Applying in-Situ and Laboratory-based Gamma Spectrometry to Determine Activity Concentration and Distribution of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-331

Abstract: The applications of radionuclides are potential sources of health risk and also a concern in the area of nuclear security. It is therefore imperative to determine the presence of the different radionuclides present in the environment at all times, because it is necessary to control and assess the risk level in the environment. The present study compares activity concentrations of the primordial radionuclides 40K, 226Ra and 232Th obtained from laboratory gamma spectrometry measurements with the activity concentrations of the radionuclides as obtained from in-situ measurements. Soil samples were randomly collected from nineteen different points within Abeokuta city ensuring good coverage of the city area. A mobile gamma spectrometry system was used to collect gamma spectra measurements in the field. The obtained values are presented. The ranges of activity concentrations for 40K, 226Ra and 232Th have been found to be 113 – 1975, 5 – 128 and 181 – 3284 Bqkg-1, respectively for laboratory gamma spectrometry and 104 – 1312, 31 – 121 and 104 – 2578 Bqkg-1, respectively for in-situ gamma spectrometry measurements. This study showed that the average activity concentrations of the primordial radionuclides in Abeokuta were much higher than worldwide averages of 400, 35 and 30 Bqkg-1 for 40K, 226Ra and 232Th, respectively. From both methods, 232Th is seen to be the major contributor to the environmental radioactivity of Abeokuta. Good correlations also were deduced between the activity concentration results obtained from laboratory and in-situ gamma spectrometry, which therefore implies a significant relationship between the two methods used in the study. Keywords: In-situ gamma, Gamma spectrometry, Activity concentration, Radionuclides.

Author(s):  
Jose Angel Corbacho ◽  
A Baeza

Abstract In situ technique for measuring radionuclides in the soil using a portable Ge detector is a highly versatile tool for both the radiological characterization and for the monitoring of operating nuclear power plants. The main disadvantage of this technique is related to the lack of knowledge of the geometry of the source whose activity concentration is to be determined. However, its greatest advantage is the high spatial representability of the samples and the lower time and resource consumption than gamma spectrometry lab measurements. In this study, the possibilities and limits offered by in situ gamma spectrometry with a high resolution gamma portable detector in two common uses are shown: First, the radiological background characterization and its relationship with the geology of an area of 2700 km2 are assessed; Secondly, its potential for monitoring man-made activity concentration in soils located around an operating nuclear power plant in Spain for surveillance purposes is evaluated. Finally, high accuracy radiation maps have been prepared from the measurements carried out. These radiation maps are essential tools to know the radioactive background of an area, especially useful to assess artificial radioactive deposits produced after a nuclear accident or incident.


2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 23-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahir Sofilić ◽  
Delko Barišić ◽  
Una Sofilić ◽  
Marija Đuroković

Radioactivity of some building and raw materials used in Croatia In the present study, the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K in some building and raw materials used in Croatia were measured by using a gamma-ray spectrometer with the HPGe detector. The average activity concentrations of the studied different building and raw materials ranged from 11.6 ± 1.7 (concrete) to 251.2 ± 25.7 Bqkg-1 (GBFS), 14.0 ± 2.7 (concrete) to 54.4 ± 8.3 (coal fly ash) and 147.2 ± 19.0 (concrete) to 773.7 ± 82.0 Bqkg-1 (tuff) for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. Radium equivalent activity, activity concentration index, absorbed gamma dose rate indoor due to the external exposure and corresponding annual effective dose were determined to estimate the exposure risk arising due to the use of these building and raw materials.


2018 ◽  
Vol 188 ◽  
pp. 58-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Mauring ◽  
Tim Vidmar ◽  
Torbjörn Gäfvert ◽  
Jon Drefvelin ◽  
Aldo Fazio

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 210-216
Author(s):  
Nihad A. Saleh

The radioactive contamination is one of the main causes of cancers. Since the Dry food imported with the different global products is uncensored and is increasing, it is necessary to carry out periodic radiological surveys of all types in our local markets ,the aim of this project is to highlight of radiation level of same food with a statistical procedure for patients with cancer in the AL-Kifil region, there for the activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th radionuclide's calculated in 20 types of Dry food samples were taking from markets in (AL-Kifil City) by using γ-ray spectrometry with NaI(Tl) detector. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra is (25.3+9.3) Bq/kg, 232Th(28.4+7.6)Bq/kg, and 40K (501.2+158.4) Bq/kg the activity concentration of 40K higher than the international recommended values (412) Bq/kg the reason is due to the nature of the terrain enjoyed by the industrialized countries for this type of food, which reflected negatively on the number of cancer patients in the digestive system of the population of the city of Kifil, the highest compared to other areas of the province of Babylon, an average of 33 cases.


Author(s):  
Loat Bui Van

We have determined activity concentrations in 33 soil samples collected from Bolikhamxay Province, Laos. The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides 226Ra,232Th and 40K in soil samples were measured by a gamma spectrometer with a HPGe detector. The average activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are 43.8 ± 5.6, 57.0 ± 7.3 and 426.4 ± 23.1 Bq.kg-1, respectively. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra and 232Th in this work are higher than those of the world average values. Meanwhile, the  activity concentration of 40 K is almost the same of the world average value. The estimated average outdoor annual effective dose (E) and radium equivalent actitvity (Raeq) are 0.17 ± 0.02 mSv.yr-1 and 154.8 ± 16.1 Bq.kg-1, respectively.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-130
Author(s):  
I C OKEYODE ◽  
A O MUSTAPHA ◽  
N N JIBIRI ◽  
V MAKINDE ◽  
F G AKINBORO ◽  
...  

This study was aimed at measuring and comparing the activity concentration of soil samples collected from some selected hand – dug wells with their corresponding depths of collection in Abeokuta metropolis. Total of twenty (20) soil samples were collected from hand-dug wells in five sites (Obada, Adigbe, Kuto, Olorunsogo, and Obantoko) within Abeokuta with four (4) soil samples from each hand-dug well at the surface, (0.0m) through to 2.25m depth. Gamma ray spectroscopy with High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector was used for the measurements. The average activity concentrations obtained for the three natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in Bq/Kg are 34.31 ± 2.01, 128.73 ± 4.41 and 152.31 ± 2.59 respectively at depth 0.00 m (surface), 23.00 ± 1.61, 68.39 ± 3.24 and 191.08 ± 3.11 respectively at depth 0.75 m, 31.52 ± 2.21, 145.37± 4.95 and 375.56 ± 5.50 respectively at 1.50 m and lastly 28.57±1.70, 95.61 ± 3.71 and 181.10 ± 3.94 respectively at 2.25 m depth. The world average activity concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are given to be 35 Bqkg-1, 30 Bqkg-1 and 400 Bqkg-1 respectively (UNSCEAR 2000). 232Th showed  higher average values than the world’s average while averages of 226Ra and 40K were lower but most of the activity concentration values obtained in some of the locations are higher than the world’s average values, especially 226Raand 232Th in the soil samples. 


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-197
Author(s):  
Vesna Manic ◽  
Goran Manic ◽  
Branko Radojkovic ◽  
Dusica Vucic ◽  
Dragoslav Nikezic ◽  
...  

In this study, the activity concentration of radon, 222Rn, in kindergartens and schools in the town of Nis, Serbia, was explored. The method of active charcoal was applied. The measurements were carried out by gamma - spectrometry with HPGe detector. The results belong to the range of 15 Bq/m3 - 256 Bq/m3, with an average value of 59.7 Bq/m3 and a standard deviation of 25.3 Bq/m3. It was shown that data are distributed according to the log-normal distribution, and that is no correlation between indoor 222Rn concentrations and the activity concentrations of radium, 226Ra, in the soil.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 8107
Author(s):  
Dobromir Pressyanov ◽  
Pavel Stavrev

A method for the retrospective evaluation of the integrated activity concentration of 133Xe during radioxenon plumes and the moment of the plume’s center is proposed and explored by computer modeling. The concept is to use a specimen of polycarbonate material (a stack of Makrofol N foils of thickness 120 µm and 40 µm in 1 L non-hermetic Marinelly beaker) that is placed in the environment or in a controlled nuclear or radiopharmaceutical facility. On a regular basis or incidentally, the specimen may be retrieved and gamma spectrometry in two consecutive time intervals with durations of 8 h and 16 h is performed. To assess the performance of the method, 133Xe plumes of various integrated activity concentrations and with a duration of up to 10 h are simulated and analyzed, assuming that the measurement starts with a delay of up to one day after the moment of the plume center. It is found that the deviation between the estimates by the method and their true values are within a few percent. Depending on the delay, events of integrated 133Xe activity concentration 250–1000 Bq h m−3 might be qualitatively identified. At levels >10,000 Bq h m−3, the uncertainty of the quantitative estimates might be ≤10%.


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