• Title/Summary/Keyword: Environmental radioactivity measurements

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Study on the characteristics of airborne gross alpha and gross beta activities in the vicinity of nuclear facilities

  • Da-Young Gam;Chae-yeon Lee;Ji-Young Park;Hyuncheol Kim;Jong-Myoung Lim
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.55 no.12
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    • pp.4554-4560
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    • 2023
  • Continuous monitoring of radioactive substances over a prolonged duration can yield crucial insights into the levels of radiation exposure through inhalation, both in the vicinity of nuclear facilities and/or general environments. In this study, we evaluated long-term measurements (2012-2022) of gross alpha-beta activities in the air in the vicinity of nuclear facilities and reference site, distribution characteristics of temporal trends and spatial fluctuations, and factors affecting radioactivity levels. The average airborne gross-α (in mBq m-3) for onsite and off-site were 0.124 and 0.117, respectively, and the average airborne gross-β (in mBq m-3) measurements were 1.10 and 1.04, respectively. The activity ratio (AR) of gross-α and gross-β were calculated as a ratio of 0.12. The distribution characteristics of gross-α and gross-β activities in this study area are likely influenced by the meteorological factors and variations in airborne PM concentrations rather than the operation of the nuclear facility.

An Improvement on the Analysis Techniques of Environmental Radioactivity Around Nuclear Power Plants (원전주변 환경방사능 분석기술의 개선(I))

  • Kim, Soong-Pyung;Chae, Gyung-Sun;Chung, Woon-Kwan
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.8-15
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    • 1995
  • An estimate of a change in radioactivity's circumstances around the nuclear power plant is validated with the results of the radioactivity measurements are compared. In this study, to further enhance the reliability of the results obtained from the environmental radioactivity measurements and analysis around the nuclear power plants that have been carried out up to the present. In the korea standard, there is the technical analysis guide for general stable chemical element's, but there is not the technical analysis guide for the radionuclei. therefore the environmental sample collection, the pretreatment of the sample and radionuclide analysis in the sample, the result's of the environmental radioactivity measurements by each organization, etc. are different. It is not sufficient for the database to forecasting a change in radioactivity's circumstances. A comparative study of collection and pretreatment techniques for the soil sample, the results by comparison, the method of minimizing the relative error are proposed. At one side of sample collection, there are going to considered that the surroundings of sample collection like the lay of the land, the provision of the selection standard for the area and pathway of radionuclide adhesion, the coherence of sample collection, etc.. at another side of pretreatment of the sample and measurement in the case of soil sample, how to do homogeneously the soil particle size and the standard tools, i.e. kinds of meshes, must to be selected.

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Establishing of a rapid analytical method on uranium isotopic ratios for the environmental monitoring around nuclear facilities (원자력 시설 주변 환경 감시를 위한 토양 중 우라늄 동위원소 신속 분석법 확립)

  • Park, Ji-Young;Lim, Jong-Myoung;Lee, Hyun-Woo;Lee, Wanno
    • Analytical Science and Technology
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.134-142
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    • 2018
  • The uranium isotopic ratio in environmental samples around nuclear facilities is important because it reveals information regarding illegal activities or anthropogenic pollution. Determination of uranium isotopes, however, is a challenging task requiring much labor and time because of the complex separation procedures and lengthy process. In this study, a rapid determination method for uranium isotopes in environmental samples was developed using. The sample was completely decomposed using the alkali fusion method. The separation procedure using extraction chromatography (UTEVA) was simplified in a single step without any further removal process for Si and major matrix elements. The established method can be completed within 3 h from sample dissolution to ICP-MS measurement. Most matrix elements and uranium isotopes in the soil samples were well separated and purified. Five types of were used to assess the method's accuracy and precision for a rapid uranium analysis method. The analytical accuracy for all CRM samples ranged from 95.1 % to 97.8 %, and the relative standard deviation was below 3.9 %. From the analytical results, one may draw conclusions that the evaluated method for uranium isotopes using alkali-fusion, the extraction chromatography process, and ICP-MS measurements is fast and fairly reliable owing to its recovering efficiencies. Thus, it is expected that the evaluated method can contribute to the improvement of environmental monitoring ability.

Environmental Radioactivity at Ko-ri Nuclear Power Plant Site December 1970-November 1972

  • Yang, Kyung-Rin;Pak, Chan-Kirl
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.5 no.3
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    • pp.240-248
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    • 1973
  • The present report concerns measurement of environmental radioactivity in the Ko-ri nuclear power plant site area. Gross beta measurements have been performed on soil, water, pine needle, and fallout samples collected during the period of December 1970-November 1972. Radioactivities of Strontium-90 and Cesium-137 have been measured by radiochemical analyses on samples of vegetables and marine products collected in 1972. Apparent seasonal variations and overall decrease by the year was also observed from the results of soil, pine needle, and fallout sample measurements respectively.

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The Radioactivity in Shellfish on the Jeju Island (제주도산 패류에 함유되어 있는 방사능)

  • Oh Youn-Keun;Ryu Seong-Pil
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.15 no.7
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    • pp.689-694
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    • 2006
  • To examine inshore radioactive contamination caused by nuclear power plants, nuclear testing, hospital and laboratory, both gross ${\beta}$-radioactivity and ${\upsilon}$-spectrometry were measured. The measurements were taken with the Abalone and Top shell, which had been collected from the four different sites at the coast in Jeju-do (Seongsan, Deajeong, Wimi, Dodu). The activity ranges of concentration were respectively 0.11-0.29 Bq/kg-wet for $^{90}Sr$, 0.01-0.04 Bq/kg-wet for $^{137}Cs$, 36 - 53 Bq/kg-wet for $^{40}K$ in shellfish on the Jeju island. The radioactivities of $^{90}Sr$, $^{137}Cs$ and $^{40}K$ were similar to those in sampling location of shellfish in the coastal on the Jeju island. The radioactivity of $^{90}Sr$ for the Abalone was lower level than that for Top shell. The radio- activity of $^{137}Cs$ for the Abalone was similar to that for the Top shell. But the radioactivity of $^{40}K$ for the Abalone was higher level than that for the Top shell. As a result, the gross ${\beta}$-radioactivity observed was similar to that in nature. Among radionuclides, only $^{90}Sr$, $^{137}Cs$ and $^{40}K$ were detected in a very small amount, and each was also close to the natural levels.

Environmental Radioactivity and High Incidence Rates of Stomach and Esophagus Cancer in the Van Lake Region: A Causal Relationship?

  • Akan, Zafer;Baskurt, Busranur;Asliyuksek, Hizir;Kam, Erol;Yilmaz, Ahmet;Yuksel, Mehmet Bilgehan;Biyik, Recep;Esen, Ramazan;Koca, Dogan
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.375-380
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    • 2014
  • This study examined the incidence rates of cancer cases (averages for 2006-2010) and relationships with environmental radioactivity levels. Soil and water samples were collected from provincial and district centers of Van city and the outdoor gamma doses were determined using a portable gamma scintillation detector. Gross alpha and beta, (226)Ra, (232)Th, and (40)K activities were measured in both tap water and soil samples. Although high rates of stomach and esophagus cancers have been reported previously in Van the underlying reasons have not hitherto been defined. Incidences of cancers were highest in the Gurpmar (326.0) and Ozalp (377.1) counties (p<0.001). As to the results of the gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity measurements in the drinking water, these two counties also had high beta radionuclide levels: Gurpmar ($140mBq/dm^3$) and Ozalp ($206mBq/dm^3$). Even if within the normal range, a relation between the higher rate of the incidence of stomach and esophagus cancers with that of the higher rate of beta radionuclide activity was clear. On Spearman correlation analysis, the relation between higher beta radionuclide levels and cancer incidence was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01). According to the results of the analysis, Van residents receive an average 1.86 mSv/y annual dose from outdoor gamma radiation, ingestion of radionuclides in the drinking water, and indoor $^{222}Rn$ activity. Moreover, gross alpha and beta activities were found to be extremely high in all of the lakes around the city of Van, Turkey. Further investigations with long-term detailed environmental radiation measurements are needed regarding the relationship between cancer cases and environmental radioactivity in the city of Van.

Background Reduction for the ${\gamma}$-Ray Spectrometry of Environmental Radioactivity (환경방사능의 감마선 분광분석을 위한 백그라운드 소멸)

  • Seo, Bum Kyoung;Lee, Kil Yong;Yoon, Yoon Yeol;Lee, Dae Won
    • Analytical Science and Technology
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    • v.14 no.3
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    • pp.212-220
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    • 2001
  • This study was performed to establish the analytical method of radium and radon in various environmental samples with the ${\gamma}$-ray spectrometry. The major problem in the measurements of low level ${\gamma}$-ray, such as environmental radioactivity, is the fluctuation of ${\gamma}$-ray background spectrum. To overcome this problem, a nitrogen gas was filled up in the detector chamber to reduce the background counts due to airborne radioactivities, i.e., $^{214}Pb$ and $^{214}Bi$, the daughters of $^{222}Rn$ in air. When nitrogen gas flowed around the detector, peak counts of ${\gamma}$-rays from the daughters of $^{222}Rn$ decreased about 80% below 1 MeV and about 20~50% above 1 MeV. The use of nitrogen purging results in approximately tenfold increment of sensitivity.

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Comparison of Environmental Radiation Survey Analysis Results in a High Dose Rate Environment Using CZT, NaI(Tl), and LaBr3(Ce) Detectors

  • Sungyeop Joung;Wanook Ji;Eunjung Lee;Young-Yong Ji;Yoomi Choi
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.543-558
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    • 2023
  • Currently, Japan is undertaking a nationwide project to measure and map radioactive contamination around Fukushima, as part of the efforts to restore normalcy following the nuclear accident. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) manages the Fukushima Environmental Safety Center, located approximately 20 km north of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Minamisōma City, Fukushima Prefecture. In collaboration with the JAEA, this study involved conducting comparison experiments and analyses with radiation detectors in high radiation environments, a challenging task in Korean environments. Environmental radiation surveys were conducted using three types of detectors: CZT, NaI(Tl), and LaBr3(Ce), across two contaminated areas. Dose rate values were converted using dose rate conversion factors for each detector type, and dose rate maps were subsequently created and compared. The detectors yielded similar results, demonstrating their feasibility and reliability in high radiation environments. The findings of this study are expected to be a crucial reference for enhancing the verification and supplementation of procedures and methods in future radiation measurements and mobile surveys in high-radiation environments, using these three types of radiation instruments.

Measurement of MDA of Soil Samples Using Unsuppression System and Compton Suppression of Environmental Radioactivity in Processing Technology (환경 방사능 처리기술에서의 Compton suppression 및 Unsuppression system을 이용한 토양시료의 MDA 측정)

  • Kang, Suman;Im, Inchul;Lee, Jaeseung;Jang, Eunsung;Lee, Mihyeon;Kwon, Kyungtae;Kim, Changtae
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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    • v.8 no.6
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    • pp.293-299
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    • 2014
  • Compton suppression device is a device by using the Compton scattering reaction and suppress the Compton continuum portion of the spectrum, so can be made more clear analysis of gamma ray peak in the Compton continuum region. Measurements above background occurs or, radioactivity counts of radioactivity concentration value of $^{40}K$ nuclides $^{137}Cs$ and natural radioactivity artificial radioactivity detected from the surface soil sample, unwanted non-target analysis and interference peak who dotted line you know the calibration of the measurement energy is allowed to apply the (Compton suppression) non-suppressed spectrum inhibition spectrum and (Compton Unsuppression) the background to the measured value of the activity concentration value of the standard-ray source is detected relative to the peak of By measuring according to the different distances cause $^{137}Cs$, and comparative analysis of the Monte Carlo simulation, in order to obtain a detection capability for efficient, looking at the Compton inhibitor, as the CSF value increases with increase in the distance, more It was found that the background due to Compton continuum of the measured spectrum suppression mode Compton unrestrained mode can know that the Compton suppression many were made, using a $^{137}Cs$ is reduced.

Field tests of the radiation detectors for environmental radiation monitoring around KORI nuclear power plants (고리원자력 주변 환경방사선 감시를 위한 방사선 측정기의 현장 성능 시험)

  • 최성수;신대용;조규성;하달규
    • 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 1997.10a
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    • pp.1371-1374
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    • 1997
  • We had developed the on-line environmental monitoring system which has installed around Kori Nuclear Power Plants and will be taken the place of the existing system. The system consists of a main computer and 11 sets of radiation monitoring post equipments. Nal(Tl) scintillation detectro was adopted in addition to ion-chamber detector and implemented with DCU(Dose Conversion Unit) and SCA(Single Channel Analyzer). Compared with the existing system, it has revised feature in the radiation measurements which are detection of artificial radioactivity and 2-ways of the radiatiion detectors. The field test trsults show that the developed radiation detecting equipments can measure environmental radiation withn 5.0% of the theoretical value.

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