State Nuclear Track Detector CR-39 Research Articles

The Effect of Two Etching Solutions NaOH and KOH on Registration Properties and Etching of Polymer CR-39 Detectors

The solid – state nuclear track detector (SSNTDs) CR-39 can be used to study the different factors for alpha particle. Alpha particle is very dangerous inside the human body so the study its very important. In this article, we investigated the impact of two different etching solutions (NaOH and KOH)) on registrations properties, diameter D, track Diameter growth velocity VD, number of tracks and removal layer thickness of CR-39 nuclear track detector. The two types NaOH and KOH were dissolved in water with varied normality (3,5,7,9,11)N under a temperature of (70±1)°C to create the solution. During the experiment, a source of (α-particles) with a 4MeV energy was used to bombard all detectors (30 Sec). It was found the values of the diameter, number of tracks, removal layer thickness, track Diameter growth velocity VD by using the etching solution (NaOH +water) Solution greater than the values in (KOH + water) solution. the results showed excellent agreement with the outcomes of others who utilized different normalities.

Nature of radon, radium, exhalation and uranium concentration from construction materials used in Al Jouf city, Saudi Arabia

This study aims to assess seven group samples used as building materials in the Saudi Arabian market in Al Jouf city had their radon concentration, exhalation rate, radium activity, as well as the risk of death due to cancer in excess of the natural background risk due to exposure to carcinogens over a period of a lifetime (Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk), and uranium content measured. The ‘Can technique’ was employed, which is based on the use of Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTDs) CR-39. The average level of radon concentrations (Bq/m3) for the materials under investigation are as follows: 99.40 ± 10.26 (Soil), 146.92 ± 12.49 (Cement), 115.68 ± 11.13 (Gypsum), 132.28 ± 11.89 (Ceramic), 223.24 ± 14.8 (Marble), 210.85 ± 14.72 (Bricks), and 241.71 ± 15.65(Gravel) at Bq. m-3. The results indicate that radon levels in Soil, Cement, Gypsum, and Ceramics are below the allowed limit of exposure to radon for humans, set at 200 Bq. m−3, while in the cases of Marble, Bricks and Gravels, have been higher than the allowed limit. Results for Annual Effective Dose came in as follows: Soil = 2.09 mSv/y; Cement = 3.09 mSv/y; Gypsum = 2.43 mSv/y; Ceramic = 2.78 mSv/y; Marble = 4.69 mSv/y; Bricks = 4.43 mSv/y and finally, Gravel = 5.08 mSv/y. These measurements were higher than the global average (1 mSv/y). The average annual cancer risk of the samples measured, were as follows: 8.05 (Soil); 11.89 (Cement); 9.36 (Gypsum); 10.71 (Ceramic); 18.07 (Marble); 17.07 (Bricks) and finally, 19.56 (Gravel). The average mass exhalation rates and surface exhalation for the materials under investigation are as follows: (0.08 Bq kg−1h−1 – 3.95 Bq m−2 d−1) for (Soil), (0.18 Bq kg−1h−1 – 5.85 Bq m−2 d−1) for Cement, (0.20 Bq kg−1h−1– 4.60 Bq m−2 d−1) for Gypsum, (0.08 Bq kg−1h−1– 4.26 Bq m−2 d−1) for Ceramic, (0.19 Bq kg−1h−1– 8.88 Bq m−2 d−1) for Marble, (0.18 Bq kg−1h−1– 8.39 Bq m−2 d−1) for Bricks and (0.18 Bq kg−1h−1– 9.62 Bq m−2 d−1) for Gravel. The mean estimated values for the radium activity were 30.6 ± 3.18 Bqkg−1 (Soil); 67.6 ± 5.66 Bqkg−1 (Cement); 73.9 ± 6.99 Bqkg−1 (Gypsum); 47.8 ± 4.20 Bqkg−1 (Ceramic); 70.1 ± 4.57 Bqkg−1 (Marble); 66.8 ± 4.7 Bqkg−1 (Bricks) and 67.4 ± 4.40 Bqkg−1 (Gravel). From a health hazard viewpoint, the results showed that the samples under review are safe and are not life-threatening. The mean estimated values for the uranium content are as follows: 1.35 ppm (Soil); 2.98 ppm (Cement); 3.26 ppm (Gypsum); 2.11 ppm (Ceramic); 3.09 ppm (Marble); 2.94 ppm (Bricks) and 2.97 ppm (Gravel).

Annual Committed Effective Dose from Various Phytotherapeutic Preparations (due to <sup>238</sup>U, <sup>232</sup>Th, <sup>222</sup>Rn and <sup>220</sup>Rn) Estimated for Adult Moroccan Patients

We use a nuclear technique based on the determination of the detection efficiencies of solid state nuclear track detectors CR-39 and LR-115 type II (SSNTDs) for alpha particles emitted from the series of uranium-238 and thorium-232 in a phytotherapeutic sample and the measurement of alpha track densities registered on these detectors to assess alpha activities due to uranium-238; thorium-232; radon and thoron in samples of phytotherapeutic preparations consumed by Moroccan adult patients. For modern preparations, the alpha activities due to 238U, 232Th and 222Rn range from 14.27 mBq/kg to 22.02 mBq/kg, from 6.27 mBq/kg to 9.64 mBq/kg and from 14.27 Bq/kg to 22.02 Bq/kg respectively. For classical preparations, the alpha activities due to 238U, 232Th and 222Rn range from 16.73 mBq/kg to 24 mBq/kg, from 7.34 mBq/kg to 10.82 mBq/kg and from 16.73 Bq/kg to 24.72 Bq/kg respectively. A dosimetric model for ingestion has been highlighted to determine committed equivalent dose to different compartments of human gastrointestinal system due to the ingestion of phytotherapeutic preparations by Moroccan adult patients. The maximum overall effective dose due to 238U, 232Th, and 222Rn after the ingestion of the studied phytotherapeutic preparations, was found equal to 38 × 10-8 S·vy-1 which is less than the dose limit given by the international commission for radiological protection in it publication 56.

Calibration of Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors CR-39 for radon study in a high concentration underground mines

The Brazilian National Commission for Nuclear Energy (CNEN) establishes a reference level of 1000 Bq m-3 of radon concentration in underground mines. Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors – SSNTD is considered the main method of analysis in radon research. The methods and instrumentation used to determine radon concentration needs to be validated by calibration to ensure reliable results. This work aims to determine the calibration factor of CR-39 detectors exposed to well known radon concentrations produced in closed systems by sources of Ra-226 with activities of 3.379 kBq and 0.483 kBq, which are NISTS sources of activities and emanation factors. The detectors were exposed to six different levels of exposure. The conversion factor between tracks density and exposure obtained was K = 52.028 ± 0.752 [(tracks density.cm-2)/(kBq.d.m-3)]. As object of application of this work, mines were chosen with high radon concentrations reported by Santos (2015) in special a pegmatite mine located in the northwest of Minas Gerais. This mine presented radon concentration much higher than the recommended by the Brazilian national standard NN.CNEN.4.01, up to 7384 ± 517 Bq m-3.

Assessment of Uranium in Urine Samples of Primary School Students

The environmental monitoring of radon in the children urine has been carried out by using solid state nuclear track detector CR-39. This study has been undertaken for the purpose of health risk assessments. The concentration of uranium values excreted with the boy's urine samples ranged from 0.203 Bq.L-1 (1.246 ng/L) and 2.201 Bq.L-1 (13.486 ng/L) with an average value of 0.698 Bq.L-1 (4.007 ng/L). While the concentration of uranium values excreted with the girl's urine samples ranged between 0.290 Bq.L-1 (1.777 ng/L) and 0.675 Bq.L-1 (4.135 ng/L), with an average value of 0.474 Bq.L-1 (2.901 ng/L). The amount of uranium deposited in the kidneys, according to ICRP's biokinetic model, and the annual radiation dose were also calculated. All values of the study samples were within the normal range and do not indicate any health hazard.

Concentration Of Radon In The Rain Falls In Salah-Din Province / Iraq

Five regions in Salah -Din province Iraq were chosen to the study, concentration of radon in the rainwater falls in 2016. by using long-term technique for alpha particles emission with solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) CR-39, which have been used to determine the above radioactive isotopes concentrations in the samples. The results show the presence of some radioactivity on the area of Bieja refinery and it was measured to be (2.606) Bq.L-1 , the min average in Balad was (1.006) Bq.L-1, in general we found that radon 222Rn concentration, in the studied water samples, was less than the allowed permitted limit which is about 18 Bq.L-1, and it has no danger on human being life.

Measurement of the Radon Concentration and Annual Effective Dose in Malva sylvestris (Khabbaz) Plant Used in Traditional Medicine and Food

In this study, the radon gas concentration as well as the annual effective dose in leaves of the Malvasylvestris (Khabbaz) plant used in the traditional treatment and as food in Iraq, for this, it is necessary to evaluate the concentrations radon gas, which were measured using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) CR-39 technique. The concentration and annual effective dose in samples were collected from Baghdad city ranged from minimum to maximum value 15.815 , 0.498 , 54.445 , 1.717 respectively, while the values of concentration and annual effective dose in a sample collected from Karbala are 15.297 ,0.482 . These values of concentration and annual effective dose less were compared with the samples from Baghdad. The annual effective dose lies well within the safe limits as recommended by WHO. So, the uses of Malvasylvestris plant are in traditional medicine and as a safe food for human consumption.

A MATLAB code for recognition and counting of track images

A computer program named TRIAC written in MATLAB has been developed for track recognition and track parameters measurements from images of Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors CR39. The program using image analysis tools counts the number of tracks and classifies the tracks according to their radii. Comparison of manual scanning counts with those output by the automatic system are presented for detectors exposed to a radon rich environment. The system was also tested to differentiate tracks recorded by alpha particles of different energies

Determination of Uranium Contents in Soil Samples in AL-Hamdaniya Region Using Solid State Nuclear Track Detector CR-39

Uranium is a common radioactive element in Earth’s crust (soil, rock), so it is important there quantity to be under control. The concentration of uranium in soil varies widely, Depending on the geological location, its concentration in the surface soil vary from 0.1 mg.Kg-1 (ppm) to 20 mg.Kg-1 (ppm) with a world average of 2.8 ppm and the allowed limit that equals 11.7 ppm. The uranium concentration, radon activity, radon concentration, in twenty soil samples collected from AL-Hamdaniya region (East of Mosul city) were measured using the sealed-can technique based on the CR-39 SSNTDs. The estimated values for the uranium activity which equal to radon activity at secular equilibrium were found vary between (581.11-1453.5) mBq with mean value 905.89 mBq, the uranium concentration are between (0.313-0.784) ppm with mean value of 0.488 ppm. All values of the samples under the test are below of allowed limit and world average value.

Assessment of Radon Concentrations in the Soil of South Baghdad Suburbs

Measurements of radon gas concentrations were carried out for 12 soil samples at 3 sampling depths (surface, 5 cm and 10 cm) collected from (4) locations in south Baghdad suburbs (Bu'aitha) using solid state nuclear track detector CR-39 and sealed can technique. Radon concentrations for surface samples were ranged from 402.2 to 1538.4 Bq.m-3 with an average 994.4 Bq.m-3. Whereas, radon concentration was ranged from 813.1to 2050.4 Bq.m-3 and from 1309.8 to 4626. 1Bq.m-3 with an average values of 1359.8 Bq.m-3 and 2338.3 Bq.m-3 for 5 cm and 10 cm depths respectively. Maximum radon level was found at the location near to the river (site S4) while the minimum radon level was found at residential area (site S2). Radium contents were ranged from 0.42 to 1.62 Bq.kg-1, from 0.85 to 2.15 Bq.kg-1 and from 1.38 to 4.86 Bq.kg-1 with average values of 1.04, 1.43 and 2.46 Bq.kg-1 for surface, 5 cm and 10 cm depths respectively. Radon exhalation rates as a function of area and mass were also obtained. Surface exhalation rate ranged from 0.05 to 0.18 Bq.m-2.h-1, from 0.09 to 0.24 Bq.m-2.h-1 and from 0.15 to 0.53 Bq.m-2.h-1 with average values 0.11, 0.16 and 0.27 Bq.m-2.h-1 for surface, 5 cm and 10 cm depths respectively. Mass exhalation rate ranged from 0.02 to 0.06 Bq.kg-1.h, from 0.03 to 0.08 Bq.kg-1.h and from 0.05 to 0.18 Bq.kg-1.h with average values 0.04, 0.05 and 0.09 Bq.kg-1.h for surface, 5 cm and 10 cm depths respectively. The results obtained from this study indicate that the region background radiation levels are within the natural limits.

Monitoring of soil radon by SSNTD in Eastern India in search of possible earthquake precursor

The present paper deals with monitoring soil radon-222 concentration at two different locations, designated Site A and Site B, 200 m apart at Jadavpur University campus, Kolkata, India, with a view to find possible precursors for the earthquakes that occurred within a few hundred kilometers from the monitoring site. The solid state nuclear track detector CR-39 has been used for detection of radon gas coming out from soil. Radon-222 time series at both locations during the period August 2012–December 2013 have been analysed. Distinct anomalies in the soil radon time series have been observed for seven earthquakes of magnitude greater than 4.0 M that occurred during this time. Of these, radon anomalies for two earthquakes have been observed at both locations A and B. Absence of anomalies for some other earthquakes has been discussed, and the observations have been compared with some earthquake precursor models.

Estimation of the residential radon levels and the annual effective dose in dwellings of Shiraz, Iran, in 2015.

IntroductionRadon is the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking. Thus, the determination of indoor radon concentrations in dwellings and workplaces is an important public health concern. The purpose of this research was to measure the concentration of radon gas in residential homes and public places in the city of Shiraz and its relationship with the type and age of the buildings as well as the type of materials used to construct the building (brick, block). We also determined the radon dosages that occupants of the building would receive.MethodsThe present study is a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional research that was conducted on the building’s indoor air in the city of Shiraz in 2015. Using geographic information system (GIS) software and a spatial sampling cell with an area of 25 square kilometers, 200 points were selected. In this study, we used passive diffusive samplers as Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD) CR-39 polycarbonate films for three months in the winter. Sampling was conducted in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s protocol. We determined the concentrations of radon gas at the time of sampling, and calibration factors were determined. The data were analyzed by IBM-SPSS, version 20, descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann–Whitney tests.ResultsThis study showed that the average radon concentration was 57.6 ± 33.06 Bq/m3 in residential dwellings. The average effective dose was 1.45 mSv/y. The concentration of radon in 5.4% of the houses was found to be greater than 100 Bq/m3, which is above the level allowed by the World Health Organization (WHO).ConclusionSince radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, it seems necessary to increase the public’s awareness of this issue and to take action to reduce radon in homes when the concentrations are above the WHO’s guideline.

Assessment of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in the oil drilling mud of Az Zubair oil field, Basra, Iraq

The concentration of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in oil drilling mud samples collected from 14 geological formations begins with Dibdibba Formation depth (140–150 m) and ends with Ahmadi Formation depth (2764.5 m) of the oil well in Az Zubair oil field (ZB-296) in Basra governorate were determined using NaI gamma spectrometer. Gamma spectrometric analyses of natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K have indicated average concentrations in Bq kg−1 as 614.5, 233.0 and 6201.4 Bq m−3, respectively. Radon levels and radium contents for different formations were measured using solid state nuclear track detector CR-39. The obtained values of radon concentration were ranged from 209.3 to 1876.6 Bq m−3 and the values of radium content ranged from 0.76 to 6.79 Bq kg−1 for Tayarat and Sa’adi formations, respectively.

Measurements of Radon Concentrations and Dose Assessments in Physics Department-Science College-Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

Measurements of radon gas concentrations with their progeny and the annual effective dose indoor the building of Al-Mustansiriyah University College of Science-Physics Department have been carried out by using time-integrated passive radon dosimeters solid state nuclear track detector CR-39 technique. The detectors with 1cm x1cm have been distributed over 70 places and suspended for sitting (1m) and standing (1.75m) positions in each location under study. The dosimetric measurements are made over a period of 90 days from 30 January 2014 to 30 April 2014. The calibration process has been done using radium-226 source with known activity radiation. It has found that the indoor radon gas concentrations varing from 37.488±6.123Bg/m3 to 58.670±7.660Bg/m3 with an average value 51.398±7.156Bg/m3 at 1m , and varing from 35.964±5.997Bg/m3 to 56.994±7.549Bg/m3 with an average value 47.057±6.847Bg/m3 at 1.75m which are within the worldwide limits 148Bg/m3 (EPA, 2003) and 200-300Bg/m3 (ICRP, 2009). The annual effective dose of the inhalation exposure to radon gas has been estimated and this vary from 0.394mSv/y to 0.617mSv/y with an average value 0.540mSv/y at 1m, and varing from 0.378mSv/y to 0.599mSv/y with an average value 0.495mSv/y at 1.75m which are within the worldwide permissible limist 3-10mSv/y (ICRP, 1993). The potential alpha energy concentration found to vary from 4.053mWL to 6.343mWL with an average value 5.557mWL at 1m and vary from 3.888mWL to 6.162mWL with an average value 5.087mWL at 1.75m which are less than the recommended value 53.33mWL (UNSCEAR, 1993). The lung cancer cases per million person per year vary from 7.093 to 11.101 per million person per year with an average value 9.725 per million person per year at 1m and vary from 6.805 to 10.784 per million person per year with an average value 8.904 per million person per year which are less than the recommended range 170-230 per million person per year (ICRP, 1993). The number of decays per-minute using swabs measurements technique have been used for selected units within two swabs from building materials walls for each unite, with area of 100cm2 using Ludlum 3030, the average of three swabs measurements have been calculated. Hence, the effectiveness of emitted alpha particles from the walls has been calculated to be varied from 0.00000 to 0.02222Bq/cm2 with an average value 0.01169Bq/cm2 at 1m and 0.01015Bq/cm2 at 1.75m respectevily which are within the permissible limit 0.04Bq/cm2 (Danial, 2010).

Measurements of Radon Concentrations and Dose Assessments in Physics Department-Science College-Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

Measurements of radon gas concentrations with their progeny and the annual effective dose indoor the building of Al-Mustansiriyah University College of Science-Physics Department have been carried out by using time-integrated passive radon dosimeters solid state nuclear track detector CR-39 technique. The detectors with 1cm x1cm have been distributed over 70 places and suspended for sitting (1m) and standing (1.75m) positions in each location under study. The dosimetric measurements are made over a period of 90 days from 30 January 2014 to 30 April 2014. The calibration process has been done using radium-226 source with known activity radiation. It has found that the indoor radon gas concentrations varing from 37.488±6.123Bg/m3 to 58.670±7.660Bg/m3 with an average value 51.398±7.156Bg/m3 at 1m , and varing from 35.964±5.997Bg/m3 to 56.994±7.549Bg/m3 with an average value 47.057±6.847Bg/m3 at 1.75m which are within the worldwide limits 148Bg/m3 (EPA, 2003) and 200-300Bg/m3 (ICRP, 2009). The annual effective dose of the inhalation exposure to radon gas has been estimated and this vary from 0.394mSv/y to 0.617mSv/y with an average value 0.540mSv/y at 1m, and varing from 0.378mSv/y to 0.599mSv/y with an average value 0.495mSv/y at 1.75m which are within the worldwide permissible limist 3-10mSv/y (ICRP, 1993). The potential alpha energy concentration found to vary from 4.053mWL to 6.343mWL with an average value 5.557mWL at 1m and vary from 3.888mWL to 6.162mWL with an average value 5.087mWL at 1.75m which are less than the recommended value 53.33mWL (UNSCEAR, 1993). The lung cancer cases per million person per year vary from 7.093 to 11.101 per million person per year with an average value 9.725 per million person per year at 1m and vary from 6.805 to 10.784 per million person per year with an average value 8.904 per million person per year which are less than the recommended range 170-230 per million person per year (ICRP, 1993). The number of decays per-minute using swabs measurements technique have been used for selected units within two swabs from building materials walls for each unite, with area of 100cm2 using Ludlum 3030, the average of three swabs measurements have been calculated. Hence, the effectiveness of emitted alpha particles from the walls has been calculated to be varied from 0.00000 to 0.02222Bq/cm2 with an average value 0.01169Bq/cm2 at 1m and 0.01015Bq/cm2 at 1.75m respectevily which are within the permissible limit 0.04Bq/cm2 (Danial, 2010).

Measurements of Radon Concentrations and Dose Assessments in Chemistry Department-Science College- Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

Measurements of radon gas concentrations with their progeny and the annual effective dose indoor the building of Al-Mustansiriyah University College of Science-Physics Department have been carried out by using time-integrated passive radon dosimeters solid state nuclear track detector CR-39 technique. The detectors with 1cm x1cm have been distributed over 70 places and suspended for sitting (1m) and standing (1.75m) positions in each location under study. The dosimetric measurements are made over a period of 90 days from 30 January 2014 to 30 April 2014. The calibration process has been done using radium-226 source with known activity radiation. It has found that the indoor radon gas concentrations varing from 37.488±6.123Bg/m 3 to 58.670±7.660Bg/m 3 with an average value 51.398±7.156Bg/m 3 at 1m, and varing from 35.964±5.997Bg/m 3 to 56.994±7.549Bg/m 3 with an average value 47.057±6.847Bg/m 3 at 1.75m which are within the worldwide limits 148Bg/m 3 (EPA, 2003) and 200-300Bg/m 3 (ICRP, 2009). The annual effective dose of the inhalation exposure to radon gas has been estimated and this vary from 0.394mSv/y to 0.617mSv/y with an average value 0.540mSv/y at 1m, and varing from 0.378mSv/y to 0.599mSv/y with an average value 0.495mSv/y at 1.75m which are within the worldwide permissible limist 3-10mSv/y (ICRP, 1993). The potential alpha energy concentration found to vary from 4.053mWL to 6.343mWL with an average value 5.557mWL at 1m and vary from 3.888mWL to 6.162mWL with an average value 5.087mWL at 1.75m which are less than the recommended value 53.33mWL (UNSCEAR, 1993). The lung cancer cases per million person per year vary from 7.093 to 11.101 per million person per year with an average value 9.725 per million person per year at 1m and vary from 6.805 to 10.784 per million person per year with an average value 8.904 per million person per year which are less than the recommended range 170-230 per million person per year (ICRP, 1993). The number of decays per-minute using swabs measurements technique have been used for selected units within two swabs from building materials walls for each unite, with area of 100cm 2 using Ludlum 3030, the average of three swabs measurements have been calculated. Hence, the effectiveness of emitted alpha particles from the walls has been calculated to be varied from 0.00000 to 0.02222Bq/cm 2 with an average value 0.01169Bq/cm 2 at 1m and 0.01015Bq/cm 2 at 1.75m respectevily which are within the permissible limit 0.04Bq/cm 2 (Danial, 2010).

Studying the Radiation Contamination in the Soil and War Waste in the Falluja City Using the Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTDs) CR-39.

In this paper practical study have been made to estimate the uranium (238U) concentration through the measurement of the radon gas (222Rn) concentration for different samples include soils and pieces of metals from different locations at AL-Falluja City which it was became one of the military operations, via detecting alpha particles that emits from radon gas using (SSNTDs) (CR-39). The maximum for the uranium and radon gas concentration has been found to be nearly { (0.0393 ppm) } and { (86.55 Bq/m3) } respectively, in al golan quarter. Minimum has been found in Al gameia quarter and estimate to be nearly { (0.0129 ppm) } and { ( 28.49 Bq/m3) } respectively. There is no radiation Contamination caused by uranium and its daughters in the Falluja City, so we may conclude that this city does not attacked with depleted Uranium bombs.

Concentration of uranium in human cancerous tissues of Southern Iraqi patients using fission track analysis

The technique of nuclear fission track analysis with solid state nuclear track detectors CR-39 has been applied to determine concentrations of uranium in cancerous samples of human tissues that excised from patients in the three key southern Iraqi governorates namely, Basrah, Dhi-Qar, and Muthanna. These provinces were the sites of intensive military events during the Gulf Wars in 1991 and 2003. The investigation was based on the study of 24 abnormal samples and 12 normal samples for comparing the results. These samples include four types of soft tissues (kidney, breast, stomach and uterus). The results show that uranium concentrations in the normal tissues ranged between (1.42–4.76 μg kg−1), whereas in the cancerous tissues ranged between (3.37–7.22 μg kg−1). The uranium concentrations in the normal tissues were significantly lower than in the abnormal tissues (P < 0.001).

Determination of Radon and Thoron Concentrations in Different Parts of Some Plants Used in Traditional Medicine Using Nuclear Track Detectors

The paper presents results of radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) levels in different parts of some selected plants used in Moroccan cooking and traditional medicine. Plant uptake of radionuclide is one of many vectors for introduction of contaminants into the human food chain. Thus, it is critical to understand the soil–plant relationships that control nuclide bioavailability. The radon and thoron concentrations have been determined in the studied samples and their corresponding soils, and that using the technique based on two types of solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) LR-115 type-II and CR-39. Transfer factors (TF) of 222Rn and 220Rn from soil to parts of various studied plants have been determined. TF for roots were higher than those for stems and leaves. The radon and thoron activities in the soils have been found varying from 0.87 ± 0.06Bq.kg-1 to 6.20 ± 0.47Bq.kg-1 and from 30 ± 2.30mBq.kg-1 to 195±16mBq.kg-1, respectively. These values are lower in the leaves and stems than those determined in the roots of the studied plants. The aim of this study was to analyze the radon transfer from soil to different compartments of these plants and then to evaluate the radiotoxicity caused by radon in order to contribute to the health risk assessment.

Development of compact D-D neutron generator

In recent years, due to specific features of compact neutron generators, their demand in elemental analysis and detection of the illicit materials has been increased in scientific community. Compact in size, controlled operation and radiation safety like features of neutron generator is suitable for research work with illicit materials. An accelerator based neutron generator can be operated in steady mode as well as in pulse mode. The main embodiment of this type of generator includes ion source, ion acceleration system and target. We are developing such type of neutron generator. This consists of one in-house developed penning ion source, a single electrode acceleration gap and one deuteriated titanium target or virgin titanium target. The neutron generator was operated at 80 kV acceleration potential, a deuterium pressure of 0.1 mTorr and ion source potential at 1 kV. The neutron generation was confirmed by the solid state nuclear track detector CR-39. In this report, we will discuss various physics and technical issues related to the important components of this generator, operation of the generator and neutron detection.