Soil depth profiles and radiological assessment of natural radionuclides in forest ecosystem

2017 ◽  
Vol 105 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Manigandan ◽  
B. Chandar Shekar

AbstractWe measured the distribution of three naturally occurring radionuclides,

2008 ◽  
Vol 1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaname Miyahara ◽  
Tomoko Kato

AbstractComplementary indicators have been used in developing a safety case in order to avoid uncertainties in the biosphere modeling used to estimate conventional dose or risk. For example, radionuclide fluxes can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of barrier performance. However, it is difficult to define relevant yardsticks for comparison, because the fluxes of naturally occurring radionuclides due to geological processes vary considerably depending on time and location. This paper discusses the relevance of alternative yardsticks for assessing modeled radionuclide fluxes by selecting yardsticks calculated from fluxes of natural radionuclides at the groundwater discharge point from the geosphere to an aquifer; these are then compared with fluxes of repository-derived radionuclides at the same point. Such yardsticks avoid surface geological processes that may also contribute to natural fluxes, allowing comparison at a suitable, common evaluation point that avoids dependence on site-specific conditions. The effectiveness and robustness of barrier performance is demonstrated using the developed yardsticks and the sensitivity of the analysis to groundwater flux is illustrated.


2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (6-7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Usikalu M. R. ◽  
Olawole C. O. ◽  
Joel E. S.

Naturally occurring radionuclides levels of 238U, 232Th and 40K were investigated in the water samples collected at different boreholes in all the local government of Ogun State using high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector (Canberra Industries Inc.). The activity concentrations measured from the water samples ranged from 0.06 to 1.37 Bq l-1 for 238U, 0.15 to 0.52 Bq l-1 for 232Th and 1.35 to 12.74 Bq l-1 for 40K. The measured activities concentrations for 238U, 232Th and 40K along with their ingested dose conversion factors were used to estimate the annual effective doses in accordance with International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) based on age groups 0 -1y, 1 – 2y, 2 – 7y, 7 – 12y, 12 – 17y and >17y for water consumption. The total annual effective doses calculated varied from 0.004 to 0.517, 0.002 to 0.092, 0.001 to 0.078, 0.001 to 0.076, 0.024 to 0.110 and 0.002 to 0.117 for the age groups accordingly. The physiochemical results showed that 85% of the water was acidic as they have pH less than 6.5 and 65 % of them exceeded the copper concentration recommended limit. It revealed that consumption of the water is safe from natural background radiation for all groups except 0-1 y as the annual effective dose obtained for this group exceeded the average world limit (0.12). The study therefore, suggests that Ogun State populace should use less of these water samples for babies between the age 0-1 year.


Author(s):  
P. K. Manigandan ◽  
K K Natrajan

Assessments of naturally occurring radionuclides in soil collected from a tropical rainforest forest of western Ghats, India were conducted. These radionuclides were distributed unevenly in the forest soil. For all soil samples, the terrestrial gamma dose rate and the corresponding outdoor annual effective dose equivalents were evaluated. The activity concentration of 232Th and average outdoor gamma dose rates were found to be higher than the global average which appears to affects Western Ghats environment in general, the radiological hazard indices were found to be within the International Commission on Radiological Protection recommended limits. Hence, obtained results for natural radionuclides in the forest soils were within the range specified by UNSCEAR (2000) report for virgin soils except 232Th.


Author(s):  
Paulinah Oyindamola FASANMI ◽  
Stephen Friday OLUKOTUN ◽  
Charity Adaeze ONUMEJOR ◽  
Pascal TCHOKOSSA ◽  
Olayinka ADEGBEHINGBE

Exposure to radiation is a natural phenomenon in the human environment. This is received from naturally occurring radionuclides in water, air, soil and food. Ingestion is one of the two major pathways through which these nuclides enter the human systems. Radiological assessment of fruits, vegetables, grains and tuber crops cultivated and consumed in Okemesi township, Ekiti State has been carried out using a 76mm by 76mm lead-shielded Sodium Iodide detector (NaI(Tl)) located at the Centre for Energy, Research and Development (CERD), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The mean activity concentration of the radionuclides in the food samples was 155.76 ± 14.22 Bqkg-1 for 40K, 8.00 ± 0.24 Bqkg-1 for 238U and 7.39 ± 0.21 Bqkg-1for 232Th.The value obtained for Annual Effective Dose due to intake of the food crops (Ding) ranged from 104.32 to 687 µSv yr-1 while values for Excess Lifetime Cancer Risks (ECLR) ranged from 0.365 t0 2.407. Although the radioactivity levels in the food crops were lower than the world-wide limits, some values obtained for the AED and the ELCR were significantly higher than the recommended limits of UNSCEAR 2000. The rank order of Ding and ELCR in the food types was tubers ? fruits ? vegetables ? grains. Consumption of food cultivated in the area over a long period of time may induce a degree of health risks which should not be overlooked.


2020 ◽  
Vol 189 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danara Ibrayeva ◽  
Meirat Bakhtin ◽  
Yerlan Kashkinbayev ◽  
Polat Kazymbet ◽  
Kassym Zhumadilov ◽  
...  

Abstract The Republic of Kazakhstan has a long history of mining activities, viz., gold and uranium. Mining activities represent sources of potential naturally occurring radionuclides contamination of the environment and human health of population. The aim of this study was to investigate the radiation situation of industrially modified environment in Stepnogorsk areas of Kazakhstan to understand the sources of contamination. Quite high values of ambient equivalent dose rates in air ~2.87 μSv h−1 were found in the Aqsu gold-mining site. The radon equivalent equilibrium volume activity (indoor) were in the range of 313–858 Bq m−3 in the study area buildings. The high values of activity concentration of natural radionuclides found in Aqsu soil samples were 226Ra-4060, 232Th-1170 and 40K-4080 Bq kg−1, respectively. However, our comprehensive surveys implied that the increased natural radiation background caused by the radionuclide transport from the tailing area did not have an impact, while evaluation of its potential radiation risks and remediation of the territories of the former gold mining should be needed.


1984 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Grondin ◽  
M.D. Lupien

Abstract The alum floc sampling method has proven to be a rapid and efficient means for studying radioactivity in freshwater, allowing the preconcentration of not only soluble nuclides but also those attached to the suspended material in rivers. This paper contains an assessment of the distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides between the liquid and solid phases present in the St. Lawrence River. It also describes the distribution of these natural radionuclides on the various fractions of the suspended material. A radioactivity profile observed at St. Foy, Québec, reveals the contribution of each tributary to the solid and liquid fluxes of the St. Lawrence River.


2019 ◽  
Vol 186 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shittu Abdullahi ◽  
Aznan Fazli Ismail ◽  
Supian Samat

Abstract The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclides from common building materials used by Malaysian people for construction purposes were studied using High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The measured activity concentrations of the aforementioned radionuclides range from 10 ± 1 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 155 ± 61 Bq kg−1 (feldspar), 12 ± 3 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 274 ± 8 Bq kg−1 (kaolin) and 62 ± 19 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 1114 ± 20 Bq kg−1 (pottery stone) for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The measured activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides reported herein were found to be in accordance with other previous studies. In general, the activity concentration of the natural radionuclides revealed that all the determined values were below the recommended limit.


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 285-287
Author(s):  
P. Wanabongse ◽  
W. Thorarit ◽  
N. Yimchalam ◽  
S. Bovornkitti

Abstract Measurements were conducted to determine residential radon exposure levels in provinces with high lung cancer incidence in three different regions of Thailand. The measurements revealed that the average indoor radon levels were 20.0, 24.4, and 13.1 Bq m−3, and that the average gamma dose rates were 145, 164, and 54 nSv h−1 in Chiangmai, Songkhla and Khonkaen provinces, respectively. The spectroscopic analysis of soil samples collected from the three provinces showed that the highest contents of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 were present in Songkhla, with values of 93.7, 71.9, and 786.9 Bq kg−1, respectively, and the lowest contents were present in Khonkaen, with values of 15.6, 19.0, and 46.8 Bq kg−1, respectively. The results of our analysis of the activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides helped explain the lower levels of radon gas and gamma-ray exposure in Khonkaen.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 2340-2347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Subber ◽  
Munaf Qasim Jaber ◽  
Noori H.N. Al-Hashmi

This work presents measurements of natural radionuclides (238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in the sea sediment using gamma spectroscopy. The sediment samples were collected from coastal and deep water using special equipment for this purpose. This work was performed in Khor-Abdulla, northern west of the Arabian Gulf to establish the baseline data level for naturally occurring radionuclides in the study area and will be useful for tracking and assessing any accentual pollution in the marine environment in the region. The average values of 232Th, 238U,226Ra, 40K are 5.6 Bq/kg, 7.2 Bq/kg, 44.4 Bq/kg  and 293.9 Bq/kg respectively. It is found that,the mean radium equivalent Raeq and effective dose rates are  84.5 Bq/kg and 0.046 mSv/y respectively and they are well below the recommended limit of international committees.


2018 ◽  
Vol 878 ◽  
pp. 243-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.V. Stefanenko ◽  
O.P. Sidelnikova

Nowadays, both builders and public have started to pay more and more interest to such a physical property of building materials as radioactivity. This is due to the fact that on the one hand, in the so-called "nuclear era", the problem of reducing radiation doses for people has acquired a global character, and on the other hand - millions of tons of construction raw materials containing natural radionuclides are extracted from bowels and are used in construction, where the structure of these doses of radiation is sharply deformed. Naturally occurring radionuclides make the largest contribution to the dose of human exposure to radiation. Economic activities lead to a significant redistribution of naturally occurring radionuclides in the environment. The background radiation in buildings is considered to be one of the main types of radiation impact on human beings, since people spend a larger part of time indoors. The radiation control of construction objects is necessary to ensure public radiation safety.


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