• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.1169-1175
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• 2019

The minimum detectable activity (MDA) value was derived according to the flow rate of the sample and degree of amplification of the device by sending the sample directly from the collection site to the detection part through a pump. This method can lead to reduction in time and cost compared to the existing measurement method that uses a pre-treatment process. In this study, experiments were conducted on $^3H$ and $^{90}Sr$, which are the major pure beta-emitting radionuclides, by setting the sample flow rate and the amplification gain as factors. The MDA values were derived according to the flow rates, considering that the flow rate can affect the MDA values. There were no change in the MDA under different flow rates of 0, 600, 800, and 1000 mL/min. Therefore, it was confirmed that the flow rate may not be considered when collecting samples for monitoring in actual field. As the degree of amplification of the amplifier increased, the time required to reach the target MDA decreased. When the amplification was quadrupled, the detection efficiency increased by approximately 23.4 times, and the time to reach the MDA decreased to approximately 1/550 times. This method offers the advantage of real-time on-site monitoring.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.207-216
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• 2000

Continuous measurements of radon progeny concentrations in the open atmosphere and measurements of meteorological parameters were performed in Tajeon, using a continuous gross alpha/beta aerosol monitor and a weather measuring equipment between July 1999 and July 2000. These data were analyzed for half-hourly, daily, and seasonal variations. The distribution of daily averaged equilibrium equivalent radon concentration$(EEC_{Rn})$ had an arithmetic mean value of $11.3{\pm}5.86Bqm^{-3}$ with the coefficient of variation of about 50% and the geometric mean was $10.3Bqm^{-3}$. The $EEC_{Rn}$ varies between 0.83 and $43.3Bqm^{-3}$, depending on time of day and weather conditions. Half-hourly averaged data indicated a diurnal pattern with the outdoor $EEC_{Rn}$ reaching a maximum at sunrise and a minimum at sunset. The pattern of the seasonal variation of the $EEC_{Rn}$ in Taejon had a tendency of minimum concentration occurring in the summer(July) and maximum concentration occurring in the late autumn(November). But the seasonal variation of the $EEC_{Rn}$ is expect to vary greatly from place to place. The outdoor $EEC_{Rn}$ was highly dependent on the local climate features. Particularly the $EEC_{Rn}$an rapidly drops less than $5Bqm^{-3}$ in case of blowing heavily higher than wind speed of $6msec^{-1}$, reversely the days with more than $30Bqm^{-3}$ were at a calm weather condition with the wind speed of lower than $1msec^{-1}$.