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1

Complex dose rate calculations in luminescence dating of lacustrine and palustrine sediments from Niederweningen, Northern Switzerland

Preusser Frank, Degering Detlev, Fülling Alexander, Miocic Johannes

Geochronometria

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2023

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Vol. 50, no. 1

28--49

EN

This study focusses on dose rate determination in complex settings in two drill cores from the site of Niederweningen, northern Switzerland. A crosscheck with a certified standard material and neutron activation analyses (NAA) reveals an overall good performance of high-resolution gamma spectrometry (HR-GS) when determining dose rate-relevant elements. A second focus is on average water content during burial, by comparing measured sediment moisture with water uptake capability. Furthermore, layer models are used to investigate the impact of inhomogeneous stratification on dose rate. Finally, different scenarios to correct for radioactive disequilibrium in the uranium decay chain are investigated. While most of the applied corrections appear to have only a minor to moderate effect on age calculation, the results for one core are contradictory. Possibly, some of the applied correction scenarios are not reflecting the complex natural setting sufficiently, in particular average sediment moisture during burial and the timing of radioactive disequilibrium might be incorrectly estimated. While deposition in one core can be quite securely attributed to the period 100–70 ka, assigning the sediment sequence in the other core to the time between ca. 130 ka and 90 ka remains to some extent insecure.

2

Radiological profle of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in agricultural area around Blue Nile State, Sudan

Fadol Nooreldin, Idriss Hajo

Acta Geophysica

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2022

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Vol. 70, no 4

1737--1743

EN

This study aims to build a radiation map and evaluate the radiological risk for humans and non-humans from soils in agricultural areas surrounding Blue Nile State, Sudan. The 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radioactivity of soil samples were measured using gamma-ray systems (HPGe). The average values for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were 24.2±7.3 Bqkg−1, 31.0±8.2 Bqkg−1, and 376.4±174.0 Bqkg−1, respectively. The radioactivity level was lower than the global averages of 226Ra (35 Bqkg−1), 232Th (45 Bqkg−1), and 40K (420 Bqkg−1). Human radiological risk exhibited that the average values of the dose rate and annual effective dose rates were 32.00 nGyh−1 and 40.08 µSvy−1, respectively. The average dose rate and annual effective dose rates were lower than the worldwide average absorbed dose rate of 60 nGyh−1, and ICRP recommended reference of 1.0 mSvy−1. Therefore, the radiological effects of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the study area are negligible. On the other hand, the radiological risk for non-human organisms indicates that the projected total dose rate per organism in birds was lower than the background dose rates, which is in accordance with the background dose rates. However, the overall dose rate for amphibian, reptile, and mammal-large, mammal-small burrowing exceeds the background exposure rate.

3

Radiological and health hazards resulting from radioactivity and elemental composition of some soil samples

Al-Khawlany Abdu Hamoud, Khan A. R., Pathan J. M.

Polish Journal of Medical Physics and Engineering

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2020

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Vol. 26, Iss. 2

97--110

EN

Inspection of the radioactivity level in the soil is very important for human health and environmental protection. This study aims at evaluating the radiological hazards and pollution risks related to natural radionuclides and elements in the selected soil samples. Ten samples of soil were collected from different sites of Aurangabad-India and the level of radioactivity was measured using gamma-ray spectrometry with NaI (Tl) detector. Furthermore, the Physico-chemical properties such as pH, organic matter, electrical conductivity, moisture, soil texture, etc., and elemental composition of soils have been decided on using various standard techniques. The mean concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were 8.178, 17.408, and 96.496 Bq/kg, respectively, which are lower than the global average values of 35, 30, and 400 Bq/kg, respectively (UNSCEAR, 2000). The radiological hazard indices such as radium equivalent, absorbed dose, annual effective dose, internal index, external index, gamma index, excess lifetime cancer risk, etc., were calculated to assess the radiation hazards and compared with internationally recommended values which found to be lower than the permissibility limits.

4

Badanie wpływu zawartości minerałów ciężkich na naturalną promieniotwórczość skał miocenu zapadliska przedkarpackiego

Zagórska Urszula, Sikora Aleksandra, Łykowska Grażyna

Nafta-Gaz

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2019

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R. 75, nr 2

77--82

PL

W skałach miocenu zapadliska przedkarpackiego zauważono zjawisko zawyżania pomiarów promieniotwórczości naturalnej rejestrowanych w otworze wiertniczym dla mułowców. To zjawisko powoduje problemy w rozróżnianiu na podstawie profilowania naturalnej promieniotwórczości tych skał od iłowców, które charakteryzują się gorszymi parametrami petrofizycznymi. W niniejszej pracy badano kolejne możliwe źródło podwyższonej radioaktywności skał mułowcowych, to jest zawartość minerałów ciężkich, które wykazują tendencję do gromadzenia pierwiastków promieniotwórczych – uranu i toru. Minerały ciężkie, należące do grupy minerałów akcesorycznych, takie jak cyrkon, apatyt, monacyt, rutyl, granat i tytanit, charakteryzują się podwyższoną promieniotwórczością ze względu na podstawienia w sieci krystalicznej U i Th. Na testowych próbkach wykonano pomiar naturalnej promieniotwórczości metodą spektrometrii gamma, przy wykorzystaniu aparatu RT-50 firmy Georadis. Następnie z próbek skał wydzielono minerały ciężkie, przy użyciu cieczy ciężkiej, uprzednio rozdzielając próbki na frakcje ziarnowe, w celu ułatwienia separacji frakcji ciężkiej. Poszczególne frakcje ziarnowe pozbawione minerałów ciężkich złączono z powrotem i wykonano ponowny pomiar zawartości uranu, toru i potasu. Wykonano także obserwacje mikroskopowe w celu jakościowej analizy składu mineralogicznego wydzielonej frakcji ciężkiej. W badanych próbkach zidentyfikowano między innymi ziarna cyrkonu, turmalinu, granatu, rutylu, apatytu, chlorytu czy tytanitu. Przeprowadzone wyniki pomiarów naturalnej promieniotwórczości, przed i po wydzieleniu minerałów ciężkich, nie dają jednoznacznej odpowiedzi na postawiony problem zawyżonych wskazań sondy gamma. Konieczne jest zwiększenie ilości analizowanych próbek. Zaobserwowano trend spadku ilości U i Th w próbkach, z których wydzielono frakcję ciężką. Jednak zmiany promieniotwórczości są na tyle niewielkie, że nie pozwalają na wyciągnięcie ostatecznych wniosków. Dodatkowe analizy są potrzebne, aby ocenić wpływ pozostałych źródeł uranu i toru w badanych skałach, takie jak zawartość materii organicznej czy udział toru we frakcji ilastej.

EN

In the Miocene rocks of the Carpathian Foredeep, the occurrence of overestimating the measurements of natural radioactivity logs for mudstones was noticed. This phenomenon causes problems with recognition on the basis of natural radioactivity profiling of these rocks from claystones, characterized by inferior petrophysical parameters. In this study, another possible source of increased radioactivity of mudstone rocks, i.e. the content of heavy minerals that tend to accumulate radioactive elements - uranium and thorium - was investigated. Heavy minerals, belonging to the accessory minerals, such as zircon, apatite, monazite, rutile, garnet and titanite, are characterized by increased radioactivity due to substitutions of U and Th in the crystal lattice. Natural radioactivity of the test samples was measured using the gamma spectrometry method with the RT-50 device from the Georadis company. The heavy minerals were then removed from the rock samples using a heavy liquid, previously separating the samples into grain fractions to facilitate the separation of the heavy fraction. The individual grain fractions deprived of heavy minerals were put back together and the uranium, thorium (and potassium) content was remeasured. Microscopic observations were also made to qualitatively analyze the mineralogical structure of the separated heavy fraction. In the tested samples, among others: zircon, tourmaline, garnet, rutile, apatite, chlorite or titanite grains were identified. The results of the measurements of natural radioactivity, before and after the separation of heavy minerals, do not give a clear answer to the problem of excessive indications of the gamma logs. It is necessary to increase the number of analyzed samples. The trend of decreasing amounts of U and Th in the samples from which the heavy fraction was isolated was observed. However, changes in radioactivity are so small that they do not allow to draw final conclusions. Additional analyzes are needed to assess the impact of other sources of uranium and thorium in analyzed rocks, such as the content of organic matter or Th content in clays.

5

Preliminary studies on the spatial distribution of artificial 137Cs and natural gamma radionuclides in the region of the Ojców National Park, Poland

Stobiński M., Jędrzejek F., Kubica B.

Nukleonika

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2018

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Vol. 63, No. 4

105--111

EN

The aim of the research is to obtain preliminary information about the spatial distribution of gamma radionuclides in the soils taken from the Ojców National Park with emphasis on the behaviour of artificial radionuclides, with 137Cs as a representative. The natural radionuclides 40K, 226Ra (uranium series), and 228Th (thorium series), which are considered as background radiation, were also determined. In total, 18 soil samples were collected during the summer periods in 2015–2017, while the sampling points were selected with respect to differences in rainfall and local topography gradient. The method was based on gamma-ray spectrometry performed on high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma detector (relative efficiency 34%). 137Cs was mostly deposited in the top soil layers, with activity in the range of 27.9÷586.6 Bq•kg–1. We found strong positive correlation of the 137Cs activity with the soil organic matter content, and at the same time, its dependence on the rainfall amount. Consequently, the soil types and local climate can control the spatial distribution of 137Cs on a small spatial scale. The quantity of natural radionuclides was highly similar in all samples with the following mean values: 38.0 Bq•kg–1 for 228Th, 33.1 Bq•kg–1 for 226Ra, and 479.9 Bq•kg–1 for 40K.

6

Precise determination of HPGe detector efficiency for gamma spectrometry measurements of environmental samples with variable geometry and density

Barrera M., Casas-Ruiz M., Alonso J. J., Vidal J.

Nukleonika

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2017

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Vol. 62, No. 1

47--59

EN

A methodology to determine the full energy peak efficiency (FEPE) for precise gamma spectrometry measurements of environmental samples with high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector, valid when this efficiency depends on the energy of the radiation E, the height of the cylindrical sample H, and its density ρ is introduced. The methodology consists of an initial calibration as a function of E and H and the application of a self-attenuation factor, depending on the density of the sample ρ, in order to correct for the different attenuation of the generic sample in relation to the measured standard. The obtained efficiency can be used in the whole range of interest studied, E = 120–2000 keV, H = 1–5 cm, and ρ = 0.8–1.7 g/cm3, being its uncertainty below 5%. The efficiency has been checked by the measurement of standards, resulting in a good agreement between experimental and expected activities. The described methodology can be extended to similar situations when samples show geometric and compaction differences.

7

Characterization of some modern scintillators recommended for use on large fusion facilities in γ-ray spectroscopy and tomographic measurements of γ-emission profiles

Sibczynski P., Broslawski A., Gojska A., Kiptily V., Korolczuk S., Kwiatkowski R., Mianowski S., Moszyński M., Rzadkiewicz J., Swiderski L., Szydlowski A., Zychor I.

Nukleonika

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2017

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Vol. 62, No. 3

223--228

EN

LaBr3:Ce,CeBr3 and GAGG:Ce scintillators were investigated and the determined characteristics were compared with those obtained for the well-known and widely used CsI:Tl and NaI:Tl crystals. All the detectors were of the same size of 10 × 10 × 5 mm3. The aim of this test study was to single out scintillation detectors most suitable for γ-ray spectrometry and γ -ray emission radial profile measurements in high-temperature plasma experiments. Decay time, energy resolution, non-proportionality and full energy peak detection efficiency were measured for γ -ray energies up to 1770 keV. Due to their good energy resolution, short decay time and high detection efficiency for MeV gamma rays, LaBr3:Ce and CeBr3 scintillators are proposed as the best candidates for use especially under conditions of high count rates, which are expected in the forthcoming DT experiments.

8

Zastosowanie spektrometrii gamma w fizyce plazmy Wieloparametryczne funkcje wydajności rejestracji fotonów - aspekt teoretyczny (cz. I)

Jednoróg S.

Przegląd Techniczny : Gazeta Inżynierska

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2016

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nr 22-23

26--28

PL

Numeryczna charakterystyka określonego detektora daje nieograniczone możliwości wykonania kalibracji wydajnościowej. Funkcja wydajności może być analizowana jako zależna od wielu parametrów, takich jak średnica źródła, jego wysokość, gęstość czy odległość od detektora. Narzędzia analityczne, takie jak scałkowana absolutna wydajność rejestracji fotonów w piku całkowitego pochłaniania energii, daje możliwość porównania dwóch różnych geometrii pomiarowych. Trójwymiarowe wykresy wydajności rejestracji fotonów pozwalają dodatkowo analizować zależność funkcji wydajności od wymienionych powyżej parametrów. Takie analizy pozwalają skutecznie stosować wieloparametryczne funkcje wydajności w technice aktywacyjnej. Znalazło to już praktyczne zastosowanie podczas badań plazmowych prowadzonych na urządzeniu PF-1000 oraz w badaniach tokamakowych.

EN

Numerical characteristics of particular detector gives unlimited possibility for detector energy-efficiency calibration. Thus the efficiency function can be analyzed as dependence on many parameters like source’s diameter, height, density and its distance from a detector. Analytical tools like integrated absolute full energy peak efficiency provide a possibility of comparison of different measurement geometries. Three-dimensional graph of photon registration efficiency allows additional analysis of efficiency function dependence on above-mentioned parameters. That analysis leads to implementation of multi-parametrical efficiency function in activation technique. It has already been applied for deuterium plasma examination in case of PF-1000 device and tokamak researches.

9

Zastosowanie spektrometrii gamma w fizyce plazmy Wieloparametryczne funkcje wydajności rejestracji fotonów – aspekt teoretyczny (cz. II)

Jednoróg S.

Przegląd Techniczny : Gazeta Inżynierska

|

2016

|

nr 25-26

19--21

PL

Numeryczna charakterystyka określonego detektora daje nieograniczone możliwości wykonania kalibracji wydajnościowej. Funkcja wydajności może być analizowana jako zależna od wielu parametrów, takich jak średnica źródła, jego wysokość, gęstość czy odległość od detektora. Narzędzia analityczne, takie jak scałkowana absolutna wydajność rejestracji fotonów w piku całkowitego pochłaniania energii, daje możliwość porównania dwóch różnych geometrii pomiarowych. Trójwymiarowe wykresy wydajności rejestracji fotonów pozwalają dodatkowo analizować zależność funkcji wydajności od wymienionych powyżej parametrów. Takie analizy pozwalają skutecznie stosować wieloparametryczne funkcje wydajności w technice aktywacyjnej. Znalazło to już praktyczne zastosowanie podczas badań plazmowych prowadzonych na urządzeniu PF-1000 oraz w badaniach tokamakowych.

EN

Numerical characteristics of particular detector gives unlimited possibility for detector energy-efficiency calibration. Thus the efficiency function can be analyzed as dependence on many parameters like source’s diameter, height, density and its distance from a detector. Analytical tools like integrated absolute full energy peak efficiency provide a possibility of comparison of different measurement geometries. Three-dimensional graph of photon registration efficiency allows additional analysis of efficiency function dependence on above-mentioned parameters. That analysis leads to implementation of multi-parametrical efficiency function in activation technique. It has already been applied for deuterium plasma examination in case of PF-1000 device and tokamak researches.

10

Thoron emanation and exhalation of Slovenian soils determined by a PIC detector-equipped radon monitor

Jónás J., Sas Z., Vaupotic J., Kocsis E., Somlai J., Kovács T.

Nukleonika

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2016

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Vol. 61, No. 3

379--384

EN

The health risk from thoron (Rn-220) is usually ignored owing to its short half-life (55.6 s), but the generated thoron decay products can cause a significant dose contribution. In this study, altogether 51 Slovenian soil samples were investigated using an accumulation chamber technique to obtain information about thoron exhalation features. The obtained (massic) thoron exhalation results varied between 6.9 and 149 mBq•kg–1•s–1 (average: 55.2 mBq•kg –1•s–1). The Th-232 content was determined using HPGe gamma spectrometry. The Th-232 activity concentration ranged between 9.3 and 161.7 Bq•kg–1 (average: 64.6 Bq•kg –1). The thoron emanation features were also calculated from the obtained results (2.9 to 21.2% with an average of 8.6%). The thoron exhalation and emanation properties were compared with the radon exhalation and emanation features determined in a previous study. It was found that there was no correlation between the radon and thoron emanation features, according to the obtained data. This can be explained by the different Ra-224 and Ra-226 distributions in the soil grains. As a result, the thoron emanation factor cannot be predicted from radon emanation and vice versa.

11

Numerical model of thyroid counter

Szuchta M., Ośko J.

Nukleonika

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2016

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Vol. 61, No. 1

45--47

EN

The aim of this study was to develop a numerical model of spectrometric thyroid counter, which is used for the measurements of internal contamination by in vivo method. The modeled detector is used for a routine internal exposure monitoring procedure in the Radiation Protection Measurements Laboratory of National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ). This procedure may also be used for monitoring of occupationally exposed nuclear medicine personnel. The developed model was prepared using Monte Carlo code FLUKA 2011 ver. 2b.6 Apr-14 and FLAIR ver. 1.2-5 interface. It contains a scintillation NaI(Tl) detector, the collimator and the thyroid water phantom with a reference source of iodine 131I. The geometry of the model was designed and a gamma energy spectrum of iodine 131I deposited in the detector was calculated.

12

Review of international normatives for natural radioactivity determination in building materials

Mossini E., Macerata E., Giola M., Mariani M.

Nukleonika

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2015

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Vol. 60, No. 3, part 2

597--602

EN

Anthropogenic activities, such as high-altitude flights and living in buildings, have enhanced the public exposure to natural radiation. In particular, 40K and radionuclides belonging to 232Th and 238U decay chains are present even in building materials, and they may be considered as partially responsible for the effective dose coming from natural radioactivity. Scientists and governments have devoted great attention to the evaluation of the effects produced on the public by naturally occurring radionuclides. In this context, to evaluate the building materials acceptability, accurate and reliable methods for the measurement of the specific activity of natural radioactive isotopes in building materials have been developed. This paper aims to provide a clear and exhaustive review on natural radionuclide measurement procedures. Several standard national normatives (Dutch NEN 5697, Italian UNI 10797, Polish ITB 455), based on gamma spectrometry, have been considered and some critical issues were identified regarding the preparation and the radiometric measuring of the samples. Therefore, the direct measurement of 238U and 232Th by ICP-MS spectrometry as well as the extrapolation of the specific activities without waiting for secular equilibrium have been considered as two promising alternative approaches.

13

Levels of natural radioactivity in mineral and thermal waters of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Kasić A., Adrović F., Kasumović A., Hankić E.

Nukleonika

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2015

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Vol. 60, No. 3, part 1

503--508

EN

With gamma spectrometric method 23 samples of mineral and thermal waters of Bosnia and Herzegovina were analyzed. Activity concentrations of the investigated radionuclides were in the range 12–346 mBq·L-1 for 40K, 1.1–791 mBq·L-1 for 226Ra, 0.2–221 mBq·L-1 for 228Ra, 13–367 mBq·L-1 for 238U, and 0.6–17 mBq·L-1 for 235U. For all investigated radionuclides annual effective dose was estimated. The estimated total annual committed effective dose received by population as a result of ingestion of water was in the range 0.11–2.51 μSv·y-1 for thermal water and in the range 0.11–38.8 μSv·y-1 for mineral water. Measurement of activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in the examined samples was carried out with a gamma-spectrometer with high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector, having a relative efficiency of 70%.

14

Improvement spectrometric gamma measurements on shale cores with the use of the BGO scintillation detector

Skupio R., Dohnalik M.

Nafta-Gaz

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2015

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R. 71, nr 11

847--855

EN

Spectrometric gamma measurements carried out on rock cores of shale formations belong to standard petrophysical analyses. The paper presents the work performed to improve the possibilities of recording natural gamma radiation on cores. The performed work was related to the modification of a gamma logger device, creating calibration standards and developing new computer software to calculate real element concentrations from the measured spectra. Results obtained from various methods have been compared in order to choose a methodology which is as good as possible. The final conclusions were based on the comparison of gamma measurements on the core with measurement results from a logging SGR logging probe and with the results of laboratory measurements.

PL

Spektrometryczne pomiary gamma prowadzone na rdzeniach wiertniczych formacji skał łupkowych należą do standardowych analiz geofizycznych. W niniejszej publikacji przedstawione zostały prace wykonane w celu poprawy możliwości rejestracji naturalnego promieniowania gamma na rdzeniach. Prowadzone prace dotyczyły modyfikacji urządzenia gamma logger, stworzenia wzorców kalibracyjnych oraz napisania nowego programu komputerowego do przeliczania widm spektrometrycznych na rzeczywiste koncentracje pierwiastków. Wyniki otrzymywane z różnych metod zostały porównane między sobą, w celu wyboru jak najlepszej metodyki. Końcowe wnioski oparte zostały o zestawienie pomiarów gamma na rdzeniu wraz z wynikami pomiarów z sondy geofizycznej SGR i wynikami pomiarów laboratoryjnych.

15

Wykorzystanie spektrometrii gamma w poszukiwaniu i rozpoznawaniu jakości złóż surowców skalnych

Solecki A. T., Śliwiński W. R., Tchorz-Trzeciakiewicz D. E., Nowak K. J., Luks M. A.

Górnictwo Odkrywkowe

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2015

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R. 56, nr 2

132--136

PL

Wskazano na potencjalne możliwość gamma spektrometrii w zakresie poszukiwania i oceny jakości złóż. Szczególną uwagę poświęcono złożom surowców skalnych. Na przykładzie triasowych arkoz Sudetów wskazano na możliwość zastosowania przenośnych gamma spektrometrów do poszukiwania skaleni potasowych - surowca przemysłu ceramicznego. Na przykładzie złóż: glin ogniotrwałych w Rusku-Jaroszowie, kaolinu w Nowogrodźcu i surowca kaolinowego z kopalni Turów podjęto próbę porównania wyników pomiarów gamma spektrometrycznych z diagramem klasyfikacyjnym obejmującym pola takich minerałów jak: chloryt, kaolinit, smektyt, montmorylonit, illit, muskowit, skalenie, glaukonit, kwarc.

EN

Potential of gamma spectrometry application for exploration and evaluation of the quality of the mineral deposits was analysed. Particular attention was paid to deposits of rock materials. The application of portable gamma spectrometers for prospecting for K feldspar in the Sudetic Triassic arkose was shown. Comparison of the results of gamma spectrometric measurements in deposits of Rusko-Jaroszów refractory clays, Nowogrodziec kaoline and byproduct kaolin of lignite mine Turow was made with classification diagram covering the fields of minerals such as: chlorite, kaolinite, smectite, montmorillonite, illite, muscovite, feldspar, glauconite, quartz.

16

High-resolution stratigraphy of the Lower Badenian deposits in selected cores of the Carpathian Foredeep

Hracek D.

Geology, Geophysics and Environment

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2015

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Vol. 41, no. 1

88

EN

Drill cores from IK-1 Iváň and LOM-1 Lomnice u Tišnova (Lower Badenian) was evaluated by several various proxy methods (X-ray fluorescence spektrometry XRF, gammaspectrometry, grain size analysis, RTG diffraction and chemical analysis) in order to obtain data about paleoclimatic and paleogeographic conditions of sedimentation as well as to veryficate applications of these methods on monitored Neogenous sediments. Both wells are situated in the southern part of the Karpathian Foredeep in the Czech Republic. IK-1 is situated in the central area of the basin while LOM-1 lies on the western border of it. According to the biostratigraphic data, both of the observed wells belong to the NN5 zone (Tomanová Petrová & Švábenická 2007). Facial and litologic studies (Nehyba et al. 2007) point to similar sedimentary conditions (shallow-sea sediments of inner and outer shelf) and similar source of clastic material settling in the basin. Results from the X-ray fluorescence spectrometry were used as proxy date for grain size, weathring, oxide-reductive ratios and changes of high of sea-level. For the study, chemical elements were used, especially those which has been confirmed as reliable for given methods, specifically Al, Si, S, K, Ti, Mn, Fe, Rb and Zr. On the other hand, elements showing higher deviations during measuring were excluded, for example Cr, V, T or Ni. According to the results of grain analysis, the sediments can be classified as clay silts and, in only a fraction of cases, silt clays. Medium size of Mz grain (Folk & Ward 1957) was counted and was used to confirm grain proxies. Chosen ratios Si/Al, Ti/Al and Zr/Al (Ver Straeten et al. 2011) were used as grain proxies. Mutual correlations were insignificant, only in case of LOM-1 higher correlation between Mz and Ti/Al was proved. Therefore, the grain proxies cannot be considered reliable. Proxies for weathering show the effects of chemical weathering, which is also proved by high values of the CIA index. For surface-level changes, we used proxy Fe/Al (Clarkson et al. 2014). In IK-1, the results were compared with ratio of plankton and bentos (Nehyba et al. 2007) and stronger similarity of trends was established. To sum it up, proxy data of studied sediments can be considered partially reliable.

17

Radionuclides content in selected mineral fertilizers available in Poland

Nowak K.

Proceedings of ECOpole

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2013

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Vol. 7, No. 2

497--502

EN

Mineral fertilizers, commonly used in agriculture, contain natural radionuclides. Fertilizers are responsible both for external and internal exposure to human beings. They supply the soil and are consumed by plants, therefore, they pose one of the main source of radionuclides in the human diet. Moreover, due to the storage of large amount of fertilizers in warehouses they can be responsible for the external exposure. The gamma spectrometric measurements of radioactive isotopes content (potassium 40K, uranium 238U, thorium 232Th) and the measurements of gamma dose rate for over a dozen types of mineral fertilizers available in Poland, were performed. The measurements were conducted in fertilizer warehouses by means of portable gamma spectrometers with BGO detectors. The results were registered as potassium content K [%], equivalent uranium content eU [ppm], equivalent thorium content eTh [ppm] and absorbed dose rate DK, U, Th [nGy h–1] generated by radionuclides of uranium and thorium decay series as well as potassium 40K. Radium 226Ra, thorium 232Th and potassium 40K activities range between 16.2-973.4, 7.0-50.9 and 121.4-16777.9 Bq kg–1, respectively.

PL

Nawozy mineralne, powszechnie stosowane w rolnictwie, zawierają naturalne pierwiastki promieniotwórcze. Środki te stanowią zarówno zewnętrzne, jak i wewnętrzne źródło napromieniowania człowieka. Nawozy zasilają glebę i pobierane są przez rośliny, przez co stanowią jedno z głównych źródeł radionuklidów w ludzkiej diecie. Natomiast na skutek składowania dużych ilości nawozów w magazynach może dojść do narażenia na promieniowanie zewnętrzne. Przeprowadzono gamma spektrometryczne pomiary zawartości izotopów promieniotwórczych (potasu 40K, uranu 238U i toru 232Th) oraz pomiar mocy dawki promieniowania dla kilkunastu nawozów mineralnych dostępnych na polskim rynku. Pomiary wykonano w magazynach nawozów mineralnych za pomocą przenośnych gamma spektrometrów z detektorami BGO. Wyniki badań były rejestrowane jako zawartość potasu K [%], równoważne zawartości uranu eU [ppm] i toru eTh [ppm] oraz moc dawki pochłoniętej DK, U, Th [nGy h–1] generowanej przez radionuklidy szeregów uranu i toru oraz potas 40K. Zawartość radu 226Ra, toru 232Th i potasu 40K w nawozach wahała się w granicach odpowiednio 16.2-973.4, 7.0-50.9 i 121.4-16777.9 Bq · kg–1.

18

Radiological risk of the uraniferous coal waste in the case of the landscape architecture application

Nowak K. J., Solecki A. T., Szadej J.

Proceedings of ECOpole

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2013

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Vol. 7, No. 1

143--148

EN

Gamma-spectrometric measurements of four (A, B, C, D) spoil tips, by means of portable gamma spectrometers RS230 have been performed in the Okrzeszyn area of the Intrasudetic Synclinorium, where uraniferous Permocarboniferous coal exploitation and uranium prospecting took place in the past. The obtained results of K, U, Th content were recalculated into activity indices f1 and f2. Acceptable limits according to Polish Law are f1 ≤ 1 and f2 ≤ 200 Bq · kg–1 for raw materials in buildings for people and livestock. Obtained results indicate that spoil tips material cannot be fully accepted as building material even for landscape architecture constructions in urban areas, where limits are less restrictive (f1 ≤ 2, f2 ≤ 400 Bq · kg–1).

PL

Zostały przeprowadzone pomiary za pomocą gamma spektrometrów RS230 na czterech (A, B, C, D) hałdach odpadów górniczych w rejonie Okrzeszyna (niecka śródsudecka), gdzie w przeszłości miała miejsce eksploatacja permokarbońskich uranonośnych węgli i poszukiwanie rud uranu. Uzyskane wyniki zawartości K, U, Th zostały przeliczone na wskaźniki aktywności f1 i f2. Zgodnie z Rozporządzeniem RM z dnia 2 stycznia 2007 r., dopuszczalne wartości wynoszą f1 ≤ 1 i f2 ≤ 200 Bq · kg–1 w przypadku materiałów stosowanych w budynkach mieszkalnych. Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, że zgromadzony na hałdach materiał nie może być w całości dopuszczony nawet do budowy elementów architektury krajobrazu w obszarach zabudowanych, gdzie dopuszczalne wartości wskaźników aktywności są większe (f1 ≤ 2, f2 ≤ 400 Bq · kg–1).

19

A Whole-Body Spectrometer (WBS) at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kraków : design and results for Polish citizens visiting Japan during the Fukushima accident

Mietelski J. W., Janowski P., Kierepko R., Hajduk R., Bogacz J., Jurkowski J., Ochab E.

Nukleonika

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2013

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Vol. 58, No. 4

519--525

EN

The first Polish whole-body spectrometer (WBS) with scintillation detectors was constructed in Łódź in the early sixties of the last century and was operating there for more than 30 years. In 2008, the 19th century steel shield of this instrument was transported from Łódź to Kraków, where it was re-equipped with a modern gamma spectrometric system. Design and construction of this modernized spectrometer is presented along with the results for in-body contamination measurements of four Polish inhabitants who returned to Poland from Japan after the Fukushima accident compared with the results for typical Polish inhabitants, the volunteers from the Institute of Nuclear Physics (IFJ, Kraków) workers. Although, a clear signal from the Fukushima fallout was noticed for three of four persons who returned from Japan, the calculated doses were negligible. No traces of Fukushima-originating radionuclides were noticed for the examined people who have not traveled to Japan.

20

A determination of the concentration level of lead 210Pb isotope in solid samples for the assessment of radiation risk occuring in coal mines

Bonczyk M.

Journal of Sustainable Mining

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2013

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Vol. 12, iss. 2

1--7

EN

Lead 210Pb, an element of the natural uranium radioactive decay series, is not currently considered a source of radiation risk, especially in a radiation protection system in underground mines in Poland. However, it could be a completely independent element of the radioactive series due to its physical and chemical properties. Routine measurements showed significantly higher than expected concentrations of 210Pb in underground radium rich sediments, based only on the radioactive decay law. This phenomenon implies a need of 210Pb concentration monitoring in such sediments. Nevertheless, the laboratory analysis of 210Pb by gamma radiation spectroscopy is connected with a particular hindrance, the self-attenuation of 210Pb radiation in samples. Current work describes a practical method for obtaining the self-attenuation correction factor in the case of 210Pb concentration analysis. Experimentally obtained correction factors range between 0.51–6.96 cm2/g. Neglecting this factor can cause a significant error or underestimations in radiological risk assessment.

PL

Izotop 210Pb, element naturalnego szeregu promieniotwórczego 238U, jak dotąd nie był uwzględniany przy ocenie ryzyka zagrożenia radiacyjnego, szczególnie w odniesieniu do systemu ochrony radiologicznej w podziemnych zakładach górniczych (Rozporządzenie 2002) czy kontroli narażenia radiacyjnego związanego z wydobyciem oraz przetwórstwem ropy i gazu (Radiation... 1999). Okazuje się jednak, że ze względu na swoje właściwości fizykochemiczne nuklid ten może zachowywać się zupełnie niezależnie od pozostałych elementów szeregu, w którym występuje. Wyniki badań prowadzonych w ramach rutynowej kontroli zagrożenia radiacyjnego w podziemnych zakładach górniczych świadczą o tym, że dla większości osadów dołowych, powstających na skutek współstrącenia radu i baru w postaci siarczanu radowo-barowego, obserwuje się znacznie wyższe jego stężenia, niż wynikałoby to z samego tylko rozpadu 226Ra. Implikuje to konieczność monitorowania stężenia 210Pb w tych osadach, co jest związane z wieloma trudnościami analitycznymi i pomiarowymi. Niniejszy artykuł poświęcony jest wyznaczaniu współczynnika poprawkowego związanego ze zjawiskiem samoabsorpcji w próbkach stałych podczas oznaczania 210Pb metodą spektrometrii promieniowania gamma. Uzyskane współczynniki wahały się w granicach 0,51–6,96 cm2/g, co dowodzi, że nieuwzględnienie poprawki na samoabsorpcję, może prowadzić do poważnych błędów i niedoszacowań w ocenie zagrożenia radiacyjnego.