RADON: GEOINFORMATION FOR THE PLANNING OF URBAN – SUBURBAN REGIONS. THE CASE OF NAFPLION CITY, GREECE

Radon is trapped in the terrestrial cover as a transmutation product of natural radioactive elements. It is directly related to the geotectonic environment and the atmosphere contains traces of radon near the ground, as a result of emanations from soil and rocks, both of which contain minute quantities of radium; it also infiltrates into the ground and circulates in groundwater. Because naturally occurring radon gas has come to be recognised as a potentially serious health hazard, especially in the built environment, a radon and radiometric (α- and γ-radiation) survey was carried out in the urban and suburban region of Nafplion, using the same grid of 500 x 500 m that was used by other methods, i.e., urban geochemical and geophysical surveys. Radon was measured down to a soil depth of 50 cm, and at each site α- and γ-radiation measurements were taken. The survey results have shown that these concentrations are low compared to other regions of Greece. However, potential accumulations of radon in closed underground spaces cannot be excluded. The isoradon contours of these concentrations form anisotropy axes of main NW to NE and N-S direction related to geological-tectonic structures.

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Viruses and Water: Problems, Detection, and Control

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1993.0543 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 27 (7-8) ◽

pp. 127-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

H. Dizer ◽

J. Dürkop ◽

A. Grohmann ◽

H. Kopecka ◽

J. M. López-Pila

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Surface Waters ◽

Membrane Filtration ◽

Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽

Health Hazard ◽

Primary Source ◽

Detection Methods ◽

Secondary Effluent ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Water Problems

Secondary effluent of wastewater treatment plants contains a high number of viruses and other pathogens, which pose a health risk to the population, (especially when receiv ng waters are used for bathing and swimming, or for growing shellfish. In areas with a high density of population, where drinking water supply is dependent on surface waters and contaminated rivers are the primary source of drinking water, failure of the filtration or of the disinfection step, or of any other “barriers” supposed to warrant safe potable water, will increase the risk of health hazard for the consumer. We have compared the efficiency of viral elimination in secondary effluent by flocculation, uv rradiation and membrane filtration taking naturally occurring, or additionally seeded f2 phages, as indicator for viruses. Flocculation decreased the number of phages present in secondary effluent by more than two logs. If combined with uv irradiation, the elimination reached five additional logs. Membrane filtration eliminated essentially all naturally occurring phages. Improvement of the quality of surface waters calls for a refinement of detection methods for viruses. We have found that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) might be used for detecting viruses in surface waters.

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Plastic, nutrition and pollution; relationships between ingested plastic and metal concentrations in the livers of two Pachyptila seabirds

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-75024-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lauren Roman ◽

Farzana Kastury ◽

Sophie Petit ◽

Rina Aleman ◽

Chris Wilcox ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Hazard ◽

Dietary Exposure ◽

The Body ◽

Free Living ◽

Seabird Species ◽

Significant Relationships ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Plastic Metal ◽

Liver Concentration ◽

New Evidence

Abstract Naturally occurring metals and metalloids [metal(loid)s] are essential for the physiological functioning of wildlife; however, environmental contamination by metal(loid) and plastic pollutants is a health hazard. Metal(loid)s may interact with plastic in the environment and there is mixed evidence about whether plastic ingested by wildlife affects metal(loid) absorption/assimilation and concentration in the body. We examined ingested plastic and liver concentration of eleven metal(loid)s in two seabird species: fairy (Pachyptila turtur) and slender-billed prions (P. belcheri). We found significant relationships between ingested plastic and the concentrations of aluminium (Al), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the liver of prions. We investigated whether the pattern of significant relationships reflected plastic-metal(loid) associations predicted in the scientific literature, including by transfer of metals from ingested plastics or malnutrition due to dietary dilution by plastics in the gut. We found some support for both associations, suggesting that ingested plastic may be connected with dietary dilution / lack of essential nutrients, especially iron, and potential transfer of zinc. We did not find a relationship between plastic and non-essential metal(loid)s, including lead. The effect of plastic was minor compared to that of dietary exposure to metal(oid)s, and small plastic loads (< 3 items) had no discernible link with metal(loid)s. This new evidence shows a relationship between plastic ingestion and liver metal(loid) concentrations in free-living wildlife.

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Aflatoxins and Health Considerations in Consumer Food Choices in Ghana

Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization ◽

10.1515/jafio-2017-0015 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Michael Agyekum ◽

Curtis M. Jolly ◽

Henry Thompson

Keyword(s):

Food Safety ◽

Consumer Preferences ◽

Policy Issue ◽

Good Health ◽

Food Choices ◽

Food Contaminants ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Contingent Valuation Survey ◽

Survey Results

Abstract Food safety enjoys sustained attention among the scientific community, policymakers, and the general public due to health impacts. However, pursuing appropriate regulations for pervasive food contaminants is a challenging policy issue, particularly for naturally-occurring food toxins such as aflatoxins and other mycotoxins. This paper explores consumer preferences for quality aflatoxin-free peanuts, and how food safety concerns may impact willingness to pay more for safer foods. Incorporating ‘risky’ foods into random utility-maximization framework, we analyze contingent valuation survey data on Ghana. Model and survey results show consumers in Ghana approve of food aflatoxin regulations, and are prepared to pay price premiums as incentives to ensure supply of quality peanuts. Findings reveal that consumers prioritize food safety above prices in market decisions. People prefer introduction of aflatoxin regulations that would guarantee good health; useful information for policy makers in Ghana, Africa, and rest of the developing world.

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Naturally occurring potentially toxic elements in groundwater from the volcanic landscape around Mount Meru, Arusha, Tanzania and their potential health hazard

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150487 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 150487

Author(s):

Ines Tomašek ◽

Hassina Mouri ◽

Antoine Dille ◽

George Bennett ◽

Prosun Bhattacharya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxic Elements ◽

Health Hazard ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Potential Health ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Potential Health Hazard

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Measurement and Analysis of Natural Radioactive Elements in Salty Sediments from Central and Southern Iraq

Iraqi Journal of Science ◽

10.24996/ijs.2021.62.11.12 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 3911-3920

Author(s):

Mahdi Hadi Jasim ◽

Afrah Essa Ramadan ◽

Nessrian Ali Hussain

Keyword(s):

Structural Characteristics ◽

Radiation Hazard ◽

Radioactive Elements ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Radioactive Materials ◽

Dose Rates ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Measurement And Analysis ◽

South Of Iraq ◽

Southern Iraq

Purification of fifteen NaCl samples from natural and different area in the middle and south of Iraq are prepared and studied the structural characteristics of samples by powder X-ray diffraction analysis at ð›Œ=1.542Ã…. The present work considered the specific activities of naturally occurring radioactive materials in salt samples, which are measured and analyzed using high resolution HPGe system. Also, the radiological parameters have been considered in this work. The average specific concentration (in Bq.kg-1) of the salt samples is found 16.864.92 for 226Ra, 5.972.05 for 232Th and 9.852.8 for 40K, respectively, which are below the national levels, 40Bq.kg-1, 30Bq.kg-1 and 400Bq.kg-1, respectively (UNSCEAR, 2000). Similarly the absorb dose rates are in the range3.71 nGy.h-1 to 12.591nGy.h-1.The measured radiation hazard indices show that the concentrations of these radionuclides in all samples are within the allowable limits.

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Assessment of Trace Elements in Soils and Sediments in the Abandoned Mercury Mine Site in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development ◽

10.29037/ajstd.682 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Jessie Samaniego ◽

Cris Reven Gibaga ◽

Alexandria Tanciongco ◽

Rasty Rastrullo

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Rare Earth ◽

Rare Earth Elements ◽

Contamination Factor ◽

Area Measurement ◽

Open Pit ◽

Radioactive Elements ◽

Mercury Mine ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Soil And Sediment

An abandoned mercury mine area in Puerto Princesa City, which was previously operated by Palawan Quicksilver Mines, Inc. (PQMI) from 1953 to 1976, is known for its unrehabilitated open-pit of mercury-rich rocks and exposed mine waste calcine stockpiles in the vicinity. In order to establish an understanding on the geology of the abandoned mercury mine deposit and to obtain clues in determining the possible metal pollutants in the area, measurement of trace element concentrations of soil and sediments collected from the PQMI vicinity were conducted. Soil and sediment samples were analyzed for heavy metals, rare-earth elements and naturally occurring radioactive elements and determined its contamination factor as part of risk assessment. Analytical results showed that aside from mercury, several heavy metals (nickel, chromium, manganese) were found to be anomalous due to the geology of the area. Statistical analyses show that chromium, nickel and antimony present the highest contamination factor among the sampling groups. Mercury is found to have negative bias with higher rare earth elements concentration but positively correlated with arsenic, antimony, and thallium. In general, there is low concentration of rare earth elements (except for scandium) in comparison with its respective average crustal concentration. Due to the nature of geology in the area, naturally occurring radioactive elements influence is also minimal. The results of this study, especially on the assessment of soil and sediment pollutants, are recommended as guidance to its mine rehabilitation.

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Assessment of landslides in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia: A Geoscientists without Borders project

Geophysics ◽

10.1190/geo2021-0115.1 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-59

Author(s):

Koya Suto ◽

Snezana Komatina ◽

Jun Sugawara ◽

Takao Aizawa

Keyword(s):

Local Governments ◽

Practical Experience ◽

Local Communities ◽

Electric Resistivity ◽

Development Assistance Committee ◽

S Wave ◽

Educational Backgrounds ◽

Geophysical Surveys ◽

Balkan Region ◽

Survey Results

A severe storm caused floods and landslides in the Balkan region in May 2014. In response to the disaster, geophysical and geotechnical surveys were organized as a Geoscientists without Borders® (GwB) project of SEG. It took place in eight landslide prone areas in Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina in three phases in 2015 and 2016. The seismic and electric resistivity surveys were conducted and the results were interpreted in conjunction with the geotechnical inspection. The surveys identified the size of a potential landslide layer by S-wave velocity distribution and particular high-risk locations by electric resistivity anomalies. This interpretation enhanced the geotechnical observation. From the result, several countermeasures were recommended to suit the budgetary restrictions of local governments. Among them, the survey results in the Lopare locality are presented as an example. The project was organized by the Association of Geophysicists and Environmentalists of Serbia (AGES) involving many scientists, engineers, students, government staff and local communities. As well as technical achievements, significance of the project includes: providing students with opportunities to have practical experience of geophysical surveys and to learn outside the classroom; bringing together the participants from different racial, political, religious and educational backgrounds. All were made aware of the importance of humanitarian expert work. We assessed the effectiveness of the GwB project using the guidelines of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC). One of the important outcomes of the assessment is that such a volunteer geoscientific survey cannot stand alone. It is more effective if incorporated in the overall recovery and prevention programs.

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