Effect of pH, temperature, conductivity and sediment size on thorium and radium activities along Jucar River (Spain)

A study is presented on the distribution of thorium and radium isotopes in sediments, suspended matter and water collected along Jucar river (East of Spain), using low-level α-spectrometry. The first aim of this work is to study the thorium and radium activity in water, sediment and suspended matter and their dependence on pH, temperature, conductivity and sediment sizes along Jucar river. The analysis of activity variation with these parameters will provide information about the dynamics of these radionuclides in rivers. The values obtained for the distribution factors between suspended matter and water (K _d ) are also discussed.