Distribution of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soils and sugar cane crops at Corumbataí river basin,São Paulo State,Brazil

The common use of phosphate fertilizers NPK and amendments in sugar cane crops in Brazilian agriculture may increase the ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K activity concentrations in soils and their availability for plants and human food chain. Thus, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in soils and sugar cane crops in the Corumbataí river basin, São Paulo State, Brazil. The gamma spectrometry was utilized to measure the ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K activity concentration in all samples. The soil-to-sugar cane transfer factors (TF) were quantified using the ratio between the radionuclide activity concentration in sugar cane and its activity concentration in soil. The results show that, although radionuclides incorporated in phosphate fertilizers and amendments are annually added in the sugar cane crops, if utilized in accordance with the recommended rates, their use does not lead to hazards levels in soils. The soil-to-sugar cane transfer of radionuclides occurred in the following order ⁴⁰K>²²⁶Ra>²³²Th. Therefore, under these conditions, radionuclides intake through consumption of sugar is not hazardous to human health.     

2008年全国放射性核素γ能谱分析比对

目的 组织全国省、直辖市的疾病预防控制中心进行γ能谱比对,提高实验室放射性核素检测水平。方法 中国疾病预防控制中心辐射防护与核安全医学所组织了2008年全国放射性核素γ能谱分析方法比对,比对样品为土壤和建材样品,参加比对的15家单位测量其中的²²⁶Ra、 ²³²Th和⁴⁰K的比活度浓度。结果 15家单位一次性提交的结果,有13家单位全部合格,仅有1家单位2个样品中⁴⁰K的准确度超出判定范围,另外1家单位2个样品中的²²⁶Ra精确度超出了判定范围。经反馈意见查找原因后,各参加比对单位第二轮提交的比对结果均能满足比对合格条件。结论 经过比对绝大部分单位的整体检测能力得到了明显的提高。本次比对既检验了各单位分析放射性核素的水平,又进一步提高了其利用γ能谱测量样品的能力。     

Natural radioactivity in Algerian building materials.

Samples of natural and manufactured building materials collected from Algiers have been analysed for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using a high-resolution HPGe gamma-spectrometry system. The specific concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, from the selected building materials, ranged from (12-65 Bq kg(-1)), (7-51 B qkg(-1)) and (36-675 Bq kg(-1)), respectively. The measured activity concentrations for these natural radionuclides were compared with the reported data of other countries and with the world average activity of soil. Radium-equivalent activities were calculated for the measured samples to assess the radiation hazards arising from using those materials in the construction of dwellings. All building materials showed Ra(eq) activities lower than the limit set in the OECD report (370 Bq kg(-1)), equivalent to external gamma-dose of 1.5 mSv yr(-1).     

Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazards due to cement industry

The cement industry is considered as one of the basic industries that plays an important role in the national economy of developing countries. Activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in Assiut cement and other local cement types from different Egyptian factories has been measured by using γ-ray spectrometry. From the measured γ-ray spectra, specific activities were determined. The measured activity concentrations for these natural radionuclides were compared with the reported data for other countries. The average values obtained for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K activity concentration in different types of cement are lower than the corresponding global values reported in UNSCEAR publications. The obtained results show that the averages of radiation hazard parameters for Assiut cement factory are lower than the acceptable level of 370 Bq kg^?1 for radium equivalent Ra_eq, 1 for level index Iγr, the external hazard index Hex ≤1 and 59 (nGy h^?1) for absorbed dose rate. The manufacturing operation reduces the radiation hazard parameters. Cement does not pose a significant radiological hazard when used for construction of buildings.     

Internal exposure from building materials exhaling 222Rn and 220Rn as compared to external exposure due to their natural radioactivity content

The main scope of this paper is to point out the importance of introducing radon and thoron exhalation measurements from building materials in the regulating frame. Currently (2009), such a regulation of this kind of exposure is not explicitly included in the Serbian regulating network. To this end, this work reports concentration measurements of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K and radon and thoron exhalation rates from building materials used in Serbia. Following detailed analysis, it was noticed that both internal exposures to radon and/or thoron exhaling from building materials may exceed external exposures to their precursors contained therein.     

The effect of uranium migration on radionuclide distributions for soil samples at the El-Gor area,Sinai, Egypt

The concentrations and distributions of the activity of natural radionuclides in soil samples were investigated in fifteen soil samples at El-Gor area representing two profiles (A and B) using a HP–Ge detector and alpha counting by SSNTD (CR-39), respectively. The average concentrations of the radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁵U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K are 203.4, 177.23, 9.77, 43.33 and 386.22 Bq kg⁻¹ (dry weight), respectively, and profile A and ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁵U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K have average concentrations of 232.58, 246, 11.7, 31.7, and 277.07 Bq kg⁻¹ for profile B, respectively. The eTh and eU were estimated to detect the migration process of uranium into or out of an area or uranium to or from the studied profiles. The results indicate a migration of uranium by 29% for profile A and 65.37% for profile B. The activity ratio (²³⁸U/²²⁶Ra) was found to be 0.9 in profile A and 1.15 in profile B. These ratios coincide with the uranium migration processes. The responsible mass corresponding to the measured ²²⁶Ra activity was also calculated. The radon activity concentrations for the two profiles are nearly 300 Bq m⁻³. The emanation coefficient (η) was calculated from the ratio of the expected radon activity to the measured radon for the studied soil samples. The value of η was found to depend only on the radium activity regardless to soil formation.     

Reduction of the dimensionality and comparative analysis of multivariate radiological data

Computational methods were used to reduce the dimensionality and to find clusters of multivariate data. The variables were the natural radioactivity contents and the texture characteristics of sand samples. The application of discriminate analysis revealed that samples with high negative values of the former score have the highest contamination with black sand. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that radioactivity concentrations alone are sufficient for the classification. Rough set analysis (RSA) showed that the concentration of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra or ²³²Th, combined with the concentration of ⁴⁰K, can specify the clusters and characteristics of the sand. Both PCA and RSA show that ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th behave similarly. RSA revealed that one or two of them can be omitted without degrading predictions.     

Gamma activity and geochemical features of building materials: estimation of gamma dose rate and indoor radon levels in Sicily.

A high-purity germanium detector has been used to measure the abundance of radium (Ra), thorium (Th) and potassium (K) in building materials used in Sicilian dwellings. The measurements were performed to evaluate which material was suitable for the construction of an enclosure, which would have a low background emission. The materials examined in this work showed concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K dramatically variable depending on the lithologies, particularly in the case of blocks, sands and aggregates commonly used in building materials in Sicily. The results are discussed and a criterion is indicated to reduce the radiation dose to humans. Since radon inlet is a major health problem, all the radiometric data and the geochemical features have been used to determine the radon exhalation, which arises from the disintegration of 226Ra in soils and walls of houses. From our experimental data it can be seen out that one of the geochemical parameters, Total Alkali (TA), may be an appropriate index to select materials of low radiological risk.     

238U 226Ra 210Pb, 232Th and 40K activities in soil profiles of the Flysch sector (Central Spanish Pyrenees).

Distributions of natural gamma-emitting radionuclides were determined in three soil profiles developed on Tertiary sedimentary materials in mountain landscapes of the Central Spanish Pyrenees. Radioisotope activities (Bq kg(-1)) lie in the range of 0-53 for 238U; 19-33 for 226Ra; 7-75 for 210Pb; 24-48 for 232Th and 335-562 for 40K. 238U and 210Pb activities show an important variability down the soil profiles. 238U was markedly depleted in all upper soil layers and highly enriched in lower layers of two soil profiles. 210Pb exhibits very dissimilar distribution patterns in all three soils. 226Ra and 232Th had quite uniform depth distributions. 40K showed depletion in both upper and lower layers in one soil profile but remained fairly constant in the other two profiles. 238U/226Ra activity ratios (ARs) have been used to assess equilibrium in the 238U decay chain and as indicators of edaphogenesis in the studied soil profiles. Maintenance of initial proportionality in the ratio of 232Th/238U activities has been assessed through ARs of their progenies. Additionally, a variety of soil properties were measured down the soil profiles. Among soils, variation in radionuclide activies may be due to differences in carbonate content, organic matter and/or grain size. In this environment, soil properties differently affect mobilization of natural radionuclides. The association of some radiologic properties with soil layers suggest a relationship between soil processes and radionuclide distribution.     

云南省部分地区大米和玉米放射性核素水平调查

目的 调查云南省部分地区大米和玉米放射性核素水平,充实云南地区食品放射性水平基线数据,评估其对居民产生的健康风险。方法 依据国家标准《生物样品中放射性核素的γ能谱分析方法》《高纯锗γ能谱分析通用方法》《食品中放射性物质检验总则》《土壤中放射性核素的γ能谱分析方法》,对云南省20个县（区）大米和玉米样品进行放射性核素检测,对检测结果进行处理与分析。结果 大米样品中²³⁸U、²³²Th、²²⁶Ra、⁴⁰K和¹³⁷Cs活度浓度均值分别为（0.416±0.403）、（0.045±0.034）、（0.030±0.013）、（28.4±18.8）和（0.014±0.019）Bq/kg,玉米样品中²³⁸U、²³²Th、²²⁶Ra、⁴⁰K活度浓度均值分别为（0.308±0.230）、（0.035±0.031）、（0.053±0.072）、（56.8±38.6）Bq/kg,¹³⁷Cs的活度浓度低于探测下限。结论 云南省20个县（区）大米和玉米中²³⁸U、²³²Th、²²⁶Ra、⁴⁰K和¹³⁷Cs的放射性水平均在国家标准正常范围内,食入后不会对居民的健康造成影响。     

山东省非铀矿山氡浓度测量及所致矿工剂量

目的 调查山东省典型非铀矿山井下²²²Rn浓度并估算矿工接受年有效剂量。方法 利用固体径迹探测器CR-39累积测量金矿、铁矿、煤矿井下²²⁰Rn、²²²Rn浓度,利用高纯锗γ谱仪分析矿石²²⁶Ra、²³²Th、⁴⁰K活度浓度。结果 山东非铀矿山井下²²⁰Rn浓度平均值由高到低依次为金矿、铁矿、煤矿、黏土矿,分别为1200、280、120和40 Bq/m³;煤矿、金矿、黏土矿和铁矿的²²⁶Ra、²³²Th、⁴⁰K活度浓度基本处于我国土壤天然放射性核素浓度范围内;²²²Rn及其子体所致井下矿工年有效剂量,金矿最高为7.7 mSv,铁矿次之,为1.7 mSv,煤矿和黏土矿均低于1 mSv。结论 金矿和铁矿应采取加大通风能力等措施降低井下氡浓度,井下矿工应该作为职业照射人员进行管理。     

The natural radioactivity in Guarani aquifer groundwater, Brazil.

The measurements of gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity in groundwater samples from Guarani aquifer in Brazil are reported in this paper together with the activity concentration of the natural dissolved radionuclides (40)K, (238)U, (234)U, (226)Ra, (222)Rn, (210)Po, (210)Pb, (232)Th, (228Th), and (228)Ra. Most of the gross alpha radioactivity values were below the critical level of detection corresponding to 1mBq/L, however, the whole data set for the gross beta radioactivity and radionuclides (40)K, (238)U, (234)U, (226)Ra, (222)Rn, (210)Po, (210)Pb, and (228)Ra was submitted to a statistical treatment, considering class intervals arranged in geometric progression, because of the great variability of the activity. The analysis indicated lognormal distribution of the data, as usually observed in samples taken from the natural context. An inverse relationship between the gross alpha and gross beta activity has been identified and is related to an increase in the K content in the water. The mobility coefficient has been estimated for (238)U, (226)Ra, (232)Th and (228)Ra in Guarani aquifer and the results indicated that the radioelement solubility in the studied system varies according to the following order: radium>uranium>thorium. The implications of the data obtained in terms of standards established for defining the drinking water quality have also been discussed.     

Measurement of natural radioactivity in building materials of Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India using gamma-ray spectrometry

The natural level of radioactivity in building materials is one of the major causes of external exposure to γ-rays. The primordial radionuclides in building materials are one of the sources of radiation hazard in dwellings made of these materials. By the determination of the radioactivity level in building materials, the indoor radiological hazard to human health can be assessed. This is an important precautionary measure whenever the dose rate is found to be above the recommended limits. The aim of this work was to measure the specific activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in commonly used building materials from Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India, using gamma-ray spectrometer. The radiation hazard due to the total natural radioactivity in the studied building materials was estimated by different approaches. The concentrations of the natural radionuclides and the radium equivalent activity in studied samples were compared with the corresponding results of different countries. From the analysis, it is found that these materials may be safely used as construction materials and do not pose significant radiation hazards.     

Natural radioactivity of Indian building materials and by-products.

Conventional building materials and by-products from coal power plants which are being used or have the potential for use in buildings in India were analysed for natural radioactivity due to the presence of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The materials examined in this work showed the radioactivity levels below the limit estimated from radium equivalent activity the criterion formula for gamma-activity suggested for acceptable radiation doses attributable to building materials in OECD countries.     

Natural radioactivity levels and heavy metals in chemical and organic fertilizers used in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The present work deals with identifying and determining the activity levels of natural occuring radionuclides, (226)Ra and (232)Th series, their decay products and (40)K, in chemical and organic fertilizers used in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 30 samples: 20 phosphatic fertilizers (single super-phosphate SSP and triple super-phosphate,TSP) and 10 organic fertilizers (cow, sheep and chicken) collected from markets and farms. The gamma-ray spectrometer consists of NaI(Tl) detector and its electronic circuit was used for measuring γ-ray spectra. The ranges of radioactivity levels of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in chemical fertilizers are 51.5±5.2-106.3±7.5, 5.1±1.6-9.9±3.2. and 462.6±21-607.3±14Bqkg(-1), respectively. The activities of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in natural fertilizers (cow, sheep and chicken) are lower than the activities in chemical fertilizers. The obtained data are compared with available reported data from other countries in literature. The Ra(eq) in chemical fertilizer ranges from 100.37 to 161.43Bqkg(-1) and in organic fertilizer ranges from 34.07 to 102.19Bqkg(-1), which are lower than the limit of 370Bqkg(-1) adopted from NEA-OECD (1979). The average heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Ni, Co and Cr) contents of the fertilizers marketed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are also determined and within the limits of those used worldwide.     

Measurement of natural radioactivity levels in Indian foodstuffs by gamma spectrometry

Measurements of natural radioisotopes present in some of the foodstuffs which form the main components of the composite Indian diet are presented. Assessment of daily intake of these natural radionuclides has been made on the basis of the average daily intake of these food-items by the population of Bombay and its environment. The content of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Th radioactivity varies from 45.9 to 649.0 Bq/kg, 0.01 to 1.16 Bq/kg and 0.02 to 1.26 Bq/kg, respectively. The average daily intakes of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Th have been estimated as 105.6, 0.17 and 0.18 Bq d⁻¹, respectively for the period 1970–1982.     

拉萨市天然石材放射性水平调查

目的 对拉萨市天然石材进行放射性水平调查研究,了解其放射性核素比活度范围及使用限制。方法 对拉萨市各天然石材矿区进行辐射监测和调查取样,对采集的样品进行放射性核素含量分析,根据分析结果计算内、外照射指数,并根据建筑材料放射性核素限量标准进行分类。结果 拉萨市天然石材样品中⁴⁰K、²²⁶Ra、²³²Th和²³⁸U比活度均值分别为912、59.0、77.1和64.4 Bq/kg,样品内、外照射指数均<1。结论 本次调查的拉萨市产天然石材放射性核素含量水平总体低于全国平均水平,可作为建筑主体材料及A类装饰装修材料。     

Radiological impact assessment to the environment due to waste from disposal of porcelain

The present study aimed to assess the radiological parameters from gamma rays due to the uncontrolled disposal of porcelain waste to the environment. Qualitative and quantitative identification of radionuclides in the investigated samples was carried out by means of a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The average activity concentrations of the local porcelain samples were measured as 208.28?Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra, 125.73?Bq/kg for ²³⁸U, 84.94?Bq/kg for ²³²Th and 1033.61?Bq/kg for ⁴⁰K, respectively. The imported samples had an average activity of 240.57?Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra, 135.56?Bq/kg for ²³⁸U, 115.74?Bq/kg for ²³²Th and 1312.49?Bq/kg for ⁴⁰K, respectively. Radiological parameters and the radium equivalent Ra_eq for the investigated samples were calculated. The external and internal hazard indices, representative level index (I_γ), alpha index (I_α), and the exemption level (I_x), were estimated to be higher than the recommended value (unity), while the average activity concentrations for the studied samples were higher than recommended levels. In conclusion, we are concerned that disposal of porcelain in the environment might be a significant hazard.     

Determination of the natural radioactivity levels in north west of Dukhan, Qatar using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry

This study is aimed at the determination of the activity concentrations of naturally occuring and technologically enhanced levels of radiation in 34 representative soil samples that have been collected from an inshore oil field area which was found to have, in a previous study, the highest observed value of 226Ra concentration among 129 soil samples. The activity concentrations of 238U and 226Ra have been inferred from gamma-ray transitions associated with their decay progenies and measured using a hyper-pure germanium detector. Details of the sample preparation and the gamma-ray spectroscopic analysis techniques are presented, together with the values of the activity concentrations associated with the naturally occuring radionuclide chains for all the samples collected from NW Dukhan. Discrete-line, gamma-ray energy transitions from spectral lines ranging in energy from ～100 keV up to 2.6 MeV have been associated with characteristic decays of the various decay products within the 235.8U and 232Th radioactive decay chains. These data have been analyzed, under the assumption of secular equilibrium for the U and Th decay chains. Details of the sample preparation and the gamma-ray spectroscopic analysis techniques are presented. The weighted mean value of the activity concentrations of 226Ra in one of the samples was found to be around a factor of 2 higher than the values obtained in the previous study and approximately a factor of 10 higher than the accepted worldwide average value of 35 Bq/kg. The weighted mean values of the activity concentrations of 232Th and 40K were also deduced and found to be within the worldwide average values of 30 and 400 Bq/kg, respectively. Our previous study reported a value of 201.9±1.5Stat.±13Syst.Bq/kg for 226Ra in one sample and further investigation in the current work determined a measured value for 226Ra of 342.00±1.9Stat.±25Syst.Bq/kg in a sample taken from the same locality. This is significantly higher than all the other investigated soil samples in the current and previous works. Notably, the Th levels in the same sample are within the worldwide average expectations, implying that the increased 226Ra concentration arises from TENORM processes.     

Multivariate statistical analysis of radiological data of building materials used in Tiruvannamalai,Tamilnadu, India

Using γ spectrometry, the concentration of the naturally occurring radionuclides ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K has been measured in soil, sand, cement, clay and bricks, which are used as building materials in Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu, India. The radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), the criterion formula (CF), indoor gamma absorbed dose rate (D_R), annual effective dose (H_R), activity utilization index (AUI), alpha index (I_α), gamma index (I_γ), external radiation hazard index (H_ex), internal radiation hazard index (H_in), representative level index (RLI), excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) and annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) associated with the natural radionuclides are calculated to assess the radiation hazard of the natural radioactivity in the building materials. From the analysis, it is found that these materials used for the construction of dwellings are safe for the inhabitants.The radiological data were processed using multivariate statistical methods to determine the similarities and correlation among the various samples. The frequency distributions for all radionuclides were analyzed. The data set consisted of 15 measured variables. The Pearson correlation coefficient reveals that the ²²⁶Ra distribution in building materials is controlled by the variation of the ⁴⁰K concentration. Principal component analysis (PCA) yields a two-component representation of the acquired data from the building materials in Tiruvannamalai, wherein 94.9% of the total variance is explained. The resulting dendrogram of hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) classified the 30 building materials into four major groups using 15 variables.