of cesium-137 concentration activities was carried out using gamma spectrometry and a two-inch diameter thallium-activated sodium iodide detector coupled to an Accuspec multichannel analyzer. The results obtained showed that the concentrations of cesium-137 activity were lower than the reference limits established in the Brazilian Standard for drinking water, the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition, and the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan. The nuclear technique of gamma spectrometry allowed the detection of the concentration of cesium-137 activity in the analyzed bottled drinking water samples.

Keywords : water; cesium-137; gamma spectrometry.

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