Assessment Of Radiation Hazards Research Articles

Activity Concentration of Natural Radionuclides in Surface Sediments of Major River Watersheds in Korea and Assessment of Radiological Hazards

The assessment of potential radiation hazards in accumulated sediments in aquatic ecosystems is vital for the management and disposal of sediments. Furthermore, preemptive management of radionuclides in terrestrial ecosystems is critical for marine ecosystem conservation. We analyzed the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides (226Ra,232Th, 238U, and 40K) in the surface sediments of major river watersheds in Korea and evaluated the radiation hazards stemming from these activity concentrations. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra and 238U were lower than the global average, whereas those of 232Th and 40K were higher. The mean values of radium equivalent activity, external hazard index, and internal hazard index calculated from these activity concentrations did not exceed the recommended maximum values. The mean values of absorbed gamma dose rate in air and annual outdoor effective dose rate (AEDRout) were higher than the global average by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) but remarkably lower than the recommended and background values by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS). The contribution of 40K and 232Th to the AEDRout mean value was predominant. In conclusion, the surface sediments of major river watersheds in Korea are associated with negligible radiation hazards. These findings provide fundamental data for the management and treatment of sediments in terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

Assessment of Natural Radioactivity and Radiation Hazard in Soil and Rock Samples from Mining Sites within North-Eastern Nigeria

Assessment of Natural Radioactivity and Radiation Hazard in Soil and Rock Samples from Mining Sites within North-Eastern Nigeria

Distribution of radionuclides in the soils and assessment of radiation hazards in AL Najaf, Iraq: A cross sectional analysis.

To evaluate radioactivity levels in soil samples and their physical impact on the population. The experimental radiation study was conducted by researchers belonging to the Kufa University in Al- Najaf, Iraq, in August 2020, and comprised soil samples from Al-Rahma area. Sodium iodide detector activated with a trace amount of Thallium with crystal dimensions 3" x 3" was used to calculate the concentration of Radium, Thorium and Potassium. Among the 15 samples collected, the average ± standard deviation (SD) concentration for Radium, Thorium and Potassium was 0.1776±0.12, 0.726±0.435 and 1.9128±1.105%, respectively. The reported value of excess lifetime cancer risk was 1.2819×10-3. The area studied was found to be a safe area and did not pose a health threat to the locals.

Assessment and mitigation of radiation hazard for individuals engaged in reconnaissance survey in uranium exploration in Jharkhand, India.

The present study attempts to obtain an a priori estimate of the absorbed dose received by an individual engaged in the reconnaissance survey in Uranium exploration using a predictive mathematical regression analysis. Other radiation safety parameters such as excess lifetime cancer risk are also calculated. Study reflects that the proper handling of naturally occurring radioactive materials accounts for an absorbed dose significantly less than the prescribed limit.

Assessment of tritium content and radiation hazard in the water body of the Suifen river basin in China

Assessment of tritium content and radiation hazard in the water body of the Suifen river basin in China

Gamma ray spectrometric analysis and assessment of radiation hazards in soils of Mbeere North region, Kenya.

This study used gamma ray spectrometry to determine the radiological safety of construction soil sampled randomly from Mbeere North region, Kenya. The mean activity concentration of 232Th, 238U, and 40K was 149.7±2.8 Bqkg-1, 88.3±2.4 Bqkg-1, and 490±35 Bqkg-1, respectively. These averages exceed the world average for all the radionuclides. The radionuclides were non-uniformly distributed, with higher concentrations along the slopes and on the feet of the hills. The mean absorbed dose rate, indoor and outdoor annual effective dose, radium equivalent, external hazard index, and internal hazard index were 157.9±4.4 nGh-1, 0.58±0.02 mSvy-1, 0.39±0.01 mSvy-1, 340.7±9.2 Bqkg-1, 0.92±0.02 and 1.14±0.03, respectively. Among the radiation safety indicators, only the average internal hazard index exceeded slightly the acceptable safe limit. Therefore, soils of Mbeere North region are radiologically safe for use in brick making and construction of human habitats.

Assessment of radioactivity levels and radiation hazards in building materials in Egypt

Different degrees of natural radioactivity found in quartz can have negative consequences on health. Quartz vein along the investigated Abu Ramad area, Egypt, had its natural radioactivity assessed. The HPGe spectrometer was used to determine the role played by the radionuclides 238U, 232Th, and 40K in the gamma radiation that was emitted, and the results showed that these concentrations are 484.64 ± 288.4, 36.8 ± 13.1 and 772.2 ± 134.6 Bq kg−1 were higher than the corresponding reported global limits of 33, 45, and 412 Bq kg−1 for each radionuclide (238U, 232Th, and 40K). Among the radiological hazard parameters, the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) is estimated and it's mean value of ELCR (1.2) is higher than the permissible limit of 0.00029. The relationship between the radionuclides and the associated radiological hazard characteristics was investigated based on multivariate statistical methods including Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). According to statistical research, the radioactive risk of quartz is primarily caused by the 238U, 232Thand 40K. Finally, applying quartz to building materials would pose a significant risk to the public.

Assessment of Radiation Hazard from External and Internal Exposures at Adham and Surroundings in KSA

Assessment of Radiation Hazard from External and Internal Exposures at Adham and Surroundings in KSA

Activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K radionuclides in some south African medicinal herbs and their effective ingestion doses

Measurements of 238U, 232Th, and 40K activity concentrations in some commonly used medicinal plant parts have been performed for radiation hazard assessment and as baseline data for health risk monitoring in South Africa and other countries. The mean activity of 238U, 232Th, and 40K was found to be 43.3 Bqkg-1, 33.7 Bqkg-1, and 180 Bqkg-1 in Sclerocarya birrea; 85.0 Bqkg-1, 75.3 Bqkg-1, and 316.7 Bqkg-1 in Cymbopogon citratus; 47.3 Bqkg-1, 37.0 Bqkg-1, and 773.3 Bqkg-1 in Neorautanenia ficifolia; 25.7 Bqkg-1, 30.0 Bqkg-1, and 510 Bqkg-1 in Kigelia africana, respectively. The estimated annual effective dose due to ingestion ranged from 0.013 mSv (Kigelia africana) to 0.032 mSv (Cymbopogon citratus), well within recommended limits for the members of the public. Although the values revealed no hazards from a radiological point of view, it represents a valuable database for regulatory functions.

Measurement of natural radioactivity and radiation hazard assessment in the soil samples of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

The present work aims to measure and estimate radioactivity and hazardous radiation indices of the soil. Soil samples were collected from various locations in the Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The measurement of specific activity of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radionuclides is carried out with the help of HP-Ge based gamma spectrometer system. Activity concentration of radionuclides in the samples 226Ra, 232Th and 40K ranged from 20 ± 2 to 91 ± 2 Bq.kg-1, 45 ± 3 to 365 ± 3 Bq.kg-1, and 400 ± 9 to 607 ± 8 Bq.kg-1, and the respective mean values are 53.36 Bq.kg-1, 203.74 Bq.kg-1 and 479.19 Bq.kg-1. The measured mean value of the absorbed dose rate is 171.41 nGy.h-1, which was beyond the worldwide mean outdoor value of 60 nGy.h-1. Thus, the annual effective dose estimated from the above value is 1.04 mSv.y-1. The correlation was done among the measured 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K activity concentrations. The estimated radium equivalent dose is 381.60Bq.kg-1. The estimated health hazard index and annual effective dose rates of dwellers of Visakhapatnam were studied and compared to Indian average values. The study will help to generate the baseline data for assessing hazard indices to the public and geological mapping of natural radiation in India.

Natural and Anthropogenic Radioactivity Content and Radiation Hazard Assessment of Baby Food Consumption in Italy

The natural (40K) and anthropogenic (137Cs) radioactivity concentration in four different typologies of early childhood (up to two years old) foods, i.e., homogenized fruit, homogenized meat, childhood biscuits and baby pasta, produced in Italy and sold in Italian large retailers, was investigated through High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry. The present study is carried out with the aim to: (i) evaluate the background levels of the investigated radionuclides in the analyzed early childhood foods, (ii) identify whether the twenty analyzed samples were appropriate for infant consumption and (iii) contribute to construct a database on the radioactivity of early childhood foods sold in Italy.

In situ gamma spectrometry of terrestrial naturally occurring radioactive materials and radiation hazard assessment of Kebbi State, Nigeria

In situ gamma spectrometry of terrestrial naturally occurring radioactive materials and radiation hazard assessment of Kebbi State, Nigeria

Assessment of natural radiation hazards and function of heat production rate in lake sediments of Puliyanthangal Lake surrounding the Ranipet industrial area, Tamil Nadu

Assessment of natural radiation hazards and function of heat production rate in lake sediments of Puliyanthangal Lake surrounding the Ranipet industrial area, Tamil Nadu

Radiation hazard assessment from NORM-added paint products in Malaysia

IntroductionAcross the globe, radioactive consumer products are widely marketed for daily use. ObjectivesThe present study investigated commercially available ion paint, and the evaluations were using gamma (γ)-ray spectroscopy and Geant4 Monte Carlo (GMC) simulations. MethodsAn assessment of a radiological risk arising from using such products in the painting of living areas is conducted when Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM) was observed, with a daily inhalation exposure dose being of particular concern. Organ doses were simulated using adult mathematical Medical Internal Radiation Dose 5 (MIRD5)-type phantoms, incorporating dose conversion factors (DCFs). ResultsResults showed that a product sample code of IP04 contained the highest activity, i.e., 4449 ± 530, 31888 ± 2175, and 2963 ± 405 Bq kg−1, for 238U, 232Th, and 40K, respectively. Contrarily, NP18 recorded the lowest, i.e., 16 ± 2 and 30 ± 5, Bq kg−1 of 238U and 232Th, respectively. The IP04 paint offered the most significant concentrations, with mean percentages of 0.026, 0.81, and 0.06 for 238U, 232Th, and 212Pb, respectively. Its use in a designated Room 1 had resulted in an annual effective dose of 1.53 mSv y−1, assuming an exposure for a period of 8 h day−1. ConclusionIn brief, using these ion paints could result in amounts that exceed the annual public dose limit of 1 mSv.

Determination of natural radioactivity, hazard parameters and physico-chemical properties of soils from Palakkad-Thrissur district, Kerala, India

Assessment of natural radioactivity (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) and related radiation hazards play an important role in human health research and have received much attention from worldwide researchers. Soil is one of the key sources of human exposure to ionizing radiations. There has recently been a growing demand for soil data and information. This study aims to assess the radioactivity concentration and related parameters in the environment of Kuthiran hills due to radionuclides in soil samples collected from various locations around the Thrissur-Palakkad Highway (NH-544) regions in Kerala state (India). The activity concentrations of soil samples were determined by a gamma ray spectrometry system consisting of a p-type HPGe detector, with relative efficiency of 40%. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found to be 47.24 Bqkg−1, 67.49 Bqkg−1, and 810.87 Bqkg−1, respectively. These values are well within the permissible range, as recommended by the UNSCEAR 2008. The soil samples with the highest activity concentrations were primarily found in the valley region. The calculated hazard indices were used to estimate the potential radiological health risk from the soil, and the dose rates associated with it are significantly lower than their permissible limit. The overall findings indicate no radiological threat to the population's health in the study area.

Measurement of Activity Concentration Levels of Radionuclides and Assessment of Radiation Hazards for Well Water Samples Collected from Baghdad Governorate, Al-Sadr City, Iraq

In this study, Natural radioactivity levels of water from samples of 10 wells and at different depths 7, 3, and 12 meters were measured with a gamma-ray spectroscopy device using High-Purity Germanium HPGedetector. The samples were collected from different areas of Sadr City, east of Baghdad Governorate. Al-Sadr city is considered as one of the important areas in the capital, Baghdad, due to its population density, which constitutes about 45% of the province’s population. It is very important to assess the radiation risks in these samples because the population still depends on this water in their daily life. The concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides was determined U-238, Th-232, K-40 as all sample’s concentration is higher than the permissible limits according to UNSCEAR 2000. Measurements included the values of natural radioactivity were calculated as the Radium Equivalent Activity Raeq 0.22, External Hazard Index Hex 0.000595, Internal Hazard Index H_in 0.00119, Representative Level were collected The index Iγ 0.001467 and the alpha index I_α 0.0011, the exposure rate Raexp μR/h 0.418, and also calculated the air absorbed dose Dγin nGy/h 0.10164, Dγout nGy/h 0.2024, Dγtotal nGy/h 0.30404, AGED 0.6798, AEDEin 0.000124, AEDE_out 0.000993 and AEDEtotal 0.001117, lifetime cancer risk ELCRout 0.000436, ELCRin 0.003475 and ELCRtotal 0.003911.

Assessment of soil radioactivity levels and radiation hazards in Guangyao Village, South China

Assessment of soil radioactivity levels and radiation hazards in Guangyao Village, South China

Preliminary assessment of genotoxic effects induced by radiation from EAST using Vicia faba micronucleus assay

During long-pulse deuterium plasma operations in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), a mixed radiation field is generated, which is mainly composed of fusion neutrons, gamma rays, and x-rays. More accurate and effective dose monitoring methods have been developed and established to determine the ionizing radiation intensity both for the stable operation of the device and for the radiation safety of personnel. As far as we know, there are few reports about the biological effects of radiation induced by fusion neutrons and γ radiation, which are of vital importance for the assessment of radiation hazards presented by fusion devices, such as EAST, to human beings and the environment. In this study, three positions in the EAST hall were selected to detect genotoxic effects induced by nuclear fusion radiation using a Vicia faba micronucleus (MN) test for the first time. The doses of neutrons and gamma rays at these places were measured by thermoluminescence dosimeters four times between June 2019 and May 2020. The radiation doses decreased as the distances from the EAST device shell gradually increased from S1 to S3. The radiation in the EAST hall resulted in a significant induction of MN in the Vicia faba root tip cells compared to a negative control, which was different from the MN frequency induced by fission neutrons, γ-rays and other kinds of radiation in previous studies. These results indicate the existence of potential genotoxic effects induced by radiation from EAST which is different from other radiation and suggest that personnel should not be permitted to enter the experimental hall during the discharge process, and that radiation protection measures should be taken during necessary maintenance to avoid radiation damage. These newly acquired results will certainly increase our knowledge about the biological effects induced by radiation from nuclear fusion and provide good data support for developing more effective environmental and personnel fusion radiation protection.

Assessment of natural radioactivity and radiation hazards of building materials in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Natural radionuclides from building materials are one of the potential sources of external as well as internal radiation exposure to the human body. Currently, this exposure has been increasing since people spend more than 80% of their time indoors (ICRP 1991). Commonly used building materials from Kinondoni District were investigated using γ-spectrometry; their activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in Bq/kg were measured. The results showed that average values of activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were 15.62, 21.51 and 237.99 Bq/kg, respectively. All the activity concentrations in the studied samples were lower than the world average values of 35 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 30 Bq/kg for 232Th and 400 Bq/kg for 40K. The radium equivalent activity ( 𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑞), external ( 𝐻𝑒𝑥), internal hazard index ( 𝐻𝑖𝑛) and gamma activity concentration index (𝐼𝛾) were calculated to assess the radiological hazards due to presence of natural radionuclides in the building materials. The results showed that the average values of Raeq, Hex, and Iγ were 64.7 Bq/kg, 0.17, 0.21 and 0.24, respectively. These values were lower than the world criteria values 370 for Raeq, ≤ 1 for Hex, ≤ 1 for Hin and ≤ 1 for Iγ, respectively. The obtained results indicated that all the investigated building materials were safe for inhabitants.
 Keywords: Building materials, Natural radionuclides, Radiation hazards, Gamma ray spectrometry, Activity concentration

Assessment of radiation hazards from phosphate rocks, Sibaiya area, central eastern desert, Egypt

The present work used the integrated Carbone γ-ray spectrometric data and HPGe γ-ray spectrometer data to the prospect of radioactive zones at the Sibaiya area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt. Carbone γ-ray spectrometric survey revealed ten uranium anomalies distributed along the car traverse from west to east direction have values of 240, 104, 44, 34, 150, 124, 232, 132, 60, and 90 ppm, respectively. These significant anomalies are associated mainly with phosphates mines characterized by a substantial increase of eU/eTh and eU/K ratios. Ten phosphate samples were collected from the determining anomalies. They were analyzed using the HPGe detector gamma-ray spectrometer. It was found that the results of radioelement concentrations by carborne survey agree well with that obtained by HPGe. The average activity concentration for the Sibaiya phosphate samples under study is 152.5, 947, and 33.2 Bq/kg against the worldwide accepted limit of 412, 33, and 45 Bq/kg for 40K, 238U, and 232Th, respectively. The radium equivalent ranges from 499 to 3484.9 Bq/kg, which is higher than the recommended value 370 Bq/kg. The external hazard's (Hex) calculated values range from 1.35 to 9.42 mGy/yr, and the internal hazard (Hin) ranges from 2.58 to 18.69. These indexes must be lower than unity to keep the radiation hazard insignificant. The value of the radioactivity level index (Iγ) is found to be more than unity, which varies between 1.68 and 11.63. The dose rate (DR) ranges from 149.5 to 970 nGy/h, higher than the international mean value of 55 nGy/h. The annual effective dose ranges from 0.18 to 1.19 mSv, which less than unity in almost all values. Meanwhile, the values of activity of 226Ra ranged from 454 to 3429 Bq/kg and the mean of mass radon exhalation rate (Jm) is 6615 mBq kg−1 h−1 which is lower than the worldwide average.