Abstract

The radiological quality of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in some samples of drinking and mineral water collected in Johor Bahru, Malaysia has been measured by direct  ray spectroscopy using high purity germanium detector in this paper. Mean activity concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in drinking and mineral water were found 1.48 ± 0.12, 9.59 ± 0.83, 39.67 ± 1.69 ppm and 2.16 ± 0.15, 15.88 ± 1.16, 41.47 ± 1.76 ppm respectively. The mean estimated dose of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K to an adult from the drinking and mineral water intake was 0.0015 ± 0.0001, 0.0122 ± 0.0011, 5.53 ± 0.23 nSv year^-1 and 0.0021 ± 0.0001, 0.0203 ± 0.0015 , 5.80 ± 0.23 nSv year^-1 respectively.

Key words: Drinking water, mineral, Johor Bahru (Malaysia), potassium, thorium, uranium.