Machine learning as a tool for analysing the impact of environmental parameters on the radon exhalation rate from soil

2020 ◽  
Vol 138 ◽  
pp. 106402
Author(s):  
Masahiro Hosoda ◽  
Shinji Tokonami ◽  
Takahito Suzuki ◽  
Miroslaw Janik
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Radon emission fluctuation as a result of biochar application into the soil

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamil Szewczak ◽  
Sławomir Jednoróg ◽  
Katarzyna Wołoszczuk ◽  
Łukasz Gluba ◽  
Anna Rafalska-Przysucha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Measurements ◽  
Radon Emanation ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Laboratory Measurements ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Emanation Coefficient ◽  
A Value ◽  
Simultaneous Decrease ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe presented research was focused on the analysis of the impact of biochar application into the soil on the radon exhalation process as a new issue of radiation protection in agriculture. Field measurements of the radon exhalation rate utilizing two methods—active and passive as well as laboratory measurements of the radon emanation coefficient were performed. In laboratory a soil samples with sunflower husk biochar were analysed using the accumulation chamber technique. At the final step the assessment of the effective dose for humans coming from radon exhalation from soil depending on biochar dose applied were evaluated. The doses of biochar applied in the analysed experimental fields were 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 Mg ha−1. The results show that biochar application into the soil contribute to a decrease in the emanation coefficient from a value around 7% to less than 2% with a simultaneous decrease in the radon exhalation rate from 4.4 to 14.8 mBq m−2 s−1 when the biochar dose increase from 0 to 100 Mg ha−1.

Impact of soil incorporation of biochar on radon emission

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamil Szewczak ◽  
Katarzyna Wołoszczuk ◽  
Sławomir Jednoróg ◽  
Anna Rafalska-Przysucha ◽  
Łukasz Gluba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Retention ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Satellite Monitoring ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Emanation Coefficient ◽  
Radon Emission ◽  
The Impact

<p>Biochar (charcoal made from biomass in the pyrolysis process) has found broad application in agriculture. The research performed with biochar revealed the positive impact of biochar application for chemical and physical properties of soil. Biochar was also used as an material for decontamination of soil from heavy metals and pesticides. The improved water retention of soil after biochar application was shown as well. There are particular research concerning the usage of biochar as an material for decontamination of soil from anthropogenic radioactive material including Cs-137 and Sr-90 deposited after nuclear weapon test. However, the biochar find the most practical application in agriculture for improvement of crops efficiency and water retention of soils. The typical application amount of biochar for agricultural purpose varies from 40 to 100 Mg ha<sup>-1</sup>.</p><p>Actually, there are numerous research activities focused on the direct impact of biochar on physical and chemical soil properties. Simultaneously lack of information are available for issue if and how biochar impact for environment radioactivity. As one of that impact could be  the influence on radon emission from soil surface. The aim of presented work was to investigate the impact of biochar application into the soil for the radon emission process.</p><p>The research objects were soil samples collected from experimental fields with biochar applied at doses from 1 to 100 Mg ha<sup>-1</sup>. Two type of biochar were investigated – first biochar produced from sunflower husk at temperature of 650°C and second biochar produced from wood chips at temperature of 650°C. The radon emanation coefficient were assessed using active cumulative technique incorporating AlphaGUARD instrument equipped with sealed accumulation box.  In addition, we directly measured radon exhalation rate at the experimental fields. As the emanation coefficient calculation require the information on Ra-226 activity concentration, the gamma spectrometry analysis using HPGe detector were performed for samples collected on particular field.  </p><p>The results of activity concentration assessments shown that the most visible effect of biochar application into the soil is associated with the reduction of soil bulk density by this material. No significant changes in activity concentration depending on the biochar dose applied were observed for Ra-226. Fluctuation in radon exhalation rate as well as in emanation coefficient, depending on the biochar dose (from 1 to 100 Mg ha<sup>-1</sup>) were observed and presented.</p><p>The research was partially conducted under the projects “Water in soil – satellite monitoring and improving the retention using biochar” no. BIOSTRATEG3/345940/7/NCBR/2017, which was financed by the Polish National Centre for Research and Development in the framework of “Environment, agriculture and forestry” – BIOSTRATEG strategic R&D programme.</p>

scholarly journals Effect on Radon Exhalation Rate Due to Cracks in Concrete

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-90
Author(s):  
Magnus Döse ◽  
Johan Silfwerbrand
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Substantial Variation ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Major Increase ◽  
Natural Decay ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Surface Increase ◽  
Research Institute

Abstract The second largest cause of lung cancer in the World is related to radon (222Rn) and its progenies in our environment. Building materials, such as concrete, contribute to the production of radon gas through the natural decay of 238U from its constituents. The Swedish Cement and Concrete Research Institute (CBI), part of RISE (Research Institute of Sweden AB), has examined the effects of cracks in concrete on two different concrete recipes where an Ordinary Portland Cement, OPC-CEM-I concrete (REF) and an OPC concrete including a hydrophobic additive (ADD) were addressed. Two concrete prisms from each concrete recipe were examined. The radon exhalation rate was measured in the pristine state and after concrete cracks had been induced into the concrete prisms. Measurements were performed with an ATMOS 33 ionizing pulsation chamber. The results indicate a strong influence of cracks on the radon exhalation rate. An increase in radon exhalation rate was calculated for every test prism. The increase in radon exhalation rate varied between 80 and 260 %. The crack apertures may play a significant role on the exhalation rate. The concrete prisms with the largest apertures (ADD) also generated the highest radon exhalation rates. The results imply that there could be a substantial variation in the exhalation rate, due to numerous factors, but nonetheless, the results should, raise the awareness of the impact cracks in concrete structures, may have on the final exhalation rate of radon. The exhalation rate of the recipe with an additive (ADD) also showed a lower exhalation rate than for the reference recipe (REF), when compared in a pristine state. This was in part expected. However, the effect of induced cracks and its aperture, seemingly trumps the effect that an additive may play on the radon exhalation rate, when cracks are induced. The hypothesis is in part verified in view of the results of the prism for the ordinary Portland recipe (REF-prisms), were an increase of approximately 100 % would be expected due to the total surface increase. The results also indicate this. The major increase in the radon exhalation rate of the ordinary Portland recipe including an additive, implies however other factors, such as minor internal cracks, that may substantially contribute to the final exhalation rate.

Analysis of the Ventilation Effects on Radon-222 Exhalation in a Dead-End Tunnel

2015 ◽  
Vol 713-715 ◽  
pp. 304-313
Author(s):  
Shu Guang Wang ◽  
Wei Yang ◽  
Qing Chen ◽  
Jian Hua Chen ◽  
Cong Han
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Calculation Model ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Exhaust Ventilation ◽  
Dead End

The regularity of radon exhalation rate in the over-broken granite tunnel is susceptible to weather conditions and ventilation styles. Based on the calculation model of radon exhalation in tunnel, some experiments have been carried out to analyze the variations of radon exhalation in cases of natural ventilation, blowing ventilation and exhaust ventilation separately. The results show that there is a linear relation between the radon exhalation and the natural ventilation quantity, and also between the radon exhalation and the ambient temperature; the radon exhalation in the case of exhaust ventilation is 63% higher than that in the blowing case under the condition of the same ventilation quantity and ambient temperature. Therefore, it is suggested that operation in the tunnel in high temperature be avoided in summer, and the blowing ventilation be adopted as an effective way for ventilation.

scholarly journals Outdoor 222Rn behaviour in different areas of Slovakia

Nukleonika ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol Holý ◽  
Monika Műllerová ◽  
Martin Bulko ◽  
Oľga Holá ◽  
Terézia Melicherová
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Simple Approach ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Hilly Terrain ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Linear Dependency

Abstract Radon activity concentration (RAC) in the outdoor atmosphere was monitored in four localities of Slovakia. The distance between the localities were up to 130 km. The localities had a diverse orography, ranging from flatland to hilly terrain. A significant influence of orography and 226Ra and 222Rn content in soil on diurnal time series of RAC was found. A simple approach of determining radon exhalation rate from soil based on the increase of RAC from daily minima to maxima and removal characteristic of radon is presented. A linear dependency between radon exhalation rate from the soil and RAC in the soil gas at a depth of 0.8 m was found for sandy soils.

scholarly journals Effect of Ultrasonic Treatment on Radon Exhalation from Porous Media: An Experimental Case Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3005
Author(s):  
Ling-feng Xie ◽  
Shu-liang Zou ◽  
Xiang-yang Li ◽  
Chang-shou Hong ◽  
Hong Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Ultrasonic Wave ◽  
Linear Correlation ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Experimental Apparatus ◽  
Positive Linear Correlation

Radon is internationally recognized as one of the seven seismic precursors. A self-assembly ultrasonic generator and experimental apparatus for radon measurement were utilized to explore the radon exhalation regularities of water-bearing porous media under different ultrasonic intensities. The experimental results showed that there was a coupling relationship among radon exhalation rate, moisture content, and ultrasonic frequency. With the increase of the frequency of the ultrasonic wave, its effect on the promotion of radon exhalation rate was found to be a more obviously positive linear correlation. The radon exhalation rate, which could climb to a maximum value of 0.179 Bq·m−2·s−1 in a naturally air-dried sample, increased at first and then decreased along with increased moisture content. Moreover, this study found that the ultrasonic wave had the most remarkable promoting effects on the radon exhalation rate of porous media with high moisture content, and there is a positive linear correlation between the growth rate of the radon exhalation rate and moisture content. The experimental results could provide a beneficial reference for the continual monitoring of radon in a seismically active belt and an explanation of radon anomalies; however, the proposed experimental model was simplified, so further insights are strictly required for a reliable correlation with the real monitoring of radon in a seismically active belt.

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