Geiger Counter Research Articles

From Proteomics to the Analysis of Single Protein Molecules.

Limit of detection (LoD) is a term that is used to characterize the sensitivity of an analytical method. The existing limitation of the sensitivity of analysis using modern mass spectrometry methods has been experimentally shown to be a limiting factor in the application of proteomic technologies in medicine. This article proposes a concept of a new technology that will set a new vector of development in the development of systems for solving problems of medical diagnostics and deals with theoretical and practical aspects of creating a new technology for the detection of single biomacromolecules (in particular, proteins) in biological samples. Such technology should be based on the principle of signal registration similar to that used in a Geiger counter (also known as a Geiger-Müller counter or G-M counter), a device that automatically counts the number of ionizing particles that hit it. This counter is free from probabilistic components; it registers a signal if there is at least one target molecule in the analysis chamber. Predictive medical diagnostics require technology based on methods where sensitivity allows for the detection of single marker molecules in a biological sample volume of 1-10 µL, the smallest volume of biomaterial used in laboratory diagnostics. Creation of a detector with a sensitivity of 10-18 M would allow for the detection of one molecule in 1 µL of the sample, which fundamentally makes this approach analogous to a G-M counter for solutions. To date, bioanalytical methods are limited to a sensitivity of 10-12 M (which is approximately 1 million molecules per 1 μL), which is insufficient to capture the early stages of pathological processes.

Transforming DIY Geiger Counter Kits into Muon Detectors for Education and Scientific Exploration

Transforming DIY Geiger Counter Kits into Muon Detectors for Education and Scientific Exploration

Methodology for Measuring the Dose Rate of Pulsed Bremsstrahlung Radiation using Gamma Radiation Dosimeters with Geiger-Muller Counter

Introduction. Industrial monitoring of pulsed bremsstrahlung radiation is associated with a number of challenges. Russia produces only three dosimeters that can be used for measuring pulsed bremsstrahlung radiation with a pulse duration of less than 10 gs. These dosimeters, in addition to being rather expensive, have a number of significant restrictions on the energy range (10 MeV) and the minimum pulse duration (10 ns). The DKG-RM1621 dosimeter with a Geiger-Muller counter can be used for dosimetry of photon radiation with energies up to 20 MeV. However, this device is not intended for dosimetry of pulsed radiation.Aim. Development of a methodology for conducting radiation monitoring of pulsed bremsstrahlung radiation sources using dosimeters with Geiger-Muller counters.Materials and methods. In 2021, measurements of the dose rate of pulsed bremsstrahlung radiation with a maximum energy of 3.0 MeV at pulse repetition rates of 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, and 400 Hz were carried out using DKS- AT1123 (as a reference) and MKS-AT117M dosimeters with a Geiger-Muller counter.Results. A technique was developed for correcting the results of measuring the dose rate of pulsed bremsstrahlung radiation by a dosimeter equipped with a Geiger-Muller counter, which allows the dose rate of pulsed bremsstrahlung radiation to be measured with an additional error of less than 15 % in a practically significant range of dose rates. For the MKS- AT117M dosimeter at a pulse repetition rate of 400 Hz, this value was 320 gSv/h, which is sufficient for most practical tasks in radiation monitoring.Conclusion. The feasibility and possibility of successful application of dosimeters with Geiger-Muller counters for dosimetry of pulsed bremsstrahlung radiation using the proposed measurement technique with a limitation on the maximum measured dose rate is shown.

Radiation level over the Bishnumati River Bridges: A Study from Balaju to Teku in Kathmandu, Nepal

Background radiation is ubiquitous; it is obvious to be present on the bridges too. Furthermore, the bridges of the Bishnumati River lie near solid waste collection centers, garages, and some important religious sites like Shovabhagwati, Indrayani, Kankeswori, etc. The level of radiation exposure of 14 different bridges on the Bishnumati River from Balaju to Teku is measured using a professional Digital Geiger Counter GCA-07W. The 14 bridges consisting: of vehicle, bailey, and semi-suspension bridges are surveyed. It is found that the Shovabhagwati bridge has the highest annual effective dose rate of 1.025 ± 0.230 mSv/yr while the Nilbarahi bridge has the lowest annual effective dose rate of 0.696 ± 0.237 mSv/yr. The vehicle-cemented bridge has higher background radiation due to the material that is used in construction i.e., cement, iron rod, and other chemical. The average annual effective dose is 0.906 ± 0.230 mSv/yr which lies below the recommended dose by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). No harmful radiation is found between Balaju to Teku, the bridge over the Bishnumati River, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Measurement of Background Ionizing Radiation Around Beta Glass Plc and Its Environs, Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria

A study of the background ionizing radiation levels to helps monitor the impact of human activities on the environment, such as mining, farming, glass bottle production and power generation has been carried out around Beta glass Plc and Transcorp Power LTD using a hand-held gamma spectrometer (GAMMA-SCOUT; Geiger counter Radiation meter) and GPS (Oregon-450 Garmin). The study of the BIR levels was carried out between June to July, 2022. The average measured exposure rates (AV. BIR) ranged from 0.007 mRh-1 to 0.013 mRh-1, with 0.010±0.0002 mRh-1 as the average. The estimated mean outdoor absorbed dose rate (ADR) for the study region was 113.10 Gyh-1 to 87.153±2.091 Gyh-1, with an average annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) of 106.884±2.565 mSvy-1 and an average excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) of (0.374±0.009) × 10-3. The measured values of radiological parameters, such as annual dose rate, annual effective dose rate, and excess lifetime cancer, were higher than background radiation levels. The average BIR is in line with the ICRP recommendation of 0.013 (mRh-1), while the effective dose rate (EDR) is somewhat below the ICRP recommendation of 1.00 (mSvy-1) for a normal environment. The obtained values of the radiological indicators, such as ADR, AEDE, and ELCR, are greater than the background radiation norm of 59 (?Gyh-1), 0. 07 (mSvy-1), and 0.29×10-3. The study found that radiation levels and doses in the study location do not immediately harm personnel or residents, but increased lifetime cancer risk values suggest that cumulative dosages may cause cancer.

How to Rapidly Evaluate Uranium Adsorption Capacity Using Only a Portable Geiger Counter?

AbstractThe development of the nuclear industry has stimulated research in uranium extraction from seawater (UES) by adsorption. However, in practical applications, it's hard to equip various ion concentration measurement instruments for real‐time characterizing uranium adsorption capacity. Given the radioactive property of uranium, if only a Geiger counter is possessed, how it can be utilized to rapidly evaluate uranium adsorption in the adsorbent? This study proposes the Geiger‐Uranium‐Distance model, which establishes correlations among Geiger counter readings, uranium adsorption capacity, and distance, thereby offering a viable approach. While maintaining a constant radius for the adsorbent stack point, during the laboratory phase, the average molecular mass (MA) and the kGg(z) values of the original adsorbent are determined. In practical applications, the surrounding radiation background GE (µSv h−1) is detected. Subsequently, the Geiger counter is vertically positioned above the stacked point of adsorbent after uranium adsorption. Utilizing the measured radiation intensity value G (µSv h−1), and employing the equation , the uranium adsorption capacity Qe can be obtained.

Does the Mott problem extend to Geiger counters?

Abstract The Mott problem is a simpler version of the quantum measurement problem that asks: Is there a microscopic physical mechanism – based (explicitly or implicitly) only on Schroedinger’s equation – that explains why a single alpha particle emitted in a single spherically symmetric s-wave nuclear decay produces a manifestly nonspherically symmetric single track in a cloud chamber? I attempt here to generalize earlier work that formulated such a mechanism. The key ingredient there was identification of sites at which the cross section for ionization by a passing charged particle is near singular at ionization threshold. This near singularity arose from a Penning-like process involving molecular polarization in subcritical vapor clusters. Here, I argue that the same Mott problem question should be asked about Geiger counters. I then define a simple experiment to determine if ionization physics similar to the cloud chamber case takes place in the mica window of a Geiger counter and explains the collimation of wavefunctions that are spherically symmetric outside the counter into linear ion tracks inside. The experiment measures the count rate from a radioactive point source as a function of source-window separation. I have performed a proof of concept of this experiment; results are reported here and support the near-singular-ionization picture. These results are significant in their own right, and they may shed light on physical mechanisms underlying instances of the full quantum measurement problem. I illustrate this for the Stern–Gerlach experiment and a particular realization of superconducting qubits. I conclude by detailing further work required to flesh out these results more rigorously.

Measurement of Radionuclides and their Impact on the Environment Around Asphalt Plants in Delta State

Measurement of radionuclides and their impact on the environment around asphalt plants in some selected Asphalt mixing plant within Delta State, Nigeria was carried out. The Background Ionizing Radiation and the GPS of the location was measured using a well calibrated Gamma scout; Geiger counter multi-radiation meter and a GARMIN GPS meter and the result obtained at Raycon, DLA and Neodede Hot Asphalt Mixing Plants for outdoor exposure, shows a total mean value of (0.01492±0.038) (mRh-1), (0.01497±0.037) (mRh-1) and (0.01413±0.014) (mRh-1) respectively. The total mean values obtained in the selected radiological centers were all above the world average BIR level of 0.013 (mR?-1) as recommended by UNSCEAR (2000). These results were used to calculate some hazard indices such as the Equivalent dose (ED) in mSv??1, the absorbed dose rate (ADR) in nGy??1, Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE) and Excess Life Cancer Risk (ELCR). All the values obtained for each Parameter were above the world permissible limits as given by UNSCEAR (2000). The average activity concentration of 40K, 238U and 232Th in the soil of the three study areas were (603.21±30.94) Bq/Kg, (5.70 ±0.678) Bq/Kg and (6.91 ± 0.405) Bq/Kg. For 40K the average activity concentration was high and above the world recommended limit of 420 Bq/Kg (UNSCEAR 2000). 238U and 232Th were below the world recommended limits which are 33 Bq/Kg and 45 Bq/Kg. respectively. The Activity Concentration results were used to calculate the following radiological parameters: Absorbed gamma dose rate (DR) in (nGy/h), Annual Effective Dose Equivalent AEDE in (?Svy-1), the Radium Equivalent (Raeq), Excess Life Cancer Risk (ELCR) and External Hazard Index. All the calculated radiological Values were above the recommended limit given by (UNSCEAR 2000). Water samples in the study areas was also collected and the average activi

DEVELOPMENT OF AN IOT DEVICE BASED ON A GEIGER COUNTER

The threat of radiation exposure is always present in modern world. In recent years, this threat has become even more pronounced due to Russian aggression on Ukrainian territory. Therefore, the need for remote data collection and analysis of radiation background information has become even more important, and research in the field of creating small, low-cost devices that can monitor radiation levels of a certain area in real-time and provide information to local government agencies responsible for the safety of populated areas can be considered relevant. Radiation background level monitoring is essential to ensuring that people are informed of any potential threats to their health. It is proposed to develop a dense network of monitoring stations that can collect and transmit data about background radiation in real time. Measurement results will be processed and stored on a resource that is available to both local authorities and public. The Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol is used to transmit information, as it is durable, lightweight, and efficient. A hardware and software system for collecting and transmitting radioactivity values has been developed. The system is based on a module with Geiger counter tube, which is used to measure the level of radiation in the area. The module is connected to a microcontroller, which processes the data and transmits it to a central server. To summarize and process the measurement results, the Majordomo broker is used. It is installed on a remotely accessible network storage. In conclusion, the proposed system can ensure the safety of the public, allowing authorities, experts and trained personnel to quickly and efficiently respond to any potential radiation threats, protecting people from radiation exposure.

Mapping of outdoor gamma radiation and consequential health risk assessment in north-eastern regions of Rajasthan, India

Living beings get inevitable exposure to radiation of which approximately half of the dose is due to natural background radiation. In the present study, an extensive and systematic survey of outdoor GDR (GDR) was carried out in Churu and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan. A total of 687 locations were covered to quantify the outdoor GDR. The portable radiation monitor, based on the Geiger-Muller counter, was used to monitor the outdoor gamma dose, and its associated health risk was estimated. Outdoor GDRs were found to vary from 32 nSv/h to 231 nSv/h and 75 nSv/h to 188 nSv/h in Churu and Jhunjhunu districts, respectively. The annual effective dose at most locations of the study area was greater than 0.07 nSv/h but less than the 1 mSv/y permissible limit recommended by the ICRP. The excess lifetime cancer risk in Churu district was estimated and found to range from 0.147 × 10−3 to 1.063 × 10−3, while in Jhunjhunu district it was 0.345 × 10−3 to 0.865 × 10−3

Integration of Simulation-Based Exercises and Practical Skills into a Public Health Emergency Management Curriculum

Introduction:As public health emergency management (PHEM) is a growing field, so is the development of its workforce. Ensuring workforce readiness from graduate-level education and courses can be challenging given the limitations of the traditional classroom environment. This presentation highlights a novel curriculum created and taught by first responders consisting of simulation and application of practical skills developed within a public health graduate certificate program.Method:The semester-long course reviews foundations of PHEM and students progress through a sequence of increasingly complex discussions and operation-based exercises for both domestic and international disaster preparedness and response. Students progress through case studies, tabletops, functional exercises, and full-scale exercises with practical skills interspersed. This includes creation of SMART objectives and incident action planning, crisis communication and public messaging drills, use of radios, personal protective donning and doffing, and Geiger counter use.During the COVID-19 pandemic, the curriculum was adapted for asynchronous and live virtual sessions with further offerings including various online trainings that are required for most employments in the field and guest speakers with national recognition for their experiences in public health and healthcare emergency management and subject matter expertise in various fields related to preparedness and response.Results:Since commencing in 2016, approximately 100 students have completed the course and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive even with limitations of in-person activities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Student feedback has noted that the majority of students feel that the knowledge and skills from the coursework is applicable to future employment and that their ability to think critically about the subject matter increased as a result of taking the course.Conclusion:Implementation of this innovative graduate level course can serve as a model to enrich students’ education through practical activities and hands-on simulations.

Development of Adphylab in the Geiger-Muller Counter Practicum to Facilitate Science Process Skills

Development of Adphylab in the Geiger-Muller Counter Practicum to Facilitate Science Process Skills

Radioiodine Therapy in Patient with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Chronic Kidney Disease on Maintenance Hemodialysis: First Case of Bangladesh

The conventional course of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) treatment requires surgical resection followed by radioactive iodine (131I) therapy (RAIT). Patients are advised to drink plenty of water, as 131I gets eliminated through the kidneys and the burden of extra radiation is reduced. Treating a case of DTC with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by RAIT is challenging. As a result, when planning hemodialysis in a DTC patient with CKD, the dose of 131I, the timing of the dialysis, and radiation safety must all be carefully considered. Because 131I is dialyzable, a standard Geiger counter can observe and detect it. A post-thyroidectomized case of DTC with CKD was successfully treated with 131I while continuing scheduled peritoneal hemodialysis (HD) simultaneously during hospital isolation, as reported here. This case report was aimed at sharing the HD management procedures, challenges to any adverse effects, and exposure doses of 131I-treated DTC patients in their immediate post-ablative days. Geiger counter measurements in the patient after HD following 131 I administration revealed levels of less than 4.20 Sv/h on the fifth day, allowing safe hospital discharge in this case. Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 26(1): 71-74, 2023

Preparation and mechanical characterization of (rubber blend - micro lead) rubbery composites for shielding application

This present work, includes the preparation of rubber batches containing silicone rubber (SIR) (80pphr) and polyurethane (PU) (20pphr) with micro-lead powder in different loading, respectively (0,20.40,60,80,100,150,200,250,300pphr). The mechanical properties measured the device universal tensometer, such as tensile strength, elongation and modulus of elasticity, according standard specified of (ASTM D-412) were followed and the hardness property measured by (Hardness Shore A) was put through its steps according to the standard specification (ASTMD-1415). The results were selected, and the sample (10) consisting of (SIR 80/PU20 and micro-lead 300pphr) was chosen because it is more suitable for the required mechanical properties. The results observed that the ratios of micro-lead loading increased, the tensile and elongation decreased, and the hardness and elastic modulus increased. Rubber batches reinforced with micro-lead were exposed to an infrared (FTIR) test device with the addition of hexane, where there were no changes in the infrared spectrum of the rubber composites (SIR80/PU20/Micro-Pb). Sample No. (10) was shown that the scanning electron microscope (SEM) before and after adding hexane, where it was noted that the image (A) without hexane, the absence of homogeneity of lead. As for image (B) in the presence of hexane, we note the homogeneity of lead and the distribution of lead equally, so that radiation examination were measured the Geiger counter of two sources of radioactive elements were used, the caesium source Cs137 and the cobalt source Co60. The radiation is attenuated through the material, while the thickness of the half (X1/2) gradually contrasts according to the attenuation of the radiation. This work is applied in the applications of shields as a protective suit against harmful radiation.

Are Online Simulations for Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness Less Effective in Teaching Than Face-to-Face Simulations?

The study clarified differences in understanding and satisfaction between face-to-face and online training on radiation emergency medical preparedness (REMP) training. The training was held at Hirosaki University between 2018 and 2022, with 46 face-to-face participants and 25 online participants. Face-to-face training was significantly more understandable than online for the use of the Geiger counter (P < 0.05), but the educational effect of virtual reality (VR) was not significantly different from the actual practice. For the team exercise of taking care of the victims, online resulted in a significantly higher understanding (P < 0.05). Interactive exercises can be done online with equipment sent to learners, and VR is also as effective. The use of videos was more effective for first-timers to learn the practical process from a bird's-eye view, especially for team-based medical procedures.

Preliminary study of a novel radiation shield for jaw in dental radiography using the high-density polyethylene/bismuth oxide nanocomposite

Dental radiography has been linked in numerous studies to an elevated risk of brain cancer, meningioma cranial tumors, and parotid gland tumors. Unfortunately, not much attention has been given to this problem. This research aims to determine and quantify the radiation shielding properties of High-Density Polyethylene/Bismuth Oxide composite (HDPE-Bi2O3) including the linear attenuation coefficient (μ), mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), half-value layer (HVL) and tenth-value layer (TVL) for photons at 59.5 keV. First, the MCNP code—which showed a reasonable degree of consistency with the XCOM data—was used to simulate the variables μ, μ/ρ, HVL, and TVL that were connected to different concentrations of the composite. Then, the nanocomposite containing of 60 wt% Bi2O3 was chosen and fabricated via the casting method. There were XRD, and FESEM tests performed. Two techniques using the CsI(Tl) scintillation detector and the Geiger counter were applied to measure the shielding quantities at 59.5 keV gamma-rays of the 241Am radioactive source. Finally, results of the measurements revealed a comparatively good agreement with the values from the MCNP and XCOM simulations, with a maximum 3% discrepancy. The artifact test at the presence of the composites shield using a dental radiographic system at 60 kV have not been influenced adversely. This composite at the optimal weight fraction and thickness has potential application to be used as a radiation shield for jaw in dental radiography.

Development of a high energy resolution and wide dose rate range portable gamma-ray spectrometer

In this paper, a portable gamma-ray spectrometer for real-time and in-situ gamma-ray detection applications is presented. By combining a quasi-hemispherical CdZnTe (CZT) semiconductor detector and a Geiger-Muller (GM) counter together, a wide dose rate range is achieved, ranging from 0.1 μSv/h to 100 mSv/h with a relative error of less than 10%. The GM counter is used to measure dose rate from 1 mSv/h to 100 mSv/h. With CZT, the spectrometer can provide a high energy resolution spectrum for nuclide identification and a high precision dose rate at low dose rates. The full width half maximum (FWHM) resolution is 2.2% at 662 keV below 70 μSv/h and is better than 3.3% at 3.8 mSv/h. The weight of the spectrometer is 3.2 kg for handheld and the runtime is up to 12 h without charging. For preliminary applications, the spectrometer was used to measure the gamma radiation around the Back-n white neutron beam line at China Spallation Neutron Source and around the steam generator in the nuclear power plant at Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station.

Ultralow-Power and Miniaturized X-ray Sensor Using the Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Micro Network-Based Geiger Counter Design

We present an ultralow-power, highly sensitive, and miniaturized X-ray sensor with micropatterned single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) interdigitated networks inspired by the Geiger-Mueller counter design. Due to the unique nanostructured surface and superb electronic transport nature of assembled SWCNTs, a strong electric field is formed between and within highly organized SWCNT interdigitated electrodes, which effectively separates electrons and ionized ions created by incident X-rays into electrodes, facilitating electron detection. As a result, the device can detect a low X-ray dose rate (9.97 μGy·s–1) with an extremely low power consumption of 80–90 fW, demonstrating a sensitivity of up to 203.96 μC·Gy–1·cm–2. Furthermore, the interdigitated SWCNT electrode design produces a low noise level in the picoampere range, permitting exceptional real-time signal detection during X-ray exposure. These unique features of our SWCNT X-ray sensing device enable various low SWaP (size, weight, and power) radiation detectors in the fields of medicine, homeland security, and defense.

A Solar-Rechargeable Radiation Dosimeter Design for Radiation Hazard Zone Located with LoRa Network

Since the nuclear energy leakage that occurred at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, people have paid more attention to the danger of environmental radiation. Environmental radiation is monitored using Geiger counters, which are not easy to obtain in some areas. Therefore, this research proposes an open-source and low-cost handheld Geiger counter that uses solar energy to charge lithium-ion batteries. Our design can provide a low-cost environmental radiation monitoring platform and effectively enhance the public’s scientific education awareness of radiation hazards. The measured dose rate can be output through the serial port, allowing a LoRa wireless network to transmit data to a database. When the sensing network deployed by the radiometer detects that the radiation value of the area is abnormally increased, it can issue an alarm to the government for the first time. Moreover, the low-power radiometer design can reduce energy consumption, reduce the burden on the ecological environment caused by the deployment of the sensing network, and provide sustainability for the environment.

Statistical methods for designing a Geiger–Muller counter suitable for an early warning system

The paper discusses statistical methods that can be applied when constructing the Geiger–Muller counters to obtain the same response to radiation, regardless of their dimensions. This issue is relevant for the improvement of the early warning system of potential damage to the barrier of a container with radioactive material that can escape through a damaged barrier and contaminate the natural environment. The method of statistical mathematics was used to design such counters. Two laws of mathematical statistics were used, the law of similarity for electric discharges and the law of increasing probability. The Geiger–Muller​ counter chambers designed in this way have been tested experimentally. The experiments were performed under well-controlled laboratory conditions at a low value of combined measurement uncertainty. The obtained results confirmed the efficiency of the proposed and applied methods.