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• Karakaya-Aya¸s 0.09 ± 0.02 0.25 ± 0.02 Present study ˙I¸cmece-Aya¸s 28 ± 0.06 0.47 ± 0.02 Present study Beypazarı 53 ± 0.11 43 ± 0.07 Present study Haymana 58 ± 0.22 82 ± 0.12 Present study Kızılcahamam 85 ± 0.13 61 ± 0.10 Present study Batman 91 097 1 Spain < 0.02 − 42 < 0.05 − 80 4 Samsun 0.08 0.155 9 Villela, S˜ ao Paulo, Brazil 0.002–0.428 0.120–0.860 11 Saratoga, USA < 0.04 − 0 0.11–18.9 17 Emendre 0.37 0.390 18 Slovenia, spring and mineral waters n.m. 0.033–4.758 16 Balatonf¨ ured 75 ± 0.11 02 ± 0.15 16 a Mean of 3 replicate measurements with 95% confidence level, ¯ x ± ts √ N n.m.: Not measured. The measured gross α and β activities were also compared with the results reported in previous studies. As seen in Table 2, maximum gross α activity concentration found for the Haymana thermal water (2.58 Bq L −1 ) is smaller than the result given for Batman. 1 The range of gross α activity concentrations (0.09–2.58 Bq L −1 ) is in agreement with the results given for spring waters in Spain 4 and Saratoga, USA. 17 The gross α activity concentrations found for 4 thermal waters (˙I¸ cmece-Aya¸s, Beypazarı, Haymana, and Kızılcahamam) are higher than the results given for the Villela, S˜ ao Paulo, Brazil; 11 for Samsun; 9 and for Emendre. 18 The gross α activity concentrations found for the Beypazarı and Kızılcahamam thermal waters are in agreement with the result given for Balatonf¨ ured. 16 The range of gross β activity concentrations (0.25–2.61 Bq L −1 ) found for the samples is in agreement with the results given for spring waters in Batman; 1 Spain; 4 Saratoga, USA; 17 and Balatonf¨ ured. 16 The gross β activity concentrations found in thermal waters of Beypazarı, Haymana, and Kızılcahamam are higher than the results given for spring waters in Samsun; 9 Villela, S˜ ao Paulo, Brazil; 11 and Emendre; 18 and spring and mineral waters in Slovenia. 16 As seen in Table 1, M DC ranges of gross α and gross β found for the samples were from 0.05 to 0.41 and from 0.04 to 0.29 Bq L −1 , respectively. They were in agreement with the results (0.03 Bq L −1 for gross α and 0.04 Bq L −1 for gross β) given in drinking water 19 and the results (0.13 Bq L −1 for gross α and 1.30 Bq L −1 for gross β) in sea water. 20 Element analysis in samples by WDXRF The dry residues obtained from samples were directly measured by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometry. Results of analytes found are given in Table 3. Major elements (Na, K, and Ca) in mg L −1 levels and heavy metals such as Th and U in µ g L −1 levels were determined. The mean and standard deviations of triplicate measurements of each sample were found for each element. Main sources of gross α activity in thermal spring waters were uranium isotopes ( 234 U, 235 U, and 238 U) and 232 Th. 6,21 As for the β activity, it was probably caused by 40 K. 6,22 As seen in Tables 2 and 3, the gross α and β activity concentrations increased when concentration levels of U, Th, or K increased, but there was no linear relationship between them. The results of Ca, K, and Na found in sample solutions (Table 3) were compared with the recommended values given by the Turkish standard 11 (200 mg L −1 for Ca, 12 mg L −1 for K, and 175 mg L −1 for Na) and similar values were observed for Ca concentration. All K and Na (except Haymana) results were higher than the recommended values given by the Turkish standard. 12 Table Concentrations of elements in thermal waters. Concentration (µg L −1 ) a Element Karakaya-Aya¸s ˙I¸cmece-Aya¸s Beypazarı Haymana Kızılcahamam Na (mg L −1 ) 1449 ± 38 1370 ± 32 515 ± 13 82 ± 3 586 ± 17 K (mg L −1 ) 34 ± 2 41 ± 3 54 ± 2 56 ± 4 64 ± 3 Si (mg L −1 ) 5 ± 0.2 3 ± 0.4 36 ± 2 54 ± 3 17 ± 1 Ca (mg L −1 ) 206 ± 17 182 ± 12 211 ± 11 88 ± 6 21 ± 2 Mn 2 ± 0.2 68 ± 5 23 ± 1 239 ± 15 6 ± 0.2 Te 8 ± 0.5 N. D. 156 ± 7 N. D. N. D. Ce N. D b N. D. 519 ± 28 N. D. 105 ± 5 Cs 2 ± 0.1 85 ± 5 N. D. N. D. N. D. Nd N. D. N. D. 461 ± 22 78 ± 4 55 ± 3 Sm N. D. 38 ± 2 N. D. 161 ± 9 N. D. W N. D. 17 ± 1 N. D. N. D. 7 ± 0.2 La 30 ± 2 N. D. N. D. 155 ± 8 N. D. U 412 ± 25 651 ± 34 480 ± 28 514 ± 31 246 ± 12 Th 4 ± 0.4 43 ± 2 39 ± 3 73 ± 4 17 ± 1 a Mean of 3 replicate measurements with 95% confidence level, ¯ x ± ts √ N b N. D.: Not detected. Conclusion
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