• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.1460-1467
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• 2023

A robust approach was conducted to determining the absolute oral bioavailable (f_ab) fractions of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in rats exposed to contaminated soil along with their hematotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. The soil sample is the International Atomic Energy Agency-312 (IAEA-312) certified reference material, whereas blood, bones, and kidneys of in vivo female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats estimate ²³⁸U- and ²³²Th-f_ab fractions post-exposure. We predict the bioavailable concentration (C_ab) and f_ab values of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th after acute soil ingestion. The blood ²³⁸U (0.750%) and ²³²Th (0.028%) reach their maximum f_ab values after 48 h. The ²³⁸U (f_ab: 0.169-0.652%) accumulates mostly in the kidney, whereas the ²³²Th (f_ab: 0.004-0.021%) accumulates primarily in the bone. Additionally, ²³⁸U is more bioavailable than ²³²Th. Post 48 h acute ingestion demonstrates noticeable histopathological and hematological alterations, implying that intake of ²³⁸U in co-contaminated soil can lead to erythrocytes and proximal tubules damage, whereas, ²³²Th intake can harm erythrocytes. Our study provides new directions for future research into the health implications of acute oral exposures to ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in co-contaminated soils. The findings offer significant insight into the utilization of in vivo SD rat testing to estimate ²³⁸U and ²³²Th bioavailability and toxicity in exposure assessment.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 2004년도 요약집 춘계학술발표대회
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• pp.57.2-57.2
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• 2004

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.477-484
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• 2000

To estimate the degree of intake of $^{238}$ U and $^{232}$ Th through daily diet, a Korean mixed diet sample was prepared after the investigation of the amount of consumption of the daily diet which corresponds to the age of 20 to 60 years. For the analysis of U and Th, the RNAA method was applied. Two standard reference materials were used for quality control and assurance and the analytical results were compared with a certified value. The determination of U and Th in the Korean mixed diet sample was carried out under the same analytical conditions and procedures with SRM. It is found that the concentration of U and Th in a Korean mixed diet was about 35.4 ppb and 3.4 ppb. From these results, the daily intake of $^{238}$ U and $^{232}$ Th by diet is evaluated to be 6.98 and 0.67 $\mu\textrm{g}$ per day, respectively. Radioactivities related to the intake of $^{238}$ U and $^{232}$ Th were estimated to be about 86 mBq and 27 mBq per person per day and the annual dose equivalents from $^{238}$ U and $^{232}$ Th revealed as 3.18 $\mu$Sv and 0.29 $\mu$Sv per person, respectively.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.73-78
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• 2001

3"X3" NaI 스펙트럼의 조사선량 변환계수를 구하기 위해, 조사선량률이 $4{\sim}23{\mu}R\;h^{-1}$인 29개 지역에서 가압전리함 검출기로 조사선량률을 측정하고, 동시에 3"X3"와 4"X4" NaI 검출기로 스펙트럼을 측정하였다. 총에너지 방법의 조사선량 변환계수는 측정된 조사선량률과 스펙트럼 에너지의 선형적 비례관계를 사용하여 구하였다. 에너지대 방법의 조사선량 변환계수를 구하기 위해 NCRP에서 권고하는 4"X4" NaI 검출기에 대한 에너지대 방법의 조사선량 변환계수를 4"X4" NaI 스펙트럼에 적용하여 $^{40}K,\;^{238}U,\;^{232}Th$ 계열의 조사선량률을 계산하였다. 이렇게 계산된 $^{232}Th$ 계열의 조사선량률과 $^{232}Th$ 계열을 대표하는 2614keV 피크 영역면적의 선형적 비례관계를 이용하여 3"X3" NaI 검출기 스펙트럼에 대한 $^{232}Th$ 계열 조사선량 변환계수를 구하였다. $^{40}K$ 및 $^{238}U$ 계열의 조사선량 변환계수도 유사한 방법으로 구해졌다.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.3658-3666
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• 2014

본 논문에서는 대한민국의 제2의 도시인 부산지역의 일반토양을 대상으로 천연방사성핵종인 $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$, $^{40}K$을 분석하고 이를 바탕으로 일반토양에 의한 거주민의 방사선피폭을 평가하였다. 측정방법으로는 부산지역의 토양 내 천연 방사성 핵종을 정밀 분석하기 위하여 16개의 행정구역을 중심으로 각 지역에서 세 개의 지점을 격자구조로 분리하였으며 이후 총 48개의 토양 시료를 2012년 7월부터 2013년 4월까지 채취하였다. 토양 중 $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$는 ICP-MS를 사용하여 방사능 농도를 분석하고, $^{40}K$는 감마선 분석 검출기인 HpGe 검출기를 사용하여 방사능 농도를 분석하였다. 이 후 이를 바탕으로 동아시아 지역의 방사능 농도와 비교해 본 결과 $^{238}U$ 핵종은 우리나라가 평균보다 낮은 농도를 나타낸 반면 $^{232}Th$, $^{40}K$핵종은 높은 값을 나타냈다. 이는 한국의 지질대가 천연방사성핵종이 많이 포함되어 있는 화강암지대가 많기 때문이라 판단된다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.1638-1649
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• 2019

Top soil samples across the state of Kuwait numering ninety were collected and analysed using gamma-ray spectrometry, to evaluate the elemental concentration of $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$ and $^{40}K$ and their depletion/enrichment. Results of elemental concentration ranges from 0.48 to 2.61 mg/kg, 0.87-5.23 mg/kg, and 0.24-2.23%, with a mean values of 1.39 mg/kg, 3.47 mg/kg, and 1.18%, for the $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$ and $^{40}K$, respectively. Further analysis was conducted amongst the five identified soil types, i.e. Aquisalids (S1), Calcigypsids (S2), Petrocalcids (S3), Petrogypsids (S4), and torripsamment (S5). The highest radioactivity concentrations from both uranium and thorium were recorded in the S2 (Calcigypsids) soil, with a value of 1.71 (mg/kg) and 4.45 (mg/kg), respectively. Minimum and maximum values of $^{40}K$ are 1.1(%) and 1.27(%) and is prevalent in Aquisalids (S1) and Petrocalcids (S3) soil types, respectively. Ratios of elemental concentration for $^{232}Th/^{238}U$, $^{40}K/^{238}U$, $^{40}K/^{232}Th$ across the soil types are 2.53, 0.09 and 0.03, with a correlation coefficient of 0.92, 0.34, and 0.38, respectively. A progressively higher $^{232}Th/^{238}U$ ratio is observed moving south-wards, indicating lower $^{238}U$ content in soils from the south relative to the northern part. Overall results indicate Kuwait to be relatively an area with low level of natural radioactivity.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권7호
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• pp.2388-2394
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• 2023

The radioactivity concentration of environmental radionuclides was analyzed for soil and sand at eight locations within a radius of 255 m centered on the Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical Science (DIRAMS), Korea. The average activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ¹³⁷Cs, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th were 661.1 Bq/kg-dry, 0.9 Bq/kg-dry, 21.9 Bq/kg-dry, and 11.1 Bq/kg-dry, respectively. The activity of ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs was lower than the 3-year (2017-2019) average reported by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, respectively. Due to the nature of granite-rich soil, the radioactivity of ⁴⁰K was 0.6-fold higher than in other countries, while ¹³⁷Cs was in the normal fluctuation range (15-30 Bq/kg-dry) of the concentration of radioactive fallout from nuclear tests. The activity of ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th was lower than in Korean soils reported by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The average activity concentrations of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K for the soil and sand samples from DIRAMS were within the range specified by UNSCEAR in 2000. The radium equivalent activity and internal and external hazard index values were below the recommended limits (1 mSv/y). These radionuclide concentration (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs) data can be used for regional environmental monitoring and ecological impact assessments of nuclear power plant accidents.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.77-97
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• 1971

1970년 말까지 보고된 U-238, Np-237 및 Th-232의 고속중성자에 대한 핵분열단 면적 및 그 실험오차를 조사 분석하여 최소자숭직교다항식적합법에 의하여 단면적의 최적치와 95%신뢰도에 대응하는 오차범위를 계산하고 이 결과를 사용하여 분열스펙트럼에 대한 평균단면적치를 추정하였다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.161-165
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• 2005

The gamma-ray dose rates in air at 233 locations in Korea have been determined. The contribution to the gamma-ray dose rates in air due to the presence of $^{232}Th-series,\;^{238}U-series\;and\;^{40}K$ is as follows: 47.3% $(36\;nGyh^{-1})\;^{232}Th-series$ 14.5% $(11\;nGyh^{-1})\;^{238}U-series$ and 38.2% $(29\;nGyh^{-1})\;^{40}K$. The mean gamma-ray dose rate theoretically derived from $^{232}Th-series,\;^{238}U-series\;and\;^{40}K\;was\;76{\pm}17\;nGyh^{-1}$. This corresponds to an annual effective dose of $410\;{\mu}Sv$ and an annual collective dose of 18900 person-Sv for all provinces under study. The results have been compared with other global radiation dose.

• 분석과학
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.191-197
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• 2023

Radioactivity concentrations for natural radionuclides were determined from fine dust samples collected in Jeju, Korea according to atmospheric events (Asian dust, haze, fog-mist, and non-event), and radium equivalent activity was calculated. The mean atmospheric radioactivity concentrations for ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in 127 fine dust samples were 0.49, 0.24, and 7.23 µBq m^-3, respectively, and the radium equivalent activity was 33.25 Bq kg^-1. The mean concentrations of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in the fine dust during the Asian dust period were 1.31 and 1.60 µBq m^-3, respectively, above the global average, while the values for the other three atmospheric events were lower. The ratio of ²³²Th/²³⁸U radioactivity during the Asian dust period was 1.22, higher than the ratio for the other three atmospheric events.