Abstract
[ $^{222}Rn\;and\;^{226}Ra$ ] in groundwater were determined simultaneously using a gamma-spectroscopy. A nitrogen flushing equipment has been used for elimination and stabilization of high and unstable background activity due to the radon and its progenies in counting shield and room. The aim of present work was to control the background activity for simultaneous measurement of radium$(^{226}Ra)$ and radon$(^{222}Rn)$ in groundwater using a gamma-spectrometry. Background activity was about 1.0dps and the standard deviation was about 50%, The background activity could be minimized using nitrogen flushing equipment in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 and the RSD was about 5% at the experimental condition. The detection limit of $^{222}Rn\;and\;^{226}Ra$ in groundwater was 0.5dps/L in the background control method. In most groundwater used in the work, radon activity was more than the detection limit. However, radium activity in some groundwater was less than the detection limit. If the low level radium in groundwater must be measured, preconcentration process such as concentration should be performed before measuring the groundwater.
