INITIAL EVALUATIONS OF NATURAL ( 226Ra, 232Th and 40K) AND ARTIFICIAL ( 137Cs) RADIOACTIVITY OF ESKIKÖY MINERALIZATION AREA (GÜMÜŞHANE, TÜRKIYE)

Within the scope of this study, the natural (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) and artificial (137Cs) radioactivity concentrations of the Eskiköy Mine area within the borders of Gümüşhane, which is located in an important metallogenic belt of Turkey, were investigated. In order to determine the natural and artificial radioactivity of the field soils developed due to mineralization, hydrothermal alteration and weathering, 12 soil samples were taken and activity concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra, 40K and 137Cs radio isotopes were measured with a gamma detector. It was observed that the 40K natural radio isotope activities of the area mostly exceeded the weighted world average, and the 232Th, and 226Ra natural radio isotope activities exceeded the weighted world averages at 5 of the 12 sampling points. It was determined that the artificial 137Cs activity concentrations in the area were above the detection limit at 9 sampling points and above 3 Bq/kg at 8 sampling points. It has been evaluated that the high 137Cs activities detected in the Eskiköy mine area are due to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident and similar anthropogenic effects. The mine area was also evaluated in terms of radiation risk in the context of medical geology, with parameters of radiological hazard indices, radium conjugate activity value, absorbed dose rate and annual effective dose rate, and remarkable findings were obtained. When all these findings of the study area are evaluated together, it has been concluded that the Eskiköy mining area should be studied in more detail in terms of natural and artificial radioisotope activity concentrations and their effects on human health.

Measurement of natural radioactivity and its health hazards associated with the use of different branded cement samples collected from different manufactures in Dhaka city using gamma spectrometry

The radioactivity of naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K was determined in thirteen cement samples collected from different manufactures of Dhaka city. The measurement was performed by gammaray spectrometry system using high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The average activity of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in cement samples are fon und to be 30.23±15.04 Bqkg-1, 20.10±11.76 Bqkg-1 and 145.27±24.14 Bqkg-1, respectively. The average values of radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose rates (D), internal hazard and external hazard index (Hex), and annual effective dose equivalent are 370 Bqkg-1, 0.27, 0.18, and 27.99 nGyh-1, respectively. The average annual effective dose is found 0.13 mSvy-1, which is less than the recommended value (1 mSvy-1) by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP-60, 1990), as the maximum permissible annual effective dose to the members of the public. The present study results are discussed and compared with those reported in similar studies and with internationally recommended values. No artificial radioactivity was found in the present study. The results show that the analyzed cement samples do not pose any significant radiation hazard from naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K reported here and also considered safe for use in buildings construction. J. Bangladesh Acad. Sci. 45(1); 95-104: June 2021

Nuclear Power Plants Pre-operational Radiological Monitoring Mapping for the Coastal Boarders and Islands of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

In the light of the peaceful nuclear power plants (NPPs) project of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the operation license has been issued and the first unit is being in commercial operation. This work deals mainly with radiological surveillance of the coastal boarder and some Islands of UAE as a baseline reference natural and artificial radioactivity mapping. Ultra-sensitive hyper pure Germanium (HpGe) detector was used to carry out the non-destructive gamma measurements. The area of study was divided into; Abu Dhabi region, northern emirates and islands. About 85 soils, shore sediment and water samples were collected based on the scientific sampling mechanism. The samples were analyzed for X-ray diffraction mineralogy (XRD). The radioactivity in Bq/kg of the natural 238U(226Ra), 232Th and 40K were calculated for all the collected samples. The artificial 137Cs was also observed in very low activity. The hazard indices were also calculated and found to be less than the recommended international and regional limits. The correlations between the measured radioisotopes were also depicted. The results were compared, presented and given in 3D histograms.

Natural and artificial radioactivity of soil of the Arctic part of Western Siberia

<p>To assess the levels of radioactivity, the soils of the Arctic region of Western Siberia were studied. The content of Cs-137 in the soils of the studied region ranges from 2 to 9 Bq/kg, with an average value of 4 Bq/kg.</p><p>The average contents of natural radionuclides (U, Th and K-40) in soils are determined by the radioactivity of the parent rocks. The radioanalytical results showed that the average Th content is 2.8 (0.3-6.7) ppm; U – 2.0 (0.5-6.6) ppm, K-40 – 233 (16-473) Bq/kg in the soils.</p><p>This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant (project No 18-77-10039). Analytical studies were carried out at the Center for multi-elemental and isotope research SB RAS.</p>

Radioactivity soundings of the upper atmosphere in Finland 1962-2020

<p>Radioactivity soundings have been performed in Finland since the early 1960s to measure radiation and radioactivity levels in the atmosphere up to the height of 40 km.  A sonde package based on a Geiger-Müller (GM) tube is carried up to the stratosphere by a balloon filled with hydrogen or helium. En route the GM tube count rate values are sent to the ground station with a radio transmitter.</p><p>Vaisala Corporation developed a radioactivity sounding system in the early 1960s. Radioactivity soundings were performed at the company's aerological test station in Helsinki as a part of development and quality assurance activities. At least once, in October 1962, these radioactivity soundings revealed the presence of abnormal radioactivity in the stratosphere over Finland due to atmospheric nuclear tests.</p><p>The Finnish Defence Forces acquired the Vaisala's radioactivity sounding system in 1963. This system was placed at the Finnish Meteorological Institute's (FMI) meteorological observatory of Jokioinen. The staff of the observatory operated the system. Initially radioactivity soundings were performed once a week but later sparser and sparser so that in 1980 only one sounding, in November after the so far last atmospheric nuclear test, was performed. Only a couple of publications have been produced from the artificial radioactivity observations in the upper atmosphere, perhaps due to the sensitive nature of the subject. After 1980 no more radioactivity soundings were performed in Finland during the 1980s, not even during the 1986 Chernobyl accident.</p><p>In the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident Vaisala developed a new generation of radioactivity sondes that are incorporated into the company's meteorological sounding systems. The FMI has performed these radioactivity soundings since the early 1990s at its sounding stations at Jokioinen, Tikkakoski and Sodankylä. Usually one or two soundings are performed per year, often during nuclear accident preparedness exercises.</p><p>The radioactivity soundings described above have brought information on cosmic radiation even if the main motivation was the surveillance of artificial radioactivity in the upper atmosphere. However, balloon soundings dedicated to cosmic radiation research have been made by the University of Oulu. These sounding activities were coordinated by SPARMO organization (Solar Particles and Radiation Monitoring Organization), later with the name SBARMO (Scientific Ballooning and Radiation Monitoring Organization). Altogether 114 soundings were performed from 1965 to 1979. In addition to scientific results these activities helped the then new university to network with the international scientific community.</p><p>Balloon-borne radiation sondes have shown to be a flexible and a cost-efficient method to obtain data on the radiation environment of the upper atmosphere. The information about the vertical distribution of a radioactive plume provided by soundings is essential for a reliable atmospheric dispersion estimation. This, in turn, helps to plan and execute protective measures, e.g. stable iodine prophylaxis. On the other hand, the altitude information about observed airborne radioactivity of unknown origin benefits the inverse modeling to find out the possible source areas of the release. This can be useful for example in detecting clandestine nuclear activities.</p><p> </p>

An evaluation of the occurrence and trends in 137Cs and 40K radioactivity in King Bolete Boletus edulis mushrooms in Poland during 1995–2019

B. edulis, collected from 33 forested or woodland sites across Poland over 25 years since 1995, were analysed for radiocaesium. The results (137Cs activity range: 25 to 10,000 Bq kg-1 dry weight) provide a good indication of artificial radioactivity in this food material. The relatively higher levels detected in the earlier years, mostly in easterly location, is consistent with depositions from the projected Chernobyl incident (1986) fallout plumes. Nevertheless, the 137Cs concentrations during 1995–2010 were, on average, higher than those reported by other studies for Polish B. edulis over the period 1986–1994. The data concurs with the general hypothesis and observations that deposited 137Cs permeates slowly over time to deeper soil horizons which host the mycelial networks. This delay in availability shows that (apart from hotspots) higher contamination of fruiting bodies occurred around 10 to 20 years after the incident. Local consumers and recreational mushroomers were undoubtedly exposed, although reported 137Cs concentrations suggest that serious breaches of regulated levels were uncommon.

RADIOACTIVITY ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES AND 137CS IN COMMONLY CONSUMED FOODS

The goal of this research is to determine the levels of natural and artificial radioactivity in 13 different samples of commonly consumed foods from Serbian markets. A gamma spectrometry was used to measure the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs. The annual whole-body doses from 137Cs and natural radionuclides, due to the consumption of tea for an adult, are in the range of 2.3– 8.5 nSv for 137Cs, 14.1 – 21.7 nSv for 232Ra, 18.4 – 73.6 nSv for 232Th and for 40K 10.4 – 22.9 nSv. These doses are not harmful to the general public’s health.