• Title/Summary/Keyword: Environmental Radioactivity

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Uptake of the Residues of the Herbicide Bentazon in Soil by Soybean and Radish (토양중(土壤中) 제초제(除草劑) Bentazon 잔류물(殘留物)의 콩과 무우에 의한 흡수(吸收))

  • Lee, Jae-Koo;Cheon, Sam-Yeong;Kyung, Kee-Sung
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.1-7
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    • 1988
  • In order to clarify how much of the residues of Bentazon could be taken up by crops, soybean and radish were grown for 28 days in soils containing freshly treated $^{14}C-Bentazon$ and non-extractable soil-hound residues of $^{14}C-Bentazon.$ The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. $^{14}CO_2$ evolution from $^{14}C$-Bentazon during the 6-month pre-incubation in soil was 14.79% relative to the applied radioactivity. 2. Mineralization of ^$^{14}C$-Bentazon in soil to $^{14}CO_2$ during 28 days of crop growing was much higher in the freshly treated soil than in the bound soil, and much higher in radish than in soybean. 3. The amounts of $^{14}C-Bentazon$ and its metabolites absorbed by soybean and radish were 45.41 and 21.48%, respectively, in freshly treated soil, whereas those were 3.92 and 1.23% in bound soil, respectively. The translocation ratios of radioactivity .from the root to the shoot were much higher in radish than in soybean, remarkably. 4. The uptake ratios of the freshly treated $^{14}C-Bentazon$ to the bound $^{14}C-Bentazon$ by soybean and radish were 12 : 1 and 17 : 1, respectively. 5. It was well verified that the presence of crops enhanced the mineralization to $^{14}CO_2$ and the transformation to polar metabolites of Bentazon.

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Genetic radiation risks: a neglected topic in the low dose debate

  • Schmitz-Feuerhake, Inge;Busby, Christopher;Pflugbeil, Sebastian
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.31
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    • pp.1.1-1.13
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    • 2016
  • Objectives To investigate the accuracy and scientific validity of the current very low risk factor for hereditary diseases in humans following exposures to ionizing radiation adopted by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The value is based on experiments on mice due to reportedly absent effects in the Japanese atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors. Methods To review the published evidence for heritable effects after ionising radiation exposures particularly, but not restricted to, populations exposed to contamination from the Chernobyl accident and from atmospheric nuclear test fallout. To make a compilation of findings about early deaths, congenital malformations, Down's syndrome, cancer and other genetic effects observed in humans after the exposure of the parents. To also examine more closely the evidence from the Japanese A-bomb epidemiology and discuss its scientific validity. Results Nearly all types of hereditary defects were found at doses as low as one to 10 mSv. We discuss the clash between the current risk model and these observations on the basis of biological mechanism and assumptions about linear relationships between dose and effect in neonatal and foetal epidemiology. The evidence supports a dose response relationship which is non-linear and is either biphasic or supralinear (hogs-back) and largely either saturates or falls above 10 mSv. Conclusions We conclude that the current risk model for heritable effects of radiation is unsafe. The dose response relationship is non-linear with the greatest effects at the lowest doses. Using Chernobyl data we derive an excess relative risk for all malformations of 1.0 per 10 mSv cumulative dose. The safety of the Japanese A-bomb epidemiology is argued to be both scientifically and philosophically questionable owing to errors in the choice of control groups, omission of internal exposure effects and assumptions about linear dose response.

A New Aluminium Container for $\gamma$-Ray Spectrometry Analysis of Radium and Radon (라듐 및 라돈의 감마선 분광 분석을 위한 알루미늄 용기의 제작 및 특성 조사)

  • Lee, Kil Yong;Yoon, Yoon Yeol;Seo, Bum Kyoung
    • Analytical Science and Technology
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    • v.13 no.6
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    • pp.743-750
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    • 2000
  • For the ${\gamma}$-ray spectrometry analysis of radium and radon in environmental samples, plastic Marinelli beakers have been usually used. But, there are two problems; one is the increment of background by adsorption of airborne radon daughters on the plastic beaker, and other is the incompleteness of radioactive equilibrium by the loss of gaseous radon produced during the radioactive equilibrium process. In order to solve these problems, we made aluminium counting container, and investigated its characteristics. We investigated radioactive equilibrium process using the aluminium container. We found that both solid and liquid samples reached at radioactive equilibrium state in the aluminium container without loss of gaseous radon. By the use of the aluminium container, we established radon and radium analysis method of solid and liquid samples using gamma-ray spectrometry.

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Indoor radon and thoron from building materials: Analysis of humidity, air exchange rate, and dose assessment

  • Syuryavin, Ahmad Ciptadi;Park, Seongjin;Nirwono, Muttaqin Margo;Lee, Sang Hoon
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.52 no.10
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    • pp.2370-2378
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    • 2020
  • Building materials contribute significantly to the indoor radon and thoron levels. Therefore, parameters that influence the exhalation rates of radon and thoron from building material need to be analyzed closely. As a preliminary study, the effects of humidity on exhalation rates were measured using a system with an accumulation chamber and RAD7 detector for Korean brick, Korean soil, and Indonesian brick. Resulting doses to a person who resides in a room constructed from the building materials were assessed by UNSCEAR method for different air exchange rates. The measurements have revealed that Korean brick exhaled the highest radon and thoron while Indonesian brick exhaled the lowest thoron. Results showed that for a typical low dense material, radon and thoron exhalation rate will increase until reached its maximum at a certain value of humidity and will remain saturated above it. Analysis on concentration and effective dose showed that radon is strongly affected by air exchange rate (ACH). This is showed by about 66 times decrease of radon dose from 0.00 h-1 to those of 0.50 h-1 ACH and decrease by a factor of 2 from 0.50 h-1 to those of 0.80 h-1. In case of thoron, the ACH doesn't have significant effects on effective dose.

Measurement of Specific Radioactivity for Clearance of Waste Contaminated with Re-186 for Medical Application (의료용 Re-186 오염폐기물의 규제해제를 위한 방사능측정)

  • Kim, Chang-Bum;Lee, Sang-Kyung;Jang, Seong-Joo;Kim, Jung-Min
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.40 no.4
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    • pp.633-638
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    • 2017
  • The amount of radioactive waste has been rapidly increased with development of radiation treatment in medical field. Recently, it has been a common practice to use I-131 for thyroid cancer, F-18 for PET/CT and Tc-99m for diagnosis of nuclear medicine. All the wastes concerned have been disposed of by means of the self-disposal method, for example incineration, after storage enough to decay less than clearance level. IAEA proposed criteria for clearance level of waste which depends on the individual ($10{\mu}Sv/y$) and collective dose (1 man-Sv/y), and concentration of each nuclide (IAEA Safety Series No 111-P-1.1, 1992 and IAEA RS-G-1.7, 2004). In this study, specific radioactivity of radioactive waste contaminated with Re-186 was measured to confirm whether it meets the clearance level. Re-186 has long half life of 3.8 days relatively and emits beta and gamma radiation, therefore it can be applied in treatment and imaging purposes. The specific radioactivity of contaminated gloves weared by radiation workers was measured by MCA(Multi-channel Analyzer) which was calibrated by reference materials in accordance with the measuring procedure. As a result, comparison evaluation of decay storage period between the half-life which was calculated by attenuation curve based on real measurement and physical half-life was considered, and it is showed that the physical half-life is longer than induced half-life. Therefore, the storage period of radioactive waste for self-disposal may be curtailed in case of application of induced half-life. The result of this study will be proposed as ISO standard.

Dispersion and Migration of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Rock-Soil-Plant System from the Boeun Area Underlain by Black Shales, Korea (보은지역 흑색셰일 분포지역에서의 암석-토양-식물계내 잠재적 독성원소들의 분산과 이동)

  • Lee, Jin-Soo;Chon, Hyo-Taek;Kim, Kyoung-Woong
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.30 no.6
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    • pp.587-601
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    • 1997
  • This study had three purposes: (1) to investigate the enrichment levels and dispersion patterns of potentially toxic elements in the rock-soil-plant system; (2) to evaluate the uptake ratios of heavy metals from soils into plants and (3) to assess the chemical speciation of heavy metals in soils. Rock, surface soil and plant samples were collected in the Boeun area underlain by black shales of the Okchon Zone. These samples were analyzed for multi-elements using INAA, ICP-AES and AAS. The maximum abundance of U in black shales is 16 mg/kg and radioactivity counts up to 300 cpm. In particular, Mo, V, Ba, Cd, Pb and U are enriched in black shales. Most of soils derived from black shales show high concentrations of U, As, Mo, Ba, Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn and mean concentrations of As and Mo in soils (20 mg/kg of As and 6.6 mg/kg of Mo) are higher than the permissible level suggested by Kloke (1979). Enrichment index values of soils are calculated and higher than 1.0 in the black shale area with the highest value of 6.4. Mean concentration of Cd in plants is higher than those of Cu, Pb and Zn. The concentration of Cd in plant species decreases in the order of Chinese cabbage > red pepper > soybean=sesame > rice stalk > com > rice grain. The biological absorption coefficients (BAC) in plants are in the order of Cd > Zn=Cu > Pb, which suggests that Cd is more bioavailable to plants than Cu, Pb and Zn. From the results of sequential extraction analysis of soils, relatively high proportion of Cu, Pb and Zn are present as residual fractions whereas that of Cd as non-residual fractions. Cadmuim occurs predominantly as exchangeable/water-acid soluble phase in soils, and Cd is more mobile and bioavailable than Cu, Pb and Zn.

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Dispersion and Enrichment of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Chungjoo Area Covered with Black Shales in Korea (충주지역 흑색셰일 분포지역에서의 잠재적 독성원소들의 분산과 부화)

  • Lee, Jin-Soo;Chon, Hyo-Taek;Kim, Kyoung-Woong
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.495-508
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    • 1996
  • This study had three purposes: (1) to investigate dispersion and enrichment level of potentially toxic elements; (2) to identify uranium-bearing minerals in black shales; and (3) to assess the chemical speciation of heavy metals in soils and sediments. Rock, surface soil and stream sediment samples were collected in the Chungjoo area covered with black shales in Korea. These samples were analyzed for multi-elements using INAA and ICP-AES. The maximum abundance of U in black shales is 56 ppm and radioactivity counts up to 240CPM. Molybdenum, V, Ba, Cu, and Pb are enriched in black shales and most of soils show high concentrations of U, Mo, Ba, Cu, Pb and Zn. Concentrations of potentially toxic elements decrease in the order of mountain soil > farmland soil > paddy soil. Enrichment index of soils and sediments are calculated and higher than 1.0 in the black shale area with the highest value of 6.1. In order to identify U-bearing minerals, electron probe micro analysis was applied, and uraninite and brannerite in black shale were found. Uraninite grains are closely associated with monazite or pyrite with the size of $2{\mu}m$ to $10{\mu}m$ in diameter whereas brannerite occurs as $50{\mu}m$ euhedral grains. With the results of sequential extraction scheme, residual fractions of Cu, Pb and Zn in soils are mainly derived from weathering of black shale but Cu, Pb and Zn in sediments are present as non-residual fractions. Lead is predominantly present as oxidizable phase in soils whereas Zn is in exchageable/water-acid soluble phase in sediments.

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Ten Years since Chernobyl Accident: a Review of Radiological Cosequences (체르노빌 원전사고 10년의 회고)

  • Lee, Jai-Ki
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.183-200
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    • 1996
  • Many information channels have dealt with the radiological consequences of the Chernobyl accident in different voices ever since the time of the accident. Large differences in the data about the amount of released radioactivity, losses of life, environmental effects and economic damage confuse the information receiving group. The intention of this paper is to provide an insight to the consequences of the accident through review of the reports and articles on the given issue and the scientific background. The formal reports reviewed include those from IAEA, EC, OECD/NEA, the governments of the two most-affected countries; Belarus and Ukraine. Much consideration was paid to make the text as plain as possible.

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A Study on the Management and Application for Prevention Information Communication System (방재정보통신시스템 관리 운용 및 응용에 관한 연구)

  • Kang, Heau-Jo
    • Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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    • v.12 no.6
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    • pp.611-618
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    • 2008
  • The development of information society together with information telecommunication's influence on the human society is a ripple effect and getting wider. Among those ripple effects the disaster prevention is in the public eye in the present day. On the way to the ubiquitous society the main techniques to be concerned in ubiquitous sensor networks are the field of damage of storm and flood, safety facilities, traffic safety, industrial safety, energy safety, fire fighting, specific safety of radioactivity escape incident, environmental pollution, sea pollution, mountain and forrest disaster so on. In this paper the USN technique based on the disaster prevention communication technology service and its requirement technology and application are studied.

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Analysis and radiation dose assessment of 222Rn in indoor air at schools: Case study at Ulju County, Korea

  • Lee, ChoongWie;Choi, Sungyeol;Kim, Hee Reyoung
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.50 no.5
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    • pp.806-813
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    • 2018
  • $^{222}Rn$ exists in nature in the form of a rare radioactive gas. In terms of environmental radiation, issues regarding $^{222}Rn$ have persisted because of its radiological hazardousness. Ulju County is one of the regions of Ulsan metropolitan city, with a population of 227,699. Ulju County has the highest density of industrial complexes in Korea. In this study, $^{222}Rn$ radioactivity concentration was measured and analyzed in 57 schools in Ulju County using 114 passive LR-115 type detectors to secure radiological safety and confirm basic information for reduction of resident exposure to $^{222}Rn$. The effective dose of $^{222}Rn$ was assessed to find the actual risk of the concentration surveyed in schools to human beings. The dose depended on four factors: subjects, $^{222}Rn$ concentration, dose coefficient, and time. The individuals subjected to dose estimation were classified into three types: students, teachers, and office workers. The subjects had different dwelling locations and times. The findings demonstrate that the radiological hazard to students and workers at schools in Ulju County owing to $^{222}Rn$ is negligible in terms of $^{222}Rn$ activity recommendation level.