Natural radionuclide concentrations in drinking water (well and spring mineral waters) samples from Bordj-Bouarreridj region, east Algeria

Using gamma ray spectroscopy with high purity germanium detector, the activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 radionuclides in drinking water samples from two areas in Bordj-Bouarreridj, east of Algeria were measured. The mass concentrations were found to range 10.46-63.56 mu g/L for U-238, not determined value to 9.83 mu g/L for Th-232 and 5.29-6.80 mu g/L for K-40. The chemical and physical characteristics of the drinking water samples were determined. The human radiological risk was calculated on the lifetime consumption of the population of the studied area based on the results obtained.