• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.4114-4121
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• 2021

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), the first nuclear power plant in Bangladesh with a capacity of 2.4 GWe, is under construction on the bank of the river Padma, at Rooppur in Bangladesh. Measurement of background radioactivity in the natural environment adjacent to RNPP finds great importance for future perspectives. Soil and sediment samples collected from upstream and downstream positions of the Padma River (adjacent to RNPP) were collected and analyzed by HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry for primordial radionuclides. The average activity concentrations (in Bqkg^-1) of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K radionuclides in soil samples were found to be 44.99 ± 3.89, 66.28 ± 6.55 and 553 ± 82.17 respectively. Respective values in sediment samples were found to be 44.59 ± 4.58, 67.64 ± 7.93, 782 ± 108. Relevant radiation hazard indices and dosimetric parameters were calculated and compared with the world average data recommended by US-EPA. Analytical results show non-negligible radiation hazards to the surrounding populace. Measured data will be useful to monitor any change of background radioactivity in the surrounding environment of RNPP following its operation for the generation of nuclear energy.

• 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.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.69-81
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• 2022

The method of measuring and classifying the energy category of neutrons directly using raw data acquired through a CZT detector is not satisfactory, in terms of accuracy and efficiency, because of its poor energy resolution and low measurement efficiency. Moreover, this method of measuring and analyzing the characteristics of low-energy or low-activity gamma-ray sources might be not accurate and efficient in the case of neutrons because of various factors, such as the noise of the CZT detector itself and the influence of environmental radiation. We have therefore developed an efficient method of analyzing radiation characteristics using a neutron and gamma-ray analysis algorithm for the rapid and clear identification of the type, energy, and radioactivity of gamma-ray sources as well as the detection and classification of the energy category (fast or thermal neutrons) of neutron sources, employing raw data acquired through a CZT detector. The neutron analysis algorithm is based on the fact that in the energy-spectrum channel of 558.6 keV emitted in the nuclear reaction ¹¹³Cd + ¹n → ¹¹⁴Cd + in the CZT detector, there is a notable difference in detection information between a CZT detector without a PE modulator and a CZT detector with a PE modulator, but there is no significant difference between the two detectors in other energy-spectrum channels. In addition, the gamma-ray analysis algorithm uses the difference in the detection information of the CZT detector between the unique characteristic energy-spectrum channel of a gamma-ray source and other channels. This efficient method of analyzing radiation characteristics is expected to be useful for the rapid radiation detection and accurate information collection on radiation sources, which are required to minimize radiation damage and manage accidents in national disaster situations, such as large-scale radioactivity leak accidents at nuclear power plants or nuclear material handling facilities.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.10 no.E
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• pp.299-302
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• 1994

At a nuclear power plant, environmental radioactivity monitoring is routine work for the radiation safety management For the environmental monitoring of tritium($^3$H) activity in water sampled liquid scintillation counting( LSC) method is applied to measure low- energy beta activity from tritium in the samples. The $^3$H activity is measured using the BECKMAN 5801 system at the KRISS( Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science) for evaluating the lower limits of detection( LLD) of $^3$H measurement and the measuring capability of low-level $^3$H activity at four nuclear Power Plant sites. The LSC systems used for low-level $^3$H activity measurements at the nuclear Power Plants are confirmed to satisfy throughout an intercomparison study under the experimental arrangements by the KRISS.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.297-307
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• 2017

As radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer and is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, it is essential for the public to be aware of what radon is, and how to manage radon. Therefore, general information on radon, as well as its health risks, measurement methods, mitigation methods and suggestions for its management are addressed in this article. Over the last one to two decades, a number of wide-ranging studies on radon measurement and mitigation have been conducted in Korea, and the results of each study are comparable to the research achievements of other developed countries. For this reason, it is time to systematically establish a well-made Korean radon management organization.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.381-387
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• 2021

In this study, for the measurement of 3H(tritium) radioactivity concentration, a study was conducted on whether the type of cocktail and the material of the vial had an effect on the measurement before liquid scintillation counter measurement on HTO-type samples that had undergone physical and chemical pretreatment. As a result of the study, the efficiency according to the type of cocktail was higher in Ultima Gold LLT than Ultima Flo-AP cocktail with polyethylene (1.49%), glass (5.10%), and teflon (6.58%), respectively. Regarding the effect according to the type of vial, the efficiency and SQP(E) of both Ultima Gold LLT and Ultima Flo-AP showed the highest values in the order of teflon, polyethylene, and glass.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 1983

Red cell glycolytic intermediates, metabolites and metabolic ratios were studied. Glycolytic intermediates were measured in neutralized perchloric acid extracts of red cell suspensions after 3 hr incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ in the presence and absence of saponin. Adenosine triphosphate(ATP), adenosine diphosphate(ADP), pyruvate and lactate were measured by enzymatic procedures involving stoichiometric oxidation or reduction of a pyridine nucleotide. Glucose was determined using glucose oxidase after zinc hydroxide extraction. The redox state was calculated from the lactate dehydrogenase equilibrium. Adenosine triphosphatase activity(ATPase) was measured by determining the amount of phosphate released from ATP by washed erythrocyte membranes(ghost) during 20 min. incubation. Both total hydrolysis and the amount of hydrolysis that occured in the presence of ouabain were measured. The second measurement yields Mg-ATPase and represents nonspecific ATPase activity of the membranes. The difference between total and Mg-ATPase activity can be attributed to Na-K-ATPase. For the measurement of sodium fluxes, human erythrocytes were preincubated in $^{22}Na$ for 3 hr at $37^{\circ}C$, washed and suspended in a tracer-free medium. The amount of $^{22}Na$ transported out of cells at any time was determined by analysis of supernatant samples taken at various time after addition of the labeled cells to isotope-free medium. The cells and medium were separated and the radioactivity appearing in the medium was measured. From the total radioactivity in the suspension and the radioactivity appearing in the medium at known time, the rate constant for sodium release was computed. The results are summarized as follows: 1) ATP and ATP/ADP were found to increase at every concentration of saponin tested whereas ADP declined at every cone. of saponin. The increase in pyruvate and lactate were observed at every cone, of saponin and thus $NAD^+/NADH$ computed from pyruvate/lactate also increased. Glucose utilization was stimulated by saponin. 2) $Na^+-K^+-ATPase$ activities showed a biphasic response to saponin, first increasing in lower concentration and then decreasing in higher concentration of saponin. 3) The efflux of sodium was significantly increased by saponin in the range of 5 to 10 mg%. The stimulatory effect of saponin on the rate constants for active(ouabain-sensitive) sodium efflux was inhibited by addition of ouabain.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.3658-3666
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• 2014

The presence of $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$ and $^{40}K$, which are naturally residing radionuclides, in the ordinary soil of Busan, the 2nd largest city in Korea, was anlayzed and the residents' radiation exposure to ordinary soil was evaluated. Regarding the measurement methods, to conduct a detailed analysis of the naturally residing radionuclides in the soil of Busan, this study divided the 16 administrative districts into a lattice structure with 3 spots, and collected a total of 48 soil samples (July 2012 and April 2013). ICP-MS was used to analyze the concentration of the radioactivity of $^{238}U$ and $^{232}Th$ in the soil, and a HpGe detector, a gamma ray detector, was used to analyze the radioactivity of $^{40}K$. The measurement values of this study were compared with the concentration of radioactivity of East Asian regions. The concentration of $^{238}U$ nuclides in Korea was lower than the mean, whereas the concentration of $^{232}Th$ and $^{40}K$ nuclides was higher than the mean. The higher mean concentrations of $^{232}Th$ and $^{40}K$ than the mean were attributed to the many granite areas that contain a great deal of naturally occurring radionuclides.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.523-529
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• 2022

Gamma spectroscopy analysis is widely used for radioactivity analysis, and various factors are required for radioactivity calculations. Among the factors, K3 for each sample significantly influences the results. The previous methods of correcting the self-absorption effect include a computational simulation method and a method that requires making a CRM(certified reference material) identical to the sample medium. However, the above methods have limitations when used in small institutions because they require specialized program utilization skills or high manufacturing costs and large facilities. The aim of this study is to develop a method that can be easily and rapidly applied to radioactivity analysis. After filling the beaker with water, we placed the radiation source in a uniform position and used the measured value as the benchmark. Next, a correction factor was derived based on the difference in the radiation source count of the benchmark and the identically measured sample. For the radiation source, Eu-152, which emits a broad range of energy within the measurement range of gamma rays, and Cs-134 and Cs-137, which are indicator nuclides in environmental radiation analysis, were used. The sample was selected within the density range of 0.26-2.11 g/cm³, and the correction factor was derived by calculating the count difference of each sample compared to the reference value of water. This study presents a faster and more convenient method than the existing research methods for determining the self-absorption effect correction, which has become increasingly necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1197-1205
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• 2023

In this study, the spectrum due to radioactivity contained sand samples from famous beaches in the Yeongnam region was measured. The sand samples were from eight famous beaches in Yeongnam region and were placed into a high-purity germanium detector (HPGe) using with an electric field, which is a semiconductor detector and subjected to a precision analysis of the gamma-rays emitted from the radionuclides in the sand by using a multichannel analyzer (MCA). To measure the concentration of the radionuclides, we obtained a spectrum by analyzing the gamma-rays emitted from the radionuclides for a measurement time of 8,000 seconds. As a result of analyzing the spectrum table, Tl-208 had the highest radioactivity at all eight beaches: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. In conclusion, radionuclides detected in sand samples from beaches in the Yeongnam region are natural radionuclides, but they can affect the inside of the human body. Therefore, there is a need for continuous investigation.