Radioactive emanations in spas of São Paulo and Minas Gerais States

• Grant number: 11/13214-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2011
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Marcos Bonotto
• Grantee: Daniel Marcos Bonotto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas (IGCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research intends to investigate the presence of radioactive emanations belonging to the uranium and thorium decay series (radon and thoron) in spas occurring at about 15 municipalities in southeast Brazil (São Paulo and Minas Gerais States), where questions focusing the spring waters quality in terms of radiological aspects will also be focused as many of them are ingested by the population utilizing the spas. The presence of gases commonly measured in mineral waters like O2, CO2 and H2S will also be evaluated, as they can provide suitable information on their circulation environment. Aditionally, the presence of dissolved 228Ra in waters will also be determined as this radionuclide of the thorium decay series generally exhibits higher solubility, helping on the discrimination of the radioactivity due to radon and/or thoron. (AU)