• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2007

In order to compare the correlation of radioactivity ratio between the radwaste streams and the primary coolant of PWR NPPs, A RCS sampling kit was installed to primary coolant system for the collection of the radionuclides during the normal operation of NPPs. RCS samples were collected from PWR type of domestic NPPs through 2004 to 2005, and pretreated with acid microwave digestion or leaching method to assay quantitatively of several interesting radionuclides. The radioactivity ratios of $^{137}Cs\;to\;^{60}Co$ in a filter cartridge and a resin cartridge were 2.3E-2 and 7.3E-1, respectively. At a same period of the reactor operating cycle, the radioactivity ratios of $^{137}Cs\;to\;^{60}Co$ were 6.3E-1 for a evaporator bottom, 6.7E-1 for a spent resin, and 5.6E-2 for a dry active waste, so that these radwaste streams were identified as having similar characteristics with the corresponding RCS samples.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.109-112
• /
• 1985

Radioisotope tracer experiments on the distribution and the binding of radionuclides to proteins in bivalve were carried out in order to gain further information on biochemical behavior of radionuclides in marine bivalve, Gomphina melanaegis. The radioactivities (cpm/g) of $^{65}Zn\;and\;^{54}Mn$ after 7 days exposure were highly concentrated in liver and kidney in comparison to soft parts. The gel filtration profile of $^{65}Zn$ in liver and kidney showed three elution peaks, while $^{54}Mn$ showed two peaks in liver and three peaks in kidney. On the gel filtration of $^{137}Cs$ in liver and kidney, most of $^{137}Cs$ were eluted on one peak. Thus, it was considered that each radionuclide was bound to different proteins in liver and kidney of bivalve.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.195-203
• /
• 2022

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine radioactive concentrations in fertilizers known to contain essential nutrients. Results of this study could be used as basic data to monitor the impact of chemical fertilizers on the environment and public health. Nitrogen fertilizers, calcium fertilizers, sulfur fertilizers, phosphate acid fertilizers, and potassium chloride fertilizers were used in this study. Materials and Methods: Five chemical fertilizers were pulverized, placed in polyethylene containers, and weighed. The time to measure each specimen was set to be 3,600 seconds for a scintillator-based gamma-ray spectroscopy system. Concentration of gamma radionuclide was analyzed based on obtained spectra. At the end of the measurement, the spectrum file was stored and used to calculate radioactive concentrations using a gamma-ray spectrometer software. Results and Discussion: In the nitrogen fertilizer, 3.49 ± 5.71 Bq/kg of ¹³⁷Cs, 34.43 ± 7.61 Bq/kg of ¹³⁴Cs, and 569.16 ± 91.15 of ⁴⁰K were detected whereas ¹³¹I was not detected. In the calcium fertilizer, 5.74 ± 4.40 Bq/kg of ¹³⁷Cs (the highest concentration among all fertilizers), 22.37 ± 5.39 Bq/kg of ¹³⁴Cs, and 433.67 ± 64.24 Bq/kg of ⁴⁰K were detected whereas ¹³¹I was not detected. In the sulfur fertilizer, 347.31 ± 55.73 Bq/kg of ⁴⁰K, 19.42 ± 4.53 Bq/kg of ¹³⁴Cs, 2.21 ± 3.49 of ¹³⁷Cs, and 0.04 ± 0.22 Bq/Kg of ¹³¹I were detected. In the phosphoric acid fertilizer, 70,007.34 ± 844.18 Bq/kg of ⁴⁰K (the highest concentration among all fertilizers) and 46.07 ± 70.40 Bq/kg of ¹³⁴Cs were detected whereas neither ¹³⁷Cs nor ¹³¹I was detected. In the potassium chloride fertilizer, 12,827.92 ± 1542.19 Bq/kg of ⁴⁰K was and 94.76 ± 128.79 Bq/kg of ¹³⁴Cs were detected whereas neither ¹³⁷Cs nor ¹³¹I was detected. The present study examined inorganic fertilizers produced by a single manufacturer. There might be different results according to the country and area from which fertilizers are imported. Further studies about inorganic fertilizers in more detail are needed to create measures to reduce ⁴⁰K. Conclusion: Measures are needed to reduce radiation exposure to ⁴⁰K contained in fertilizers including phosphoric acid and potassium chloride fertilizers.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.171-181
• /
• 1997

A mixed solution of $^{54}Mn$, $^{60}Co$, $^{85}Sr$ and $^{137}Cs$ was applied to the soil of culture boxes in a greenhouse 2 days before transplanting red pepper and at 3 different times during its growth for investigating transfer factors ($m^2/kg-dry$) for its green and red fruits. Transfer factors varied with radionuclide, application time and harvest time by factors of about $20{\sim}100$. They decreased mostly in the order of $^{85}Sr>^{54}Min>^{60}Co>^{137}Cs$ while $^{54}Mn$ and $^{60}Co$ was higher than $^{85}Sr$ when time lapse between application and harvest was short. Transfer factors of $^{85}Sr$ and $^{137}Cs$ at the last application were lower than those at the previous one by factors of $3{\sim}20$ depending on harvest time. Variations in $^{54}Mn$ and $^{60}Co$ transfer factors with application time after transplanting were comparatively low. Transfer factors of $^{54}Mn$, $^{60}Co$ and $^{85}Sr$ mixed with topsoil before transplanting were up to $3{\sim}9$ times higher than those for the application onto soil surface 2 days after transplanting while there was no difference in $^{137}Cs$. The present results can be referred to in estimating root-uptake concentrations of the radionuclides in red pepper fruit and taking proper measures for its harvest and consumption at the event of an accidental release during the growing season of red pepper.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2012

In spite of colossal efforts taken for safe handling and storage of radioactive waste, the uncontrolled release of radiocesium ($^{137}Cs$ and $^{134}Cs$ isotopes) into the natural environment is inevitable. $^{137}Cs$ is of particular concern because of its long half-life, ability to transfer into biota through food chains, as well as its great mobility, bioavailability, and chemical and ecophysiological similarity with potassium. Radiocesium is released anthropogenically into the environment. Mushrooms are known for their ability to accumulate radionuclides, particularly radiocesium, which is heterogeneously distributed in the individual parts of mushrooms, and it is found that mushrooms are a hyper-accumulator of radiocesium from their environment than other vegetation. Mushrooms play a major role in the mobilization, accumulation, and translocation of cesium, i.e., decontamination of soils (mycoextraction) polluted with cesium radioisotopes, and this capacity appears to be a relevant bioindicator of cesium contamination in the environment. Moreover, the extension of mycelium into the soil makes the use of mushrooms as bioindicators of radiocesium possible. This paper reviews the potential of mushrooms in the accumulation of radiocesium from the environment, and dissertates the salient features to support the employment of mushrooms in environmental biomonitoring as a sensitive bioindicator of radiocesium contamination.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.311-320
• /
• 2006

Removal characteristics of $H^{14}CO_3$ ion from IRN-150 mixed resin contaminated with $^{14}C$ radionuclide and a gasification behavior of $^{14}C$ radionuclide to $^{14}CO_2$ were investigated. The stripping solutions used for the removal of $^{14}C$ from spent resin were $NaNO_3,\;Na_3PO_4,\;NH_4H_2PO_4,\;H_3PO_4$. The influence of stripping solution concentration on the desorption characteristics of inactive $HCO_3$ ion into stripping solution from IRN-150 mixed resin and the gasification of this ion to $CO_2$ was analyzed. The gasification behavior to $CO_2$ by using NaOH, $HNO_3$, HCl was also compared to that of phosphate solution. Real spent resin stored in Wolsung nuclear power plant was used to evaluate the gasification characteristics of $^{14}C$ radionuclide to $^{14}CO_2$. Gamma radionuclides such as $^{137}Cs,\;^{60}Co$ in residual striping solutions after desorption experiment were analyzed.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.110-114
• /
• 2004

Mycobiota including Alternaria alternata, Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus pulverulents were tested for their ability to uptake radiocobalt(Co-60) and radiocesium(Cs-137) from radionuclide containing medium. A. alternata was the most efficient fungal species for uptake of radioisotopes, followed by A. pulverulents, whereas F. verticilliodies came in the last rank. The conditions of radioisotope uptake were optimized such as the form of the fungal organism either spores or mycelium, inoculum age and pH of growing medium. Furthermore the total pigments of the tested fungi were extracted and tested for their ability to bind with radioisotope, where melanin of A. alternata produced about 60% for radioisotope uptake out of total added radioisotope radioactivity. Moreover, transmission electron microscopic examination of radioisotope exposed spores showed high precipitation of melanin granules in the spore wall and within the cell as comparing to untreated spores.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 1996

Underground migration of $^{54}Mn,\;^{60}Co,\;^{85}Sr\;and\;^{137}Cs$ in paddy and upland conditions was studied through two years' greenhouse experiment. At early and late growth stages of rice, soybean, Chinese cabbage and radish, a mixed solution of the radionuclides was applied to the water or soil surfaces of the culture boxes filled with an acidic loamy-sandy soil for the upper 20cm. Soil was sampled in layers upto $15{\sim}20cm$ down after harvest. Soil concentrations of the radionuclides decreased exponentially with increasing soil depth and more than 80% of the radioactivities remained in top $3{\sim}4cm$. The mobility of the radionuclides decreased in the order of $^{85}Sr>^{54}Mn>^{60}Co{\geq}^{137}Cs$. Downward migrations of the radionuclides were the greatest in rice soil and the lowest in soybean soil which was fertilized with the least amount of N, P and K. Differences in depth profiles between two application times indicate that the amount of daily migration from $0{\sim}1cm$ layer to the lower area decreases with increasing time after deposition. By a simultaneous addition of KCl and lime following the earlier application, downward migration in soybean, Chinese cabbage and radish soils changed little or retarded more or less but that in rice soil accelerated a little.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.99-105
• /
• 2005

A model for evaluating radioactive contamination in the urban environment, named METRO-K, was developed as a basic step for accident consequence analysis in case of an accidental release. The three kind of radionuclides $(^{137}Cs,\;^{106}Ru,\;^{131}I)$ and the different chemical forms of iodine (particulate, organic and elemental forms) are considered in the model. The radioactive concentrations are evaluated for the five types of surface (roof, paved road, wall, lawn/soil, tree) as a function of time. Using the model, the contaminative impacts of the surfaces were intensively investigated with respect to with and without precipitation during the measurement periods of radionuclides in air. In addition, a practical application study was conducted using $^{137}Cs$ concentration in air and precipitation measured in an European country at the Chernobyl accident. As a result precipitation was an influential factor in surface contamination. The degree of contamination was strongly dependent on the types of radionuclide and surface. Precipitation was more influential in contamination of $^{137}Cs$ than that of $^{131}I$ (elemental form).

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.84-89
• /
• 2023

Background: Food consumption is one of the most important routes for radionuclide intake for the public; therefore, there is the need to have a comprehensive understanding of the amount of radioactivity in food products. Consumption of radionuclide-contaminated food could increase potential health risks associated with exposure to radiation such as cancers. The present study aims to determine radioactivity levels in some food products (milk, rice, sugar, and wheat flour) consumed in Mali and to evaluate the radiological effect on the public health from these radionuclides. Materials and Methods: The health impact due to ingestion of radionuclides from these foods was evaluated by the determination of activity concentration of radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs using gamma spectrometry system with high-purity germanium detector and radiological hazards index in 16 samples collected in some markets, mall, and shops of Bamako-Mali. Results and Discussion: The average activity concentrations were 9.8±0.6 Bq/kg for ²³⁸U, 8.7±0.5 Bq/kg for ²³²Th, 162.9±7.9 Bq/kg for ⁴⁰K, and 0.0035±0.0005 Bq/kg for ¹³⁷Cs. The mean values of radiological hazard parameters such as annual committed effective dose, internal hazard index, and risk assessment from this work were within the dose criteria limits given by international organizations (International Commission on Radiological Protection and United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation) and national standards. Conclusion: The results show low public exposure to radioactivity and associated radiological impact on public health. Nevertheless, this study stipulates vital data for future research and regulatory authorities in Mali.