Ra-226 concentration of Hungarian bottled mineral waters and estimation ofthe dose deriving from their consumption

The concentration of Ra-226 was measured in most of the bottled mineral wat ers commercially available in Hungary. The Ra-226 concentration exceeded th e 100 mBq . l(-1) value in six cases out of the investigated 29 types of mi neral waters. In most of the cases, Ra-226 concentration does not reach the 100 mBq.l(-1) value. 100-800 mBq.l(-1) values were found in five cases and 3 Bq.l(-1) was measured in one case. This concentration means 0.3 mSv.year (-1) dose load in case of 1 l.day(-1) consumption, but in case of children (12-17 years old populace) it can reach the 1,6 mSv.year(-1). When measurin g the Ra-226 concentration in soft drinks made from this latter mineral wat er, 2.6 Bq.l(-1) concentration was determined which means 1.4 mSv.year(-1) dose load in the 12-17 years age-group when 1 l.day(-1) is consumed from th ese drinks.