scholarly journals Transfer of Natural Radionuclides in Terrestrial Food Chains—A Review of Investigations in Finland

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 10577
Author(s):  
Susanna Salminen-Paatero ◽  
Jussi Paatero
Keyword(s):  
Food Chain ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Finnish Lapland ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Biological Environment

Transfer of natural radionuclides 210Pb, 210Po, 238U, and 228,230,232Th in subarctic food chains has been studied in Finland since the 1960s. The unique food chain lichen-reindeer-man related to Sami people in Finnish Lapland and other food chain options, from berries or mushrooms to man, have been explored and the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in biological samples determined. The results from Finnish radioecological studies are summarized and differences in bioaccumulation between different radionuclides are discussed. It was found out that, although a substantial amount of activity concentration data exist from the research projects executed in Finland during the last 6 decades, more data, especially from U and Th, in biological environment and humans would be useful, e.g., for modeling purposes and for improved assessment of bioaccumulation and adverse effects (both radiological and chemical) of radionuclides.

scholarly journals Activity Concentrations Of Environmental Samples Collected In Samarkand Region Of Uzbekistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 02 (10) ◽  
pp. 138-144
Author(s):  
G. Akhmedova ◽  
◽  
R. Eshburiev ◽  
U. Tukhtaev ◽  
Sh. Khasanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Decay Period ◽  
Marinelli Beaker ◽  
Radiation Spectra ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Γ Spectrometer ◽  
Low Activity

The results of the investigations of the activity concentration of natural radionuclides in certain building materials and foodstuff samples obtained from the Nurabad district of the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan are presented. The gamma radiation spectra of the samples were measured in Marinelli beaker geometry on γ- spectrometer with a Ge(Li) detector and energy resolution 6% on the 1332 keV line of 60Co. A personal computer and standard computer programs were used to accumulate and process the spectra. The characteristic density of the samples ranged from 140 to 1810 g/l. The activity concentration of 40K was observed to be comparatively higher than that of both 226Ra and 232Th in all the studied samples. The results reveal that the low activity of 137Cs in the samples is attributed due to its half-life decay period.

The natural radioactivity in drinking water by gross alpha and beta measurements and radiological quality assessment

2020 ◽  
Vol 108 (6) ◽  
pp. 491-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Şeref Turhan
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Gross Α And Β ◽  
Gross Β ◽  
Gross Α

AbstractThe aim of this study is to investigate the radiological quality of drinking waters consumed in Nevşehir province which is the most important tourism destination of the Cappadocia region. The activity concentration of gross α- and β-emitting from natural radionuclides (238U, 234U, 230Th, 226Ra, 210Po, 232Th and 210Pb, 228Ra and 40K) in 21 tap water samples supplied by municipal pipelines were analyzed by using a gas proportional α/β counter. The average activity concentrations of the gross α and gross β in tap water samples were found as 88 ± 10 mBq L−1 and 305 ± 32 mBq L−1, respectively. The average natural activity concentrations of α- and β-emitting radionuclides in tap water samples are below the limit values recommended by the Turkish regulation and WHO. For all samples, except for one sample, the gross β activity concentrations are higher than the corresponding gross α concentrations. The average annual effective radiation dose (AERD) due to the ingestion of these water samples was estimated to be 43, 60 and 124 μSv year−1 for infants, children, and adults, respectively. The average of AERD estimated for adults is 24 % higher than the dose limit of 100 μSv year−1. The activity concentration results reveal that tap water samples are acceptable for human consumption in accordance with the Turkish regulation and WHO recommendations for drinking water.

ASSESSMENT OF NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIONUCLIDES IN MALAYSIA’S BUILDING MATERIALS

2019 ◽  
Vol 186 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shittu Abdullahi ◽  
Aznan Fazli Ismail ◽  
Supian Samat
Keyword(s):  
Hpge Detector ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
High Purity Germanium ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides ◽  
Measured Activity ◽  
Materials Used

Abstract The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclides from common building materials used by Malaysian people for construction purposes were studied using High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The measured activity concentrations of the aforementioned radionuclides range from 10 ± 1 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 155 ± 61 Bq kg−1 (feldspar), 12 ± 3 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 274 ± 8 Bq kg−1 (kaolin) and 62 ± 19 Bq kg−1 (limestone) to 1114 ± 20 Bq kg−1 (pottery stone) for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The measured activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides reported herein were found to be in accordance with other previous studies. In general, the activity concentration of the natural radionuclides revealed that all the determined values were below the recommended limit.

scholarly journals Natural radioactivity in the soil of Thoulakhom district in Vientiane province, Laos

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
Sonexay Xayheungsy ◽  
Khiem Hong Le
Keyword(s):  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Radiation Hazard ◽  
Gamma Spectrometer ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
The Mean

Results of the first investigation of the activity concentration of the surface soil samples collected at various locations of Thoulakhom district of Vientiane province of Laos People's Democratic Republic (PDR) are presented in this work. The activity concentration of the natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples were determined by gamma spectrometer using a highenergy resolution semiconductor detector HPGe. The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides were in the range from 11.28 to 31.46 with the mean of 21.76 Bq.kg-1 for 226Ra, from 7.13 to 44.47 with the mean of 21.85 Bq.kg-1 for 232Th and from 8.96 to 581.52 with the mean of 112.89 Bq.kg-1 for 40K. These mean values of the activity concentration were lower than the average worldwide ones, which were 33, 45 and 420 Bq.kg-1 for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, respectively. The results indicate dthat the radiation hazard from natural 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radionuclides in all investigated soil samples taken from area under investigation in this work was not significant.

scholarly journals Radionuclides and heavy metals in soil, vegetables and medicinal plants in suburban areas of the cities of Belgrade and Pancevo, Serbia

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-284
Author(s):  
Branislava Mitrovic ◽  
Borjana Vranjes ◽  
Olga Kostic ◽  
Veljko Perovic ◽  
Miroslava Mitrovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Anthropogenic Source ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Metal Levels ◽  
Research Period

The content of radionuclides (40K, 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 137Cs) and heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, and Pb) was determined in samples of soil, vegetables and medicinal plants collected in the period 2007-2017, from two suburban areas of Belgrade ? the municipalities of Palilula and Surcin, and Pancevo ? the 'Dr Josif Pancic' Institute for the Study of Medicinal Herbs. During the research period, activity concentration of 137Cs in soil decreased from 16 Bqkg?1 to 3.9 Bqkg?1 (Palilula, Belgrade) and from 18 Bqkg?1 to 12 Bqkg?1 (Surcin, Belgrade). Mean activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in the soil were higher than the global aver- age. Trend for heavy metal levels, according to the average concentrations found in the soil, were as follows: Cu >Pb >As >Cd for Palilula, Pb >Cu >As >Cd for Surcin and Dr Josif Pancic' Institute, Pancevo. The obtained results indicate that the industrial pollution has no impact on food production in the study area and that the main anthropogenic source of radionuclides and heavy metals in soil are mineral phosphorous fertilizers, often used in agricultural fields.

scholarly journals Soil to Cassava Transfer Factors of Natural Radionuclides in Farms in Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
pp. 131-138
Author(s):  
Akaninyene Akankpo ◽  
Ime Essien ◽  
Alice Nyong ◽  
Etido Inyang
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Health Effect ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Contamination Level ◽  
Transfer Factors ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
World Standard ◽  
Radiological Health

Knowledge of activity concentration of radionuclides in soil of our farmlands and the consequent transfer factors of the radionuclide to plants are necessary to estimate the contamination level of the soil, plants and food. The activity concentration of 40K, 238U and 232Th in soils and cassava in Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria were measured using gamma spectrometry. Activity concentrations of radionuclides in soils in the locations ranged from BDL (below detectable limit) to 298.76 ± 21.40 Bq/Kg for 40K; BDL to 7.95 ± 1.88 Bq/Kg for 238U and 2.59 ± 0.25 to 16.56 ± 1.61 Bq/Kg for 232Th. Activity concentration of the radionuclides in cassava in all locations ranged from 213.96 ± 15.38 Bq/kg to 520.58 ± 37.25 Bq//Kg for 40K; BDL to 33.02 ± 8.91  Bg/Kg for 238U and BDL to 16.34 ± 1.59 Bq/kg for 232Th. The activity concentrations of all the radionuclides were lower than the world standard.  Transfer factors obtained ranged between 3.21 to 4.18 for 40K; 0.93 to 12.64 for 238U and 0.75 to 1.01 for 232Th. Effective ingestion dose due to the consumption of cassava from the studied area obtained ranged between 1.31 to 1.74 mSv/yr and 3.52 to 4.69 mSv/yr for children and adult respectively. These values are above the 1.0 mSv/yr recommended dose limit for general public, therefore the consumption of this food stuff could pose a radiological health effect on humans. However the risk could be minimized when the cassava is cooked.

scholarly journals Natural radioactivity and external dose assessment of surface soils in Bolikhamxay province, Laos

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Loat Bui Van
Keyword(s):  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Dose Assessment ◽  
World Average ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Radium Equivalent ◽  
The World ◽  
Average Activity

We have determined activity concentrations in 33 soil samples collected from Bolikhamxay Province, Laos. The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides 226Ra,232Th and 40K in soil samples were measured by a gamma spectrometer with a HPGe detector. The average activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are 43.8 ± 5.6, 57.0 ± 7.3 and 426.4 ± 23.1 Bq.kg-1, respectively. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra and 232Th in this work are higher than those of the world average values. Meanwhile, the  activity concentration of 40 K is almost the same of the world average value. The estimated average outdoor annual effective dose (E) and radium equivalent actitvity (Raeq) are 0.17 ± 0.02 mSv.yr-1 and 154.8 ± 16.1 Bq.kg-1, respectively.

scholarly journals COMPARISON OF ACTIVITY CONCENTRATIONS OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN SOILS COLLECTED AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS OF SELECTED HAND-DUG WELLS IN ABEOKUTA

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-130
Author(s):  
I C OKEYODE ◽  
A O MUSTAPHA ◽  
N N JIBIRI ◽  
V MAKINDE ◽  
F G AKINBORO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
High Purity Germanium ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Dug Wells ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Average Activity ◽  
Dug Well

This study was aimed at measuring and comparing the activity concentration of soil samples collected from some selected hand – dug wells with their corresponding depths of collection in Abeokuta metropolis. Total of twenty (20) soil samples were collected from hand-dug wells in five sites (Obada, Adigbe, Kuto, Olorunsogo, and Obantoko) within Abeokuta with four (4) soil samples from each hand-dug well at the surface, (0.0m) through to 2.25m depth. Gamma ray spectroscopy with High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector was used for the measurements. The average activity concentrations obtained for the three natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in Bq/Kg are 34.31 ± 2.01, 128.73 ± 4.41 and 152.31 ± 2.59 respectively at depth 0.00 m (surface), 23.00 ± 1.61, 68.39 ± 3.24 and 191.08 ± 3.11 respectively at depth 0.75 m, 31.52 ± 2.21, 145.37± 4.95 and 375.56 ± 5.50 respectively at 1.50 m and lastly 28.57±1.70, 95.61 ± 3.71 and 181.10 ± 3.94 respectively at 2.25 m depth. The world average activity concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are given to be 35 Bqkg-1, 30 Bqkg-1 and 400 Bqkg-1 respectively (UNSCEAR 2000). 232Th showed  higher average values than the world’s average while averages of 226Ra and 40K were lower but most of the activity concentration values obtained in some of the locations are higher than the world’s average values, especially 226Raand 232Th in the soil samples. 

scholarly journals Assessment of natural radioactivity and radiation hazards of building materials in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 664-673
Author(s):  
Huruma P Mammba ◽  
Vitus A Balobegwa ◽  
Alex P Muhulo ◽  
Peter A Pantaleo ◽  
Remigius A Kawala
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Hazard Index ◽  
Gamma Activity ◽  
Gamma Ray Spectrometry ◽  
Radium Equivalent Activity ◽  
Radiation Hazards ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
The World

Natural radionuclides from building materials are one of the potential sources of external as well as internal radiation exposure to the human body. Currently, this exposure has been increasing since people spend more than 80% of their time indoors (ICRP 1991). Commonly used building materials from Kinondoni District were investigated using γ-spectrometry; their activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in Bq/kg were measured. The results showed that average values of activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were 15.62, 21.51 and 237.99 Bq/kg, respectively. All the activity concentrations in the studied samples were lower than the world average values of 35 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 30 Bq/kg for 232Th and 400 Bq/kg for 40K. The radium equivalent activity ( 𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑞), external ( 𝐻𝑒𝑥), internal hazard index ( 𝐻𝑖𝑛) and gamma activity concentration index (𝐼𝛾) were calculated to assess the radiological hazards due to presence of natural radionuclides in the building materials. The results showed that the average values of Raeq, Hex, and Iγ were 64.7 Bq/kg, 0.17, 0.21 and 0.24, respectively. These values were lower than the world criteria values 370 for Raeq, ≤ 1 for Hex, ≤ 1 for Hin and ≤ 1 for Iγ, respectively. The obtained results indicated that all the investigated building materials were safe for inhabitants. Keywords: Building materials, Natural radionuclides, Radiation hazards, Gamma ray spectrometry, Activity concentration

‘Nature Has Its Own Soul and Speaks Its Own Language’

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-73
Author(s):  
Helena Ruotsala
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Reindeer Herding ◽  
Nature Protection ◽  
Economic Interests ◽  
Finnish Lapland ◽  
The People ◽  
Heated Debate ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The Relationship

Nature and environment are important for the people earning their living from natural sources of livelihood. This article concentrates on the local perspective of the landscape in the Pallastunturi Fells, which are situated in Pallas-Ylläs National Park in Finnish Lapland. The Fells are both important pastures for reindeer and an old tourism area. The Pallastunturi Tourist Hotel is situated inside the national park because the hotel was built before the park was established 1938. Until the 1960s, the relationship between tourism and reindeer herding had been harmonious because the tourism activities did not disturb the reindeer herding, but offered instead ways to earn money by transporting the tourists from the main road to the hotel, which had been previously without any road connections. During recent years, tourism has been developed as the main source of livelihood in Lapland and huge investments have been made in several parts of Lapland. One example of this type of investment is the plan to replace the old Pallas Tourist hotel, which was built in 1948, with a newer and bigger one. It means that the state will allow a private enterprise to build more infrastructures for tourism inside a national park where nature should be protected and this has sparked a heated debate. Those who oppose the project criticise this proposal as the amendment of a law designed to promote the economic interests of one private tourism enterprise. The project's supporters claim that the needs of the tourism industry and nature protection can both be promoted and that it is important to develop a tourist centre which is already situated within the national park. This article is an attempt to try to shed light on why the local people are so loudly resisting the plans by a private tourism enterprise to touch the national park. It is based on my fieldwork among reindeer herding families in the area.

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