Gross-beta Activity Research Articles

P-225 - Quick determination of 90SR/90Y for application in nuclear medicine by counting gross-beta activity

P-225 - Quick determination of 90SR/90Y for application in nuclear medicine by counting gross-beta activity

Investigation of gross alpha & gross beta radioactivity in surface water of Lixiating in 2014—2019

Objective To carry out the gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity monitoring in Lixiating surface water in Daming Lake from 2014 to 2019, so as to understand the current situation of radioactive environmental quality of surface water in Daming Lake. Methods The water samples were collected at Lixiating site during the wet water (March to June) and dry water (September to December). After the pre-treatment process of evaporation, carbonization and ashing, the samples were measured by the ultra low background level α and β counter. Results During 2014 to 2019, the gross alpha activity in the surface water of Lixiating water in Daming Lake was 0.030-0.066 Bq/L, with an average of 0.048 Bq/L, and the gross beta activity was 0.085-0.126 Bq/L, with an average of 0.102 Bq/L. Conclusion The surface water of Lixiating in Daming Lake water was not contaminated by radionuclide and it was safe for public health. 摘要： 目的 开展 2014—2019 年济南市大明湖历下亭地表水中总 α、总 β 放射性监测, 了解大明湖地表水放射性环 境质量现状。 方法 每年于丰水期 (3~6 月) 和枯水期 (9~12 月) 在历下亭点位采集水样, 经过蒸发、炭化、灰化等前 处理过程后, 制成样品源于低本底 α、β 计数器中测量。 结果 2014—2019 年大明湖历下亭地表水中总α放射性活度 为 0.030~0.066 Bq/L, 均值为 0.048 Bq/L, 总β放射性活度为0.085~0.126 Bq/L, 均值为 0.102 Bq/L。 结论 济南市大 明湖历下亭地表水未受到放射性核素污染, 对公众健康是安全的。

Evaluation of gross-alpha and gross-beta activity concentrations and assessment of excess lifetime cancer risk in waters of Eğirdir Lake, Turkey

ABSTRACT Eğirdir Lake is the fourth largest lake in Turkey and located in Isparta province. It is one of the most important water sources in Göller District. Eğirdir Lake supplies water to the Eğirdir basin and most of the agricultural lands were irrigated through Eğirdir Lake and it is also used as drinking water in adjacent provinces. Evaluating the gross-alpha and gross-beta activity concentrations can be accepted as the first step of determining the natural radioactivity level of water. The aim of this study is to investigate the natural radioactivity level of Eğirdir Lake surface water by measuring gross-alpha and gross-beta activity concentrations. Study was conducted in two different seasons, in order to evaluate the seasonal effect on results. Seasonal average activity concentrations of gross-alpha and gross-beta varied in a range of 0.0125–0.0345 Bq/L and 0.0750–0.1 Bq/L, respectively. Mean activity concentrations of gross-alpha and gross-beta for seasonal averages were 0.0215 ± 0.0057 Bq/L and 0.0833 ± 0.008 Bq/L, respectively. From the measured activities, annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were calculated. The obtained ELCR results varied in the range of 0.0157%–0.0202% with arithmetic mean of 0.0173%. In addition to that, statistical analyses were carried out in order to investigate the significances of the results. Resultant values exhibited that gross-alpha and gross-beta activities were found to be lower than suggested limits of WHO screening procedure. These results indicated that water consumption-related annual effective dose due to internal irradiation is less than 0.1 mSv/year and the water of Eğirdir Lake is of low risk to use as drinking water and also for multiple purposes.

Radiological Status of Drinking Water Sources Around a Coal Mining Site in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria

The radioactivity of drinking water sources around Okaba coal mining area in Ankpa local government area of Kogi state, North central Nigeria have been carried out using a low background Gasless Alpha- Beta Counting System (Protean Instrument Corporation) – MPC 2000DP. The gross alpha and gross beta activity of water samples from four (4) sources (river/stream, borehole, sachet water and rain water) was measured. The grossalphaand gross-beta activity concentrations recorded were below the safe limits of 0.5 Bq/l and 1 Bq/l respectively, as recommended by the world health organization (WHO, 2017). Also, results of the committed effective dose (for adult and infant) calculated were all below the reference dose level (RDL) of 0.1mSv/yr (WHO, 2017) except for BW3 whose adult dose was above the RDL. Therefore, there is no immediate risk of internal radiation exposure to the populace via intake of water from the four major sources of drinking water around Okaba coal mining area. However, caution should be taken especially with regards long-term consumption of the ground water (BW3).
 Keywords: Okaba, radioactivity, gross-alpha, gross-beta, coal, water

The gross beta activity of surface sediment in different urban landscape areas

Sediment samples were collected from urban zones in Ekaterinburg over the course of a year in order to analyze the gross beta activity. The bulk samples were categorized into three size groups: dust, fine sand, and coarse sand. A small amount of the obtained samples was used to develop a new method for measuring the concentration of gross-beta activity. The results show a statistically significant trend in beta-activity as the dust size of the samples increased between winter and autumn. The observed dependencies reflect geochemical processes in the formation and transportation of urban sediment.

Gross Alpha and Beta Activity Analyses in Urine—A Routine Laboratory Method for Internal Human Radioactivity Detection

The aim of this work was to develop a method to provide rapid results for humans with internal radioactive contamination. The authors hypothesized that valuable information could be obtained from gas proportional counter techniques by screening urine samples from potentially exposed individuals rapidly. Recommended gross alpha and beta activity screening methods generally employ gas proportional counting techniques. Based on International Standards Organization (ISO) methods, improvements were made in the evaporation process to develop a method to provide rapid results, adequate sensitivity, and minimum sample preparation and operator intervention for humans with internal radioactive contamination. The method described by an American National Standards Institute publication was used to calibrate the gas proportional counter, and urine samples from patients with or without radionuclide treatment were measured to validate the method. By improving the evaporation process, the time required to perform the assay was reduced dramatically. Compared with the reference data, the results of the validation samples were very satisfactory with respect to gross-alpha and gross-beta activities. The gas flow proportional counting method described here has the potential for radioactivity monitoring in the body. This method was easy, efficient, and fast, and its application is of great utility in determining whether a sample should be analyzed by a more complicated method, for example radiochemical and/or γ-spectroscopy. In the future, it may be used commonly in medical examination and nuclear emergency treatment.Health Phys. 106(5):000-000; 2014.

Monitoring of 7Be in surface air of varying PM10 concentrations

In this study, beryllium-7 (7Be) concentrations of surface air were monitored throughout a span of 23 years (1992–2012) in the Taiwanese cities Yilan, Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. During this period, particulate matter (PM) concentrations, in terms of PM10, were collected monthly from the nearest air-quality pollutant monitoring stations and compared against 7Be concentrations. Seasonal monsoons influenced 7Be concentrations in all cities, resulting in high winter and low summer concentrations. In addition, the meteorological conditions caused seasonal PM10 variations, yielding distinct patterns among the cities. There was no correlation between 7Be and PM10 in the case cities. The average annual 7Be concentrations varied little among the cities, ranging from 2.9 to 3.5mBq/m3, while the PM10 concentrations varied significantly from 38μg/m3 in Yilan to 92μg/m3 in Kaohsiung depending on the degree of air pollution and meteorological conditions. The correlation between the 7Be concentration and gross-beta activities (Aβ) in air implied that the 7Be was mainly attached to crustal PM and its concentration varied little among the cities, regardless of the increase in anthropogenic PM in air-polluted areas.

Sources of variability in the determination by evaporation method of gross alpha activity in water samples

Abstract Determining the gross alpha activity concentration of water samples is one way to screen for waters whose radionuclide content is so high that its consumption could imply surpassing the Total Indicative Dose as defined in European Directive 98/83/EC. One of the most commonly used methods to prepare the sources to measure gross alpha activity in water samples is desiccation. Its main advantages are the simplicity of the procedure, the low cost of source preparation, and the possibility of simultaneously determining the gross beta activity. The preparation of the source, the construction of the calibration curves, and the measurement procedure itself involve, however, various factors that may introduce sufficient variability into the results to significantly affect the screening process. We here identify the main sources of this variability, and propose specific procedures to follow in the desiccation process that will reduce the uncertainties, and ensure that the result is indeed representative of the sum of the activities of the alpha emitters present in the sample.

Optimization Method to Determine Gross Alpha-Beta in Water Samples Using Liquid Scintillation Counter

Liquid scintillation counting (LSC) is an adequate nuclear technique to determine radioactivity levels, as verified by this study for the determination of the gross alpha and beta activities of aqueous samples because of its simplicity and low associated cost comparison with other techniques. This paper discusses a new approach to the monitoring of gross alpha and gross beta activities in water. The method consists of using pulse decay discrimination (PDD) liquid scintillation counting LSC of 2 ml of the sample after conditioning with 12 ml of AB-Ultima Gold LSC cocktail, and PDD 139 condition. Different factors that affected on the counting efficiency were studied such as quench reaction, volume of sample, and type of vial. The gross alpha and gross beta particle activity measurement using 40K and 243Am with different activities concentration for efficiency determination. The calculated detection limits were 0.07 Bq/l and 0.12 Bq/l for gross alpha and gross beta respectively for 500 min measurements of samples produced by concentration of one liter of water.

Determination of gross alpha and beta activity concentrations in drinking waters in Bursa region of north-western Turkey

Abstract This study intends to radiologically assess the drinking waters from Bursa province of northwestern Turkey. Using gross-alpha and gross-beta counting methods, the gross-alpha activity concentrations of 43 drinking water samples were measured as 68.5 mBq dm−3 in the range 13–629 mBq dm−3. The gross-beta activity concentrations were determined as 67.1 mBq dm−3 in the range 12–455 mBq dm−3. These values lead to average annual effective doses of 14 μSv from alpha emitters and 33.8 μSv from beta emitting radionuclides and are found to be much lower than those recommended for drinking waters by World Health Organization (WHO).

Removal of radionuclides from Estonian groundwater using aeration, oxidation, and filtration

Groundwater in the north-eastern suburb of Tallinn was analysed to determine the content of iron, manganese, sulphides, ammonia, and radionuclides (Ra 226 , Ra 228 ) and total radioactivity. It was established that for several wells of the Cambrian-Vendian water layer the annual effective dose would exceed the EU guideline for drinking water (0.1 mSv/yr). The purpose was to find a technology for simultaneous purification of groundwater from iron, manganese, sulphides, ammonia, and some radionuclides (Ra 226 , Ra 228 ). A pilot plant consisting of a Venturi-type aeration unit GDT (Gas-Degas Technology, Mazzei Corp., USA), an oxidation tank, and two-stage filtration columns was constructed. Several non-catalytic (Everzit Special Plus, sand) and catalytic filter materials (Filtersorb FMH, Pyrolox) were tested. Along the flow sheet from the aerator to the II stage filter outlet the pH, dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide, turbidity, the content of iron, manganese, and ammonia were monitored, mainly by using spectrophotometry (HACH DR/2000). Radioactivity of water samples was determined by the Estonian Radiation Centre using the liquid scintillation counting method and γ-spectrometry. It was established that by intensive aeration of groundwater followed by oxidation for a certain contact time and appropriate selection of filter materials of different properties, it was possible to remove together with iron and manganese also radium isotopes. The total effectiveness of the process was 90% removal of gross-alfa and 70% removal of gross-beta activity of groundwater. Since the uranium content in the well water was marginal and radon was almost totally (99%) removed in the degas separator, the total effective dose was calculated by Ra 226 and Ra 228 . It was about 0.067 mSv/yr, which is lower than the EU DWD guideline (0.1 mSv/yr). The theoretical assumption that radionuclides were already removed with Fe(OH)3 flocks in the first filtration step was verified by examining wash water. The radioactivity of wash water containing precipitate and the filtered wash water were measured. Results showed 4.6 times higher gross-alfa and 5.3 times higher gross-beta activity in the water containing precipitate. The co-precipitation process, where MnO2 and Fe(OH)3 flocks played an essential role, resulted in simultaneous removal of radium isotopes. Co-precipitation of radium with MnO2 was more effective than with Fe(OH)3.

A study of background radioactivity level for Canakkale, Turkey

This study assesses the level of background radiation for Canakkale province of northwestern Turkey. Radon concentrations in indoor air were determined using CR-39 nuclear track detectors and (222)Rn activity was found to be 167 Bq m( - 3) (equivalent to an annual effective dose of 4.2 mSv). Measurements of outdoor gamma radiation (of terrestrial and cosmic origin) in air were performed using plastic scintillators, and the average absorbed gamma dose rate was found to be 66.4 nGy h( - 1) (corresponding to an annual effective dose of 81.4 muSv). The radionuclide activity concentrations in soil samples collected from the study area were measured through gamma-ray spectrometry, and the average activities were determined as 94.55, 110.4, and 1,273 Bq kg( - 1) for the natural radionuclides (238)U, (232)Th, and (40)K, respectively, and 19.39 Bq kg( - 1) for the fission product (137)Cs. The natural radioactivity sources resulted in an annual effective dose of 184 muSv. The radioactivity levels of drinking water samples were measured as 0.0599 Bq l( - 1) for gross-alpha activity and 0.0841 Bq l( - 1) for gross-beta activity using a low-background counting technique (equivalent to an annual effective dose of 12.25 muSv). The results of this study show that the activity levels of radon in air, radionuclides in soil, and alpha activities in drinking water are higher compared to the data available for other Turkish cities and the world averages. On the other hand, the outdoor gamma dose rates in air and beta activities in drinking water are within natural limits.

Monitoring of Low-Level Radioactive Liquid Effluent in Tokai Reprocessing Plant

The Tokai reprocessing plant (TRP), the first reprocessing plant in Japan, has discharged low-level liquid wastes to the Pacific Ocean since the start of its operation in 1977. We have performed liquid effluent monitoring to realize an appropriate radioactive discharge control. Comparing simple and rapid analytical methods with labor-intensive radiochemical analyses demonstrated that the gross-alpha and gross-beta activities agreed well with the total activities of plutonium isotopes (238Pu and 239+240Pu) and major beta emitters (e.g., 90Sr and 137Cs), respectively. The records of the radioactive liquid discharge from the TRP showed that the normalized discharges of all nuclides, except for 3H, were three or four orders of magnitude lower than those from the Sellafield and La Hague reprocessing plants. This was probably due to the installation of multistage evaporators in the liquid waste treatment process in 1980. The annual public doses for a hypothetical person were estimated to be less than 0.2 μSv y−1 from the aquatic pathway. Plutonium radioactivity ratios (238Pu/239+240Pu) of liquid effluents were determined to be 1.3–3.7, while those of the seabed sediment samples collected around the discharge point were 0.003–0.059, indicating no remarkable accumulation of plutonium in the regional aquatic environment. Thus, we concluded that there were no significant radiological effects on the public and the aquatic environment during the past 30-year operation of the TRP.

Monitoring of Low-Level Radioactive Liquid Effluent in Tokai Reprocessing Plant

The Tokai reprocessing plant (TRP), the first reprocessing plant in Japan, has discharged low-level liquid wastes to the Pacific Ocean since the start of its operation in 1977. We have performed liquid effluent monitoring to realize an appropriate radioactive discharge control. Comparing simple and rapid analytical methods with labor-intensive radiochemical analyses demonstrated that the gross-alpha and gross-beta activities agreed well with the total activities of plutonium isotopes (238Pu and 239+240Pu) and major beta emitters (e.g., 90Sr and 137Cs), respectively. The records of the radioactive liquid discharge from the TRP showed that the normalized discharges of all nuclides, except for 3H, were three or four orders of magnitude lower than those from the Sellafield and La Hague reprocessing plants. This was probably due to the installation of multistage evaporators in the liquid waste treatment process in 1980. The annual public doses for a hypothetical person were estimated to be less than 0.2 μSv y−1 from the aquatic pathway. Plutonium radioactivity ratios (238Pu/239+240Pu) of liquid effluents were determined to be 1.3–3.7, while those of the seabed sediment samples collected around the discharge point were 0.003–0.059, indicating no remarkable accumulation of plutonium in the regional aquatic environment. Thus, we concluded that there were no significant radiological effects on the public and the aquatic environment during the past 30-year operation of the TRP.

Determination of Heavy Metals and Comparison to Gross Radioactivity Concentration in Soil and Sediment Samples of the Bendimahi River Basin (Van, Turkey)

An investigation of radioactivity and some heavy metal distribution in soil and sediment of the river basin (Bendimahi River, Van-Turkey) was conducted in two seasons of 2005. The samples of soil and sediment were collected from the basin and investigated for concentrations of some heavy metal and natural radioactivity. Concentrations of Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn and Cd have been determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS), gross-alpha and gross-beta activity concentrations have been obtained by using gas-flow proportional counter in nuclear spectroscopic system. Correlation analysis was made for radioactivity and heavy metal concentrations and the Pearson correlation coefficients between gross-alpha and gross-beta radioactivity and heavy metal were determined.

Gross alpha and beta radioactivity concentration in water, soil and sediment of the Bendimahi River and Van Lake (Turkey)

The concentrations of the natural radioactivity in water, soil and sediment samples collected from Bendimahi River which originates near the Tendürek Mountain (Van, Turkey), its tributaries and Van Lake (Turkey) were measured. The gross-alpha and gross-beta radioactivity concentrations were investigated in May and August in 2005. Determination of the gross-alpha and gross-beta radioactivity of river water, soil and sediment samples was obtained by using gas-flow proportional counter, PIC-MPC 9604-alpha/beta counter. In water samples, the obtained results show that in May; gross-alpha and gross-beta activity concentrations varied between 0.063-0.782 and 0.021-0.816 Bq l(-1) and in August the values were 0.009-0.037 and 0.081-3.116 Bq l(-1), respectively. The gross-alpha and gross-beta activity concentrations in soil samples ranged from 0.800 to 4.277 Bq g(-1) and 0.951 to 11.773 Bq g(-1) in May and 0.686 to 4.713 Bq g(-1) and 0.073 to 9.524 Bq g(-1) in August, respectively. Concentrations ranging from 0.782 to 4.596 Bq g(-1) and from 0.482 to 10.372 Bq g(-1) in May and from 0.580 to 5.824 Bq g(-1) and from 0.303 to 9.702 Bq g(-1) in August for gross-alpha and gross-beta radioactivity were observed in sediments, respectively.

Assessment of some trace heavy metals and radioactivity concentration in water of Bendimahi River Basin (Van, Turkey)

The levels of heavy metals were determined in the water of Bendimahi River Basin, statistically analysed and compared to natural gross radioactivity concentration. Fifteen samples of water were collected from Bendimahi River and Van Lake for two seasons in 2005. Water samples were analyzed for eight trace elements and concluded together with gross-alpha and gross-beta radioactivity concentrations. Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used to determine the concentrations of heavy metals in water samples collected from Bendimahi River basin. Correlation analysis was made for radioactivity and heavy metal concentrations and the Pearson correlation coefficients between gross-alpha and gross-beta radioactivity and heavy metal were determined. The concentrations of all metals were found to be higher than WHO, EC, EPA and TSE-266 guidelines for drinking water, except for Zn and Cu. Generally, the heavy metal concentrations in water samples obtained in May and in August were found to be in sequence of Fe>Zn>Pb>Cr>Cu>Mn>Co>Cd and Fe>Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Mn>Co>Cd, respectively. The gross-alpha and gross-beta activity concentration varies between 0.063 and 0.782, 0.021 and 0.816 Bq l(-1) in samples collected in May, and 0.009 and 0.037, 0.081 and 3.116 Bq l(-1) in samples collected in August.

Assessment of environmental radioactivity for Sanliurfa region of southeastern Turkey

This study assesses the level of background radiation for Sanliurfa province of southeastern Turkey. Measurements of outdoor gamma radiation (of terrestrial and cosmic origin) in air were performed at 112 locations using a plastic scintillator and the average absorbed dose was found as 60.9 nGy/h (corresponding to an effective dose of 74.7 μ Sv / y ). The radionuclide activity concentrations in 45 soil samples collected from the study area were measured through gamma-ray spectrometry and the average activities were determined as 20.8, 24.95 and 298.6 for the natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K, respectively, and 9.08 Bq/kg for the fission product 137Cs. The natural radioactivity sources resulted in an effective dose of 46.9 μ Sv / y . The radioactivity levels of 53 drinking water samples were measured as 0.038 Bq/l for gross-alpha activity and 0.1324 Bq/l for gross-beta activity using gross-alpha and gross-beta counting methods (equivalent to an effective dose of 7.76 μ Sv / y ). When compared with the data available for other Turkish cities, the outdoor gamma doses and soil radioactivity concentrations obtained in this study indicate a background radiation level that falls within natural limits. On the other hand, the measured gross-alpha and -beta activities in drinking water are relatively higher.

LONG-TERM MONITORING OF RADIOACTIVITY IN SURFACE AIR AND DEPOSITION IN NEW YORK STATE

Gross-beta activities have been determined weekly for 22 y from filtered atmospheric aerosols at seven sites in New York State. The activities, ranging from 0.1 to 0.9 mBq m(-3), varied seasonally and were evaluated in terms of meteorological factors. Cosmogenic beryllium (7Be) concentrations were determined quarterly on the air filters and weekly in deposition collected at one site. Over 98% of the air filters contained observable activity concentrations of 7Be (mean of 3 mBq m(-3)) and 210Pb (mean of 1 mBq m(-3)). However, only 20% of deposition samples contained Be concentrations above analytical detection limits. Tritium (3H) concentrations were below detection limits in deposition samples at the background site, but were present on most samples collected near a H-processing facility. Measurements of 131I were conducted weekly on charcoal canisters, with only one site showing observable concentrations (mean of 1 mBq m(-3)), due to nearby incineration of dried municipal sludge containing patient waste from hospital treatments.

Innovative procedure for the determination of gross-alpha/gross-beta activities in drinking water

An alternative sample preparation method for the determination of gross-alpha/beta activity concentrations in drinking water is introduced in this paper. After the freeze-drying of tap water samples, determination by liquid scintillation counting can be applied utilizing alpha/beta separation. It has been shown that there is no adsorption or loss of solid radionuclides during the freeze-drying procedure. However, the samples have to be measured quickly after the preparation since the ingrowth of daughter isotopes negatively effects the measurement. The limits of detection for gross-alpha and gross-beta activity are in the range 25–210 mBq/l, respectively, for a measurement time of only 8–9 h.