NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY OF DRINKING-WATER IN THE SOUTHERN AND MIDDLE PARTS OF SYRIA

Water samples from 48 sites, covering the major water sources in the s outhern and middle parts of Syria, were collected twice and analyzed f or Rn-222, Ra-226, Po-210, and total uranium. The results obtained wer e generally low and comparable with those found for other countries. T he highest values were found in regions around the phosphate mines in the middle part of Syria with 113 kBq m(-3) for Rn-222, 350 Bq m(-3) f or Ra-226, 8 Bq m(-3) for Po-210, and 350 Bq m(-3) for total uranium. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.