Environmental Monitoring of Tritium (3H) and Radiocarbon (14C) Levels in Mafikeng Groundwater Using Alpha/Beta Spectrometry

With the current state of water scarcity in Mafikeng, South Africa, due to low levels and an increasing population, it is therefore crucial ensure sustainability availability existing resources. In this study, tritium radiocarbon groundwater (boreholes) at selected villages Mafikeng were determined using Perkin Elmer Ultra Low Liquid Scintillation Counter 2000. The mean activity concentrations are 3.61304 ± 0.00612 Bq/L 3.86014 0.00739 for samples from Dibate Lokaleng villages, respectively, whereas 1.83392 0.02265 Moletsamongwe, Lekung, Airport View Seweding. Moreover, 0.59296 0.00886 0.8333 0.0126 Bq/L, for, Seweding, they 1.3752713 0.01968 Bq/L. Two (2) out forty (40) analysed below minimum detectable 0.33627 average annual effective dose (AED) 0.04754 μSv/y 0.05079 μSv/y, 0.02413 AED 0.251404 0.36604 Lokaleng, 0.58309 Seweding village. evaluated lifetime cancer risk mortality morbidity adults lower than radiological limit 1.63 × 10−3 set by regulatory agencies; hence, consumption studied will not pose any health risks terms levels.