Analysis of Health Risk Due to the Presence of Radioactivity and Chemical Elements in Groundwater, Aldama Municipality, Chihuahua, Mexico

There exist potential health risks due to the presence of some elements in groundwater. This study presents measurements of gross alpha and beta activity and chemical concentrations (fluorides and nitrates) in 25 water wells in Aldama municipality, Chihuahua, Mexico. Radioactive elements were concentrated by total evaporation. All samples were measured with a Wallac-Oy 1411 liquid scintillate with a pulse separation option (Pulse Shape Analysis) for 6 h. Exposure levels were calculated for each well and found to exceed maximum limits allowed under Mexican law in terms of gross alpha and beta activity and fluoride and nitrate concentrations. Fluorides and nitrates were found in 40% and 48% of water wells, respectively. Children are the most vulnerable, since their intake doses are near or above of 0.12 mg times kg super(-1) times d super(-1) of the minimum level of risk for the development of skeletal fluorosis or bone fractures.