Assessment of radiation hazards due to the concentration of natural radionuclides in the environment

A study of natural radionuclides and radon concentration of Hamirpur District of Himachal Pradesh, India is carried out using various methodologies. The activity concentration of the natural radionuclides viz. ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K is measured using high-resolution-based HPGe detector. Indoor radon measurements in the dwellings of Hamirpur district is carried out using LR-115 type II cellulose nitrate films in the bare mode. The average activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K are 35.58, 54.95 and 580.58 Bq kg^?1, respectively. The annual average indoor radon value in the study area varies from 173.90 to 198.25 Bq m^?3, which is well within the recommended action level given by International Commission on Radiological Protection. The indoor radon values obtained in the present investigation are higher than the world average of 40 Bq m^?3. Radon concentration in water samples is measured using RAD7, an active radon detector. The annual effective dose for stomach and lung is determined from the measured value of radon concentration in water. To assess the radiation hazard of the natural radioactivity in all samples to the people, the radium equivalent activity, external hazard index, lifetime fatality risk, absorbed dose rate and total annual effective dose is estimated. The results signify that the studied area does not possess any radiation hazards due to the presence of natural radioactivity concentration.     

Gamma radiation levels in the villages of South Konkan,Maharashtra, India

Ambient gamma radiation study was carried out in South Konkan using thermo luminescent dosimeters (TLDs). A statistical analysis was carried out to understand the distribution of gamma radiation in the study area. The annual effective doses (AEDs) received by the local population from the selected villages were 0.31 and 0.09 mSv year^?1 for indoor and outdoor locations, respectively. For indoor conditions, the maximum dose rate occurred for winter season and the minimum occurred in monsoon season while for outdoor conditions the maximum dose rate occurred in spring season and minimum occurred in the monsoon season. The terrestrial radioactivity in the corresponding villages was measured by a HpGe detector. The radiation hazard indices like absorbed dose rate in air (D), radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), external hazard index (H _ex) and internal hazard index (H _in), and AED were calculated using soil radioactivity data. The minimum absorbed dose rate in air (33.97 nGy h^?1) corresponds to the Dale village and the maximum (101.86 nGy h^?1) corresponds to the Mithgawane village. Radiation hazard indices as Ra_eq, H _ex, and H _in were found to be within the limit. The average AED from natural radionuclides was found to be lower than the worldwide value. The AEDs of this study were compared with previous studies carried out worldwide. A positive correlation was observed for the absorbed dose rate in air and the activity concentration of U-238, Th-232, and K-40. A positive correlation between activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 was also observed. The comparison between the AEDs calculated using absorbed dose measured by TLDs and the values calculated from soil’s gamma spectrometry showed some variation in the villages of South Konkan.     

Geostatistical analysis of soil moisture measurements and remotely sensed data at different spatial scales

The European remote sensing satellite (ERS-2) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data was used for temporal monitoring of soil moisture at Sukhothai, Thailand. Higher correlations were found between the observed soil moisture and the radar backscattering coefficient. The soil moisture distribution shows great variation in space and time due to its stochastic nature. In order to obtain a better understanding of the nature and causes of spatial variation of soil moisture, the extensive soil moisture measurements observed in Thailand and also remotely sensed ERS-2 SAR data were used for geostatistical analysis. The observed soil moisture shows seasonal variations with mean varying from 3.33 %v/v (dry season) to 33.44 %v/v (wet season). The spatial geostatistical structure also shows clear seasonal variations in the geostatistical characteristics such as range and sill. The sills vary from 1.00 (%v/v)² for the driest day to 107.57 (%v/v)² for one of the wet days. The range or the correlation lengths varies between 46.5 and 149.8 m for the wettest and driest periods. The nugget effect does not show strong seasonal pattern or trend but the dry periods usually have a smaller nugget effect than the wet periods. The spherical variogram model fits the sample variograms very well in the case of soil moisture observations while the exponential model fits those of the remotely sensed data. The ranges observed from the observed soil moisture data and remotely sensed data at the same resolution are very similar. Resolution degradation affects the geostatistical structure of the data by reducing the sills, and increasing the ranges.     

An investigation about natural radioactivity,hydrochemistry, and metal pollution in groundwater from Calabrian selected areas,southern Italy

The increasing interest in radioactivity has brought about the need for an assessment of human exposure to radiation. It is, therefore, necessary to examine naturally occurring radioactivity in the environment, especially its occurrence in groundwater. The aim of this work was then to study the levels and behavior of the most significant natural radionuclides, also in order to improve the knowledge of the hydrochemical processes involved in the selected groundwater systems. Natural radioactivity in fifteen Calabrian groundwaters for human use was investigated through high-resolution gamma spectrometry (with a negative-biased Ortec HPGe detector) and liquid scintillation measurements. Particular attention was given on those radionuclides (³H, ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, and ²²⁸Ra), which contribute in a significant way to the overall effective dose received by members of the public due to the intake of drinking water originating from groundwater systems. The activity concentration of ²³⁸U varied from 1 to 51 mBq/L, as a result of the geology of the investigated area and of the oxidizing conditions that favored U dissolution. ²²⁶Ra presented a broad range of activity concentrations (0.011–0.14 mBq/L), lower than uranium ones because radium occurs in groundwater under reducing conditions. Some heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Be, Hg, Ag, As, Tl, Sb, Se, and Ni) were also investigated through ICP-MS measurements and compared with the limits set by the Italian Legislation. Metals are released into the environment by both natural and anthropogenic sources; they leach into underground waters, moving along water pathways and eventually depositing in the aquifer.     

Radiological monitoring and statistical approach of primordial and anthropogenic radionuclides in surface soil of Mami-water site in the Western Cameroon

The study referred to measure activity concentrations of some primordial radionuclides and anthropogenic of ¹³⁷Cs in soil samples of Mami-water in the Menoua subdivision, Dschang employing gamma-ray spectrometry-based characterized Broad Energy Germanium (BE6350) detector and a comparison of radiological and safety impact parameters on human due to primordial radioactivity in soil with some internationally approved values. In addition, statistical analysis of primordial radionuclides of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K was performed to evaluate the distribution and the interrelation of radionuclides. Samples were randomly collected from a depth of about 0 to 5 cm from the top surface layer. Each of the sampling points was considered as being overlaid with a grid and subdivided into cells. The observed radioactivity level of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in the investigated soil samples was compared with some published data available in some countries including Cameroon and observed varying within some reported data of radioactivity in soil from bauxite ore deposit. ²³⁵U and ¹³⁷Cs were found in very few samples with a very low average of activity concentrations. In the majority of the samples, the observed radiological safety parameters seem to be greater than the internationally approved values. Consequently, using bricks made of soil as building materials might lead to an increase in radiation risk for the population. Multivariate statistical analysis of activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides performed showed an asymmetrical distribution with more peaked than Gaussian distribution and relatively flatter distribution of radionuclides in soil. In addition, a good positive interrelation between ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th was observed and a weak negative one observed between ⁴⁰K and ²²⁶Ra–²³²Th.     

Evaluation of dose parameters and radiological hazards in gravel samples of Konyaaltı Beach,Antalya

It is important to know the distribution and transfer of radionuclides such as uranium, thorium, and potassium, which exist naturally in the environment we live in. For this reason, measurements of these natural radionuclides have been carried out for 15 gravel samples collected from Konyaalt? Beach, Antalya. In order to measure the natural activity concentrations of potassium-40, uranium-238, and thorium-232 radionuclides, we performed the measurements by applying a gamma spectrometry method with a “3?×?3” NaI(Tl) detector, which is a multichannel analytical detector in the Suleyman Demirel University gamma spectrometry laboratory. The minimum, maximum, and mean values for the ²²⁶Ra activity concentration were measured as 19.74 Bq/kg, 37.03 Bq/kg, and 31.64 Bq/kg, respectively. The minimum, maximum, and mean values for the ²³²Th activity concentration were measured as 12.76 Bq/kg, 34.32 Bq/kg, and 26.67 Bq/kg, respectively. The minimum, maximum, and mean values for the ⁴⁰K activity concentration were measured as 196.37 Bq/kg, 421.13 Bq/kg, and 350.42 Bq/kg, respectively. Dose parameters and radiation damage indices were calculated using experimentally measured activity results and the resulting dose and hazard index values were compared with the determined limit values. It can be concluded that no risk may threat in terms of the hazard index values. In addition, all results obtained in terms of calculated dose values except for annual gonadal dose are below the recommended limit values.     

Movement of radiocaesium fallout released by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident

The moment magnitude (M _w) 9.0 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011, generating an unusually large tsunami. The seismic shocks and tsunami inundation severely damaged the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Radionuclide emission due to reactor breakdown contaminated wide areas of Fukushima and its surroundings. Heavy rainfall causes runoff across surface soil, and fine soil particles are susceptible to uptake by the flowing water. The high radioactivity of grains suspended in floodwater indicates that radioactive fallout was streamed into rivers in particulate form and transported downstream under high-flow conditions. Here, we investigated the diachronic mode of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs in central Fukushima, through which the contaminated air mass drifted and caused wet deposition of radionuclides. Stratigraphic measurements of radioactivity in sediment cores is the method employed in this study to determine the basin-wide movement of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs, to evaluate the significance of the erosion–transportation–accumulation processes on natural decontamination in terrain characterized by steep slopes and high precipitation. Stratigraphic results illustrate the process of fluvial sediment discharge, and the massive deposition of radiocaesium suggests basin-wide movement of fallout during concentrated rainfall. Grain suspension in torrential currents is an important pathway for transportation of radionuclides from land to sea, and the appearance of hotspots on floodplains and the offshore sea floor is the consequence of erosion and transportation under seasonal heavy precipitation. Radioactive horizons occur in offshore sediment columns and thus radiocaesium discharged from the estuary will persist forever under the sea floor if no artificial disturbance occurs.     

Natural radioactivity in basement rocks and stream sediments, Sharm El Sheikh Area, South Sinai, Egypt: radiometric levels and their significant contributions

The present study examines the natural radioactivity in basements rocks including granites and associated dikes besides stream sediments in Sharm El Sheikh area. Two main rock units are concerned; granites pertaining to Younger Granites of Precambrian age and clastic sedimentary rocks related to Miocene and Pliocene ages. This area is traversed by two shear zones that were delineated as the master fractures trending NW and NNE and controlling uranium and thorium enrichment in granites and dikes. The field and laboratory radiometric measurements revealed radiometric anomalies, in particular, along shear zones. The results of radiometric analyses including concentrations of equivalent uranium (eU), equivalent thorium (eTh), Ra, and K radionuclides as well as the calculated ratios eTh/eU and eU/Ra for representative samples belonging to all rock varieties, revealed that the felsic dikes have the highest values of the average radionuclides potential followed by the alkali feldspar granites, while the mafic dikes display the lowest radioactivity potential. On the other hand, the trends defined in the variation of uranium and thorium reflects the amount of remobilization of uranium that has occurred within the plutons. The eTh and eU/eTh ratios shows a negative correlation, suggesting that distribution of uranium and thorium was at least controlled by magmatic differentiation, while, the positive correlation between eU and eU/eTh ratios indicates enrichment of uranium through post magmatic processes. Some precautions and recommendations are proposed to avoid any possible environmental impacts from shear zone areas with high intensity of natural radiation sources.     

Influence of radon on the acidification of atmospheric precipitation

Mechanisms of the acidification of precipitation at the expense of radiochemical effects were considered. The results of natural measurements of physicochemical and metrological parameters (pH, T, and radiation background) of atmospheric precipitation (rain and snow) are reported. The possible influence of radon radioactivity (decay energy) on physicochemical processes in the atmosphere was analyzed. A hypothesis was proposed on the mechanism of this process.     

Natural radioactivity in sediment of Wei River,China

The concentrations of natural radionuclides in sediment of Wei River of China were measured using γ-ray spectrometry with the aim of estimating the radiation hazard as establishing a database for radioactivity levels of river sediment of China. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in sediment samples ranged from 10.4 to 39.9 Bq kg⁻¹, 15.3 to 54.8 Bq kg⁻¹ and 514.8 to 1,175.5 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively. The concentrations of these radionuclides were compared with the typical world values and the average activities of Chinese soil and Shaanxi soil. Radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), external hazard index (H _ex) and representative level index (I _γr) were calculated for the samples to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the use of these sediment samples in the construction of dwellings. All the sediment samples have Ra_eq lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg⁻¹, H _ex less than unity and I _γr close to 1 Bq kg⁻¹. The overall mean outdoor terrestrial gamma dose rate is 64.8 nGy h⁻¹ and the corresponding outdoor annual effective dose is 0.079 mSv. None of the studied location is considered a radiological risk and sediment can be safely used in construction.     

陇中黄土高原冬季地表辐射和能量平衡特征

利用定西试验基地2003年12月至2004年2月获取的地气相互作用观测资料,分析了陇中黄土高原冬季典型天气（晴天、阴天及雪天）和平均状况下的地表辐射能量平衡和土壤温度等微气象特征的日变化规律。结果表明,在典型天气间微气象特征有较大差异,但冬季的平均特征与晴天比较接近,云和降雪的扰动影响有限。冬季地表能量平衡以感热输送为主,土壤热通量为辅,且普遍存在不平衡现象。冬季初的2／3时段净辐射及土壤热通量日总量基本为负值,之后的1／3时段为正值,冬季地面加热场为热源。冬季土壤温度在地表及20 cm土壤层存在日变化,30 cm及以下土壤温度日变化很小。冬季地表日平均反射率基本在0.20～0.25之间变化,平均值为0.22。     

Explorative data analysis of heavy metal contaminated soil using multidimensional spatial regression

To obtain data on heavy metal contaminated soil requires laborious and time-consuming data sampling and analysis. Not only has the contamination to be measured, but also additional data characterizing the soil and the boundary conditions of the site, such as pH, land use, and soil fertility. For an integrative approach, combining the analysis of spatial distribution, and of factors influencing the contamination, and its treatment, the Mollifier interpolation was used, which is a non-parametric kernel density regression. The Mollifier was capable of including additional independent variables (beyond the spatial dimensions x and y) in the spatial interpolation and hence explored the combined influence of spatial and other variables, such as land use, on the heavy metal distribution. The Mollifier could also represent the interdependence between different heavy metal concentrations and additional site characteristics. Although the uncertainty measure supplied by the Mollifier at first seems somewhat unusual, it is a valuable feature and supplements the geostatistical uncertainty assessment.     

Assessing soil water content spatio-temporal variability at the hillslope scale in a headwater catchment using a multi variable interpolation model based on EMI surveys (Draix,South Alps,France)

To improve flood prediction in headwater catchments, hydrologists need to know initial soil moisture conditions that precede rain events. In torrential hydrology, soil moisture mapping provides a valuable tool for investigating surface runoff generation processes. In these mountainous environments, soil moisture prediction is challenging because of highly heterogeneous land cover and soil properties. This survey propose a methodology to study spatial soil moisture variations in the mountainous and torrential environment of the Draix Bléone experimental site—Laval 0.86 km². This approach associates water content measurements at the plot scale with spatialized soil bulk electrical conductivity (EC_a) measurements combined in a multivariate statistical analysis based on topographical parameters. Between the summer of 2015 and winter of 2016, four geophysical surveys were conducted under various moisture conditions and along the same pathway, using the Slingram electromagnetic induction (EMI) technique (EM31 device) in horizontal dipole to identify changes in soil properties to a depth of 3 m. These results were analyzed to determine water dynamics in this mountainous catchment. Temporal variations of EC_a vary among land cover types (forest, grassland, and black marl). A significant relationship was observed between EC_a and soil water content (SWC) measured with capacitive sensors in forest and grassland. A multiple linear regression produced using the spatial interpolation code LISDQS shows a significant correlation between EC_a and landform units depicted on a high-resolution DEM. EC_a variations decrease with distance to talwegs. Riparian zones appear as potential hydrological contributing areas with patterns varying according to moisture status. This study shows that multiple linear regression analysis and EMI make it possible to fill gaps between SWC plot measurements, over wide areas that are steep and that present numerous obstacles due to vegetation cover.     

Geostatistical methods to identify and map spatial variations of soil salinity

The problem of estimating and predicting spatial distribution of a spatial stochastic process, observed at irregular locations in space, is considered in this paper. Environmental variables usually show spatial dependencies among observations, with lead one to use geostatistical methods to model the spatial distributions of those observations. This is particularly important in the study of soil properties and their spatial variability. In this study geostatistical techniques were used to describe the spatial dependence and to quantify the scale and intensity of spatial variations of soil properties, which provide the essential spatial information for local estimation. In this contribution, we propose a spatial Gaussian linear mixed model that involves (a) a non-parametric term for accounting deterministic trend due to exogenous variables and (b) a parametric component for defining the purely spatial random variation due possibly to latent spatial processes. We focus here on the analysis of the relationship between soil electrical conductivity and Na content to identify spatial variations of soil salinity. This analysis can be useful for agricultural and environmental land management.     

Natural radionuclides as tracers of coastal biogeochemical processes

This paper presents an overview of the ways that natural radionuclides have been used as tracers of biogeochemical processes occurring in the coastal ocean. The radionuclides involved include those in the uranium and thorium decay series and those produced in the atmosphere by the interaction of cosmic rays with atmospheric gases (i.e., cosmogenic radionuclides). The property of radioactivity provides a chronometer with which to measure the rates of oceanic processes, and the fundamental biogeochemical behavior of the radionuclide determines which process(es) it may be used to trace. Examples from recent research will be presented in the talk.     

Environmental evaluation of elemental cesium and strontium contents and their isotopic activity concentrations in different soils of La Mancha (Central Spain)

Cesium and Strontium concentrations were analyzed in eight pedogenetic soil profiles developed on different rocks from a semiarid mediterranean region: La Mancha (Central Spain). Concentration activities of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr, as for some soil properties, were also measured. The results are presented in this document: Cs concentrations range between 0.4 and 18.3 mg kg⁻¹ and Sr varies widely between 11.0 and 3,384 mg kg⁻¹. Therefore, it is clear that there is a broad range of concentrations and there are also values significantly higher than the average values stated by several authors. Concentrations of long-life artificial radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr) were determined in some of the same soils. The activity concentration mean values (Bq kg⁻¹) were ranging between 0.82 and 21.76 for ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr variations range between 6.73 and 0.35. There were no significant correlations between radionuclides and stable trace elements. The data indicate that the soils do not show significant radioactivity of these elements and therefore they do not pose a danger. By the same token, no risk of contamination by this activity was detected. Finally, spatial patterns seem to be affected by the soil type and some soil properties.     

青岛市地表伽玛辐射特征及环境影响评价

对青岛市1 500 km 2范围内大密度土壤放射性核素和地表γ 辐射测量,系统深入研究了其放射性特征、分布规律及其影响因素。结果表明,青岛市土壤中核素232 Th 和40 K 的放射性比活度偏高,而238U 偏低。地表γ 辐射剂量率( 平均值91. 87 nGy /h) 略高于全国和世界平均值。研究发现,地表 93. 14%的γ 辐射来自地面放射性核素238U、232 Th 和40K 的γ 辐射,其中232 Th 和40K 的贡献占81. 21%,是主要的贡献者。地质背景决定地面γ 辐射剂量率值,燕山期各类花岗岩是导致青岛市区-王哥庄一带γ 辐射剂量率偏高的主要原因; 同时环境因素( 路面材料、地貌景观) 对其剂量率也存在一定影响。虽然研究区的γ 辐射剂量率较高,但其年有效剂量( 0. 56 mSv) 低于公众照射年剂量当量限值 ( 1. 0 mSv) ,人居环境基本不受影响。     

Measurement of natural radioactivity in sand samples collected from the Baoji Weihe Sands Park, China

The activity concentrations and the gamma-absorbed dose rates of the primordial naturally occurring radionuclides ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were determined for sand samples collected from the Baoji Weihe Sands Park, China, using γ-ray spectrometry. The natural radioactivity concentration of sand ranges from 10.2 to 38.3 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²²⁶Ra, 27.0 to 48.8 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²³²Th and 635.8 to 1,126.7 Bq kg⁻¹ for ⁴⁰K with mean values of 22.1, 39.0 and 859.1 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively. The concentrations of these radionuclides are compared with the typical world values and the average activity of Chinese soil. The measured activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th in sand is lower than the world average while that of ⁴⁰K is higher. . To evaluate the radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity, the external hazard index, the absorbed dose rate, and the effective dose rate have been calculated and compared with internationally approved values. The radium equivalent activity values of all sand samples are lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg⁻¹. The values of the external hazard index are less than unity. The mean outdoor air absorbed dose rate is 69.6 nGy h⁻¹ and the corresponding outdoor effective dose rate is 0.085 mSv y⁻¹.     

Application of multivariate spatial analysis in scale-based distribution and source study of PAHs in the topsoil: an example from Tianjin,China

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil originate from various sources under different spatial scales. Coregionalization analysis is more revealing than univariate geostatistical analysis. Scale-dependent spatial features of variables reflect different sources of spatial variability. In this study, 188 topsoil samples in the Tianjin area were collected. The contents of 16 PAHs and soil background properties were determined for all samples. A multivariate geostatistical approach was used for multi-scale spatial analysis for PAH compounds. Results show that coal combustion was the major source for the spatial distribution patterns of PAHs in the topsoil of the studied area. It worked mainly at the short-range scale (5–10 km). Significant spatial variation patterns were identified. In contrast, no significant spatial distribution trends at the nugget (0–5 km) or long-range scales (10–50 km) were seen. Long-range transport and site contamination of PAHs might not be key contributors in forming the distribution pattern of PAHs in the topsoil of Tianjin area.     

Gamma radiation measurements of naturally occurring radioactive samples from commercial Egyptian granites

Due to the widespread use of granites as building and ornamental materials, measurements of natural radioactivity for a total 27 selected samples of commercial granites used in Egypt were carried out by using a high pure germanium detector. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K of commercial granites ranged from 25 to 356, 5 to 161, and 100 to 1,796?(Bq?kg^?1), respectively. The concentrations of these radionuclides are compared with the international recommended values. To evaluate the radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity, the absorbed dose rate, the effective dose rate, and the hazard index have been calculated. The radium equivalent activity Ra_eq varied from 41 to 669?(Bq?kg^?1) which exceeds the permitted value (370?Bq?kg^?1) and the internal hazard index H _in varied from 0.2 to 2.8 which is higher than 1. The absorbed dose rate due to the natural radioactivity in the samples under investigation ranged from 19 to 310?(nGy?h^?1). The total effective dose rates per person indoors were determined to be 0.09 to 1.5?(mSv?year^?1).