Precise and accurate estimation of natural radioactivity is essential in order to
appraise the radiation dose to the member of public due to various intakes. In the present
study, an attempt has been made to estimate the uranium content in packaged drinking water
by laser induced fluorimetry and then to calculate the committed effective dose. Sixty
packaged drinking water samples of different brands were analysed for uranium content. The
total uranium content in these samples was found to be in the range of 0.04–3.88
µg l-1. The concentration of uranium is comparable with other reported
worldwide values except a few high values such as 0.5–6000 µg l-1 in Finland,
0.1–28 µg l-1 in China, 0.1–40 µg l-1 in Switzerland and 0.04–1400
µg l-1 in Jordan and much lower than the drinking water limit of 15
µg l-1 (WHO, 2004) and 30 µg l-1 (USEPA, 2000a). The radiation
dose due to uranium ingestion through packaged drinking water was found to vary from
0.08–3.19 µSv y-1, with an average dose of 1.21 µSv y-1.