Mapping of Natural Radioactivity in Soil Samples of Kufa Districts, Iraq Using GIS Technique

The aim from this work is to detect and draw the natural radioactivity of (uranium-238, thorium-232 and potassium-40) levels in soil samples that taken from Kufa districts, Najaf governorate, Iraq. The detection system used in study is NaI (Tl) with "3x3" dimension, while maps were drawn by geographic information system (GIS). Some radiological parameters were calculated depending on measuring of specific activity for 238U, 232Th, and 40K. The results of the average value with standard error in all samples of the present study for 238U, 232Th, 40K, and 235U were 6.2±0.74, 6.41±0.82, 278.10±19.43, and 0.28±0.03 Bq/kg, respectively. The specific activity of Uranium-238, Thourium-232, poasium-40 and Uranium-235 found in all soil samples were within the safety limit reported by UNSCEAR, except three samples have poasium-40 higher than safety limit. Also, the results of radiological parameters were all found to be below OECD, UNSCEAR safety limit. Generally, the average of specific activity in soil collected arranged of potassium-40 > thorium-232 > uranium-238. Mapping GIS for natural radioactivity and some radiological parameters were successfully draw for the study area. Finally, natural radioactivity and radiological parameters for soil samples at Kufa districts were safety.

In-situ assessment of natural terrestrial-radioactivity from Uranium-238 (238U), Thorium-232 (232Th) and Potassium-40 (40K) in coastal urban-environment and its possible health implications

The risk of natural terrestrial radioactivity on human health is often underestimated, and environmental safety awareness is necessary. Hence, this study aims to assess natural sources of gamma radiation emitter in coastal urban-environment using the radiometric technique. The dosage of gamma radiation from a parent radionuclide such as Uranium-238 (238U), Thorium-232 (232Th) and Potassium-40 (40K) and were measured using portable gamma spectroscopy. The result showed that the measured value of 238U activity was between 10.81 $$\pm$$ ± 0.69 and 46.31 $$\pm$$ ± 1.43 Bqkg−1. The mean value was estimated to be 35.44 $$\pm$$ ± 0.97 Bqkg−1 which is slightly higher than the world average. Meanwhile, 232Th activity ranges from 28.42 $$\pm$$ ± 1.12 to 69.43 $$\pm$$ ± 1.76 Bqkg−1 with the calculated mean value of 92.57 $$\pm$$ ± 1.17 Bqkg−1 while 40K activity ranged between 31.30 ± 1.32 and 328.65 ± 2.32 Bqkg−1 with the estimated mean 137.59 $$\pm$$ ± 2.42 Bqkg−1. Radiological parameters such as radium equivalent (Req), internal hazard (Hint) and external hazard (Hext) assessment were in the range of 66.00 Bqkg−1 to 141.76 Bqkg−1, 0.232 to 0.452 and 0.178 to 0.383, respectively. The measured values of gamma dose-rates ranged between 54.283 ± 0.78 and 117.531 ± 1.14 nGyh−1 with the calculated mean value of 84.770 ± 0.97 nGyh−1.

Radionuclide Content of Aerosols within the Lower Atmosphere of Major Towns in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria

Radioactivity analysis of aerosols within the lower atmosphere of some selected towns in Plateau state, North central Nigeria was carried out using Respirable Dust sampler (APM 460NL) and Gamma Ray Spectroscopy technique to ascertain their radiological safety and radiation dose to the general public. The mean mass concentration of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) aerosols were found to be 234.4 and 390.6 (ug/m3) respectively for Pankshin; 381.3 and 312.5 (ug/m3) respectively for Shendam, and 208.3 and 250.0 (ug/m3) for Jos. The mean activity concentration of Potassium- 40, Radium-226 and Thorium-232 in the selected towns were found to be 510.82,52.16 and 29.76 Bq/kg respectively. Average values of the following radiological parameter Da, AEDE, HEX and AGED were 4.3439 nGy/yr, 0.0053MSv/yr,0.025Bq/kg, and 30.3470 mSv/yr respectively.The activity concentration of Potassium-40 was beyond the permissible limit at Shandan while that of Radium-226 was beyond the set limit in Jos and Pankshin. The concentration of Thorium-232 in the study areas was below permissible limit. Continuous exposure to these radionuclides and their progenies including their synergetic effects with trace metals in the aerosols may pose several risk to public health. This work is useful in regional environmental radiation monitoring and is part of efforts geared towards generating baseline data for environmental radioactivity levels within North Central Nigeria .

The Simulated Characterization and Suitability of Semiconductor Detectors for Strontium 90 Assay in Groundwater

This paper examines the potential deployment of a 10 mm × 10 mm × 1 mm cadmium telluride detector for strontium-90 measurement in groundwater boreholes at nuclear decommissioning sites. Geant4 simulation was used to model the deployment of the detector in a borehole monitoring contaminated groundwater. It was found that the detector was sensitive to strontium-90, yttrium-90, caesium-137, and potassium-40 decay, some of the significant beta emitters found at Sellafield. However, the device showed no sensitivity to carbon-14 decay, due to the inability of the weak beta emission to penetrate both the groundwater and the detector shielding. The limit of detection for such a sensor when looking at solely strontium-90 decay was calculated as 323 BqL−1 after a 1-h measurement and 66 BqL−1 after a 24-h measurement. A gallium-arsenide (GaAs) sensor with twice the surface area, but 0.3% of the thickness was modelled for comparison. Using this sensor, sensitivity was increased, such that the limit of detection for strontium-90 was 91 BqL−1 after 1 h and 18 BqL−1 after 24 h. However, this sensor sacrifices the potential to identify the present radionuclides by their end-point energy. Additionally, the feasibility of using flexible detectors based on solar cell designs to maximise the surface area of detectors has been modelled.

The productivity of raw seeds and cuttings (leaf) of Salvia officinalis L. medicinal plants

This article highlights the different portions of minerals in fertilizer mixture used for the acceleration of cultivation of the medicinal plant of Sage in soil – climatic conditions of Syrdarya region. The obtained results showed that different portions of minerals in fertilizer mixture have a positive effect on increasing the yield of seedlings and cuttings of the plant. When feeding with different sharings of mineral fertilizers used in an experiment, applying Nitrogen-90, Phosphorus - 60 and Potassium - 40 kg/ha norms has given good results to the rapid growth of plants. This article provides information on the technology of intensive cultivation of seedlings and cuttings of Salvia plant.

Absolute X-ray energy measurement using a high-accuracy angle encoder

This paper presents an absolute X-ray photon energy measurement method that uses a Bond diffractometer. The proposed system enables the prompt and rapid in situ measurement of photon energies over a wide energy range. The diffractometer uses a reference silicon single-crystal plate and a highly accurate angle encoder called SelfA. The performance of the system is evaluated by repeatedly measuring the energy of the first excited state of the potassium-40 nuclide. The excitation energy is determined as 29829.39 (6) eV, and this is one order of magnitude more accurate than the previous measurement. The estimated uncertainty of the photon energy measurement was 0.7 p.p.m. as a standard deviation and the maximum observed deviation was 2 p.p.m.

Evaluating the hazards of background radiation and cesium in the soil of greenhouses within the region of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: تقييم مخاطر الإشعاعات الطبيعية وعنصر السيزيوم في التربة داخل البيوت المحمية في منطقة الرياض، المملكة العربية السعودية

The study evaluates the hazards of background radiation and Cesium- 137 in the soil of greenhouses within the region of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Mole detector was utilized. It renders readings for the concentration of Uranium- 238, Thorium- 232, Potassium- 40 and Cesium- 137. Field measures were conducted at Alkharj at Nowara Farm Nurseries, Saudi Arabia. Measures were taken at three different greenhouses (plastic covered, glass covered and fiber glass covered). The plants at the plastic- covered greenhouse were cucumber, pepper and eggplant while in the glass and fiber glass- covered greenhouse, the vegetation were ornamental plants and flowers. The average concentration of Uranium- 238 recorded (19.33 Bq/ kg), Thorium- 232 (14.09 Bq/ kg), Potassium- 40 (130.77 Bq/ kg) and Cesium- 137 (1.81 Bq/ kg). These values are less than the world rates. Some radiation hazard indices were also calculated like Radium Equivalent (Raeq), the absorbed dose of Gamma rays in the air, external and internal hazard indices with the purpose of evaluating the dangers of the radiations existing in the greenhouse soil on health. The average radium equivalent activity (Raeq) recorded (49.56 Bq/ kg) which is less than the permissible world rates (370 Bq/ kg). The absorbed dose of Gamma rays in the air recorded (22.94 nGy/ hr) which is again less than the permissible world rates (59 nGy/ h). The average internal and external hazard indices recorded less than one and came within the world permissible limits.

Assessment of radionuclide contamination of plant resources of the Voronezh region by example of leaves of winter linden tree

As part of the study, the activity of artificial and natural radionuclides (strontium-90, cesium-137, potassium-40, thorium-232, radium-226) was determined in 36 samples of medicinal plant raw materials of the core and upper soil layers on which the plants were grown. All samples meet the existing requirements of regulatory documentation on radionuclide activity. The average value of the strontium-90 accumulation coefficient was 0.39, in different samples of the region it varied from 0.31 to 0.60. Cesium-137 accumulation coefficients ranged from 0.29 to 0.65 at an average of 0.39. For thorium-232, the average accumulation coefficient in the core lip flowers is 0.15 and took values in the samples studied from 0.09 to 0.231. For potassium-40, the average accumulation ratio in the feed was 0.98 and varied from 0.71 to 1.29, and for radium-226 - 0.47, with a variation from 0.39 to 0.59.