National Monitoring for Radioactivity in Drinking Water - China, 2012-2024.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Radiological Protection
• Public Health

Background:

• Ensuring drinking water safety is crucial for public health in China.
• Establishing baseline radioactivity levels is essential for monitoring water quality.
• Understanding radioactivity sources in drinking water is vital for risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity levels in Chinese drinking water from 2012 to 2024.
• To establish baseline radioactivity levels and assess drinking water safety.
• To investigate the impact of nuclear power plants on surrounding water radioactivity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the national monitoring system for radioactivity in drinking water, organized by The National Institute for Radiological Protection (NIRP).
• Collected and pretreated over 11,000 drinking water samples across 29 provinces using a unified protocol.
• Determined radioactivity levels using alpha/beta counting systems by local laboratories.

Main Results:

• Mean gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity levels ranged from 0.01-0.17 Bq/L and 0.05-0.38 Bq/L, respectively, below national standards.
• Radioactivity levels in well water were higher compared to other water bodies.
• Natural radionuclides were identified as the primary source of radioactivity in drinking water.

Conclusions:

• Drinking water in China exhibits normal background radioactivity levels.
• Nuclear power plant operations did not demonstrably impact radioactivity in surrounding water sources.
• The findings support the safety of China's drinking water quality regarding radioactivity.