Assessment of Environmental Radioactivity in Sediments, Water and Reed Samples at the Inlet of Wastewater Treatment Plant to Arak Meyghan Wetland

Radionuclides are naturally occurring in water, soil, plants and air, and today, industrial and urban pollutants are also effective in increasing its level. As part of this research, the impact of Arak wastewater treatment plant production on environmental radiation in the Meyghan wetland entrance area was examined.

In this study, 10 sediment samples, 10 water samples and 10 reed samples from the water input zone from the Arak wastewater treatment plant to Meyghan wetlands were collected. The specific activities of radionuclides were determined using gamma ray spectrometry method employing high purity germanium detector (HPGe) and maps of the distribution of radionuclides in this area were prepared for sediment and water samples.

The average values ​​of specific activity of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs in sediment samples were 22.86, 27.26, 409.04 and 6.34, and in water samples 2.67, 3.04, 23.7 and 0.37 as well as in reed samples 8.8, 9.59, 45.66 and 2.26 in Bqkg-1, respectively. The amount of radium equivalent activity in sediment samples ranges from 84.14 to 104.55, with an average of 93.34 in Bqkg-1.

The average Raeq value in the sediment samples obtained as 93.34Bqkg-1, which is less than the global average (139.7Bqkg-1). It seems that the pollutants are removed from the water taken in calm ponds and the treatment section by active sludge, and the water entering the wetlands contains a small amount of radioactive contaminants.