• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2014

Odyssey, one of the NASA's Mars exploration program and SELENE (Kaguya), a Japanese lunar orbiting spacecraft have a payload of Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS) for analyzing radioactive chemical elements of the atmosphere and the surface. In these days, gamma-ray spectroscopy with a High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector has been widely used for the activity measurements of natural radionuclides contained in the soil of the Earth. The energy spectra obtained by the HPGe detectors have been generally analyzed by means of the Window Analysis (WA) method. In this method, activity concentrations are determined by using the net counts of energy window around individual peaks. Meanwhile, an alternative method, the so-called Full Spectrum Analysis (FSA) method uses count numbers not only from full-absorption peaks but from the contributions of Compton scattering due to gamma-rays. Consequently, while it takes a substantial time to obtain a statistically significant result in the WA method, the FSA method requires a much shorter time to reach the same level of the statistical significance. This study shows the validation results of FSA method. We have compared the concentration of radioactivity of $^{40}K$, $^{232}Th$ and $^{238}U$ in the soil measured by the WA method and the FSA method, respectively. The gamma-ray spectrum of reference materials (RGU and RGTh, KCl) and soil samples were measured by the 120% HPGe detector with cosmic muon veto detector. According to the comparison result of activity concentrations between the FSA and the WA, we could conclude that FSA method is validated against the WA method. This study implies that the FSA method can be used in a harsh measurement environment, such as the gamma-ray measurement in the Moon, in which the level of statistical significance is usually required in a much shorter data acquisition time than the WA method.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.133-142
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• 2011

A total of 247 samples were collected from groundwater being used for drinking-water supply, and hydrogeochemistry and radionuclide analysis were performed. In-situ analysis of groundwaters resulted in ranges of $13.7{\sim}25.1^{\circ}C$ for temperature, 5.9~8.5 for pH, 33~591 mV for Eh, $66{\sim}820{\mu}S/cm$ for EC, and 0.2~9.4 mg/L for DO. Major cation and anion concentrations of groundwaters were in ranges of 0.5~227.6 for Na, 1.0~279.3 for Ca, 0.0~9.3 for K, 0.1~100.1 for Mg, 0.0~3.3 for F, 0.9~779.1 for Cl, 0.3~120.4 for $SO_4$, 0.0~27.4 for $NO_3$-N, and 6~372 mg/L for $HCO_3$. Uranium-238 and radon-222 concentrations were detected in ranges of N.D-$131.1{\mu}g/L$ and 18-15,953 pCi/L, respectively. In case of some groundwaters exceeding USEPA MCL level ($30{\mu}g/L$) for uranium concentration, their pH ranged from 6.8 to 8.0 and Eh showed a relatively low value(86~199 mV) compared to other areas. Most groundwaters belonged to Ca-(Na)-$HCO_3$ type, and groundwaters of metamorphic rock exhibited the highest concentration of Na, Mg, Ca, Cl, $NO_3$-N, U, and those of plutonic rock showed the highest concentration of $HCO_3$, and Rn. Uranium and fluoride from granite areas did not show any correlation. However, uranium and bicarbonate displayed a positive relation of some areas in plutonic rocks($R^2$=0.3896).

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.253-262
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• 2004

Construction of tunnels in a deep crystalline host rock for a potential High-Level Radioactive Waste(HLW) repository inevitably generates an excavation disturbed zone (EDZ). There have been a series of debates on whether a permeability in an EDZ increases or not and what would be the maximum depth of an EDZ. Recent studies show mixed opinions on permeability. However, there has been an international consensus on the thickness of an EDZ; 30 cm for TBM and 1 meter for controlled blast. One of the impacts of an EDZ is on determining the distance between adjacent deposition holes. The void gap by the excavation hinders relaxation of temperature profiles so that the current Korean reference designing distance between holes should be stretched out more to keep the maximum temperature in a buffer region below 100 degrees Celsius. The other impact of an EDZ is on the long-term post closure radiological safety. To estimate the impact, the reference scenario, the well scenario, is chosen. Released nuclides diffuse through a bentonite buffer region experiencing strong sorption and reach a fracture surrounded by a porous medium. Inside a fractured porous region, radionuclides migrate by advection and dispersion with matrix diffusion into a porous medium. Finally, they reach a well assumed to be a source of potable water for local residents. The annual individual dose is assessed on this well scenario to find out the significance of an EDZ. A profound sensitivity study was performed, but all results show that the impact is negligible. Even though the role of an EDZ turns out to be limited on overall safety assessment, still it is worthwhile to study the chemical role of an EDZ, such as a potential source for natural colloids, potential sealing of an open fracture by fine clay particles generated by the process of an EDZ, and alteration of a sorption mechanism by an EDZ in the future.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.196-202
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• 2004

KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) is at present preparing a preliminary performance assessment to set up the HLW disposal concept of Korea. The solubility of the radionuclides contained in HLW is necessary as a source term in order to predict their potential migration in both the near and far fields. The solubility of actinides (Th, Am, U, Np and Pu) for a reference deep groundwater of Korea has been calculated using a geochemical code with thermodynamic data selected by a peer review of existing thermodynamic databases and literature. The solubilities from the experimental study and/or field observations from natural analogue studies are compared. The sensitivity of solubility to the variability of three main parameters of groundwater (pH, Eh, and carbonate concentration) is also investigated. The results of the sensitivity analysis show that the solubility of actinides strongly depends on the parameters considered. Within the range of parameter values studied (pH=7 to 10, Eh=-0.4 to -0.1V, and carbonate concentration=1.E-5 to 1.E-2 mol/L), the solubility of each actinide exists between 1.4E-10 and 1.6E-6 mol/L for Am, 4.9E-9 and 2.8E-6 mol/L for Th, 3.2E-9 and 5.7E-4 mol/L for U, 1.1E-9 and 1.0E-7 mol/L for Np, and 4.0E-11 and 2.8E-6 mol/L for Pu, respectively.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2014

After the nuclear accident of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plants (FDNPPs) on 11 March 2011, a large amount of radioactive materials has been released into the atmosphere and the ocean. A compartment model is used to evaluate the circulation characteristics and the spatiotemporal concentration distributions of radionuclides in the ocean. In the comparison with observed concentrations of $^{137}Cs$ in seawater, calculated concentrations by the compartment model were well agreed with them. On the basis of these results, we performed evaluation of the effective dose and the cancer risk. In the early stage of the accident, the effective doses from ingestion of the seafood near the Fukushima region were much higher than 1 mSv which is the value of the annual effective dose limit to individual recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). However, the effective doses by ingestion of the seafood decreased below 1 mSv as distance from the FDNPPs increased and time passed. In addition, it was estimated that the cancer risks by intake of the contaminated marine products were less than natural occurrence probability of cancer. Consequently, it was inferred that the health risk due to the $^{137}Cs$ was low after since mid-term period of the accident.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.2230-2243
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• 2022

The tin tailing processing industry in Malaysia has operated with minimal regard and awareness for material management and working environment safety, impacting the environment and workers in aspects of radiation and heavy metal exposure. RIA was conducted where environmental samples were analyzed, revealing concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K between the range of 0.1-10.0, 0.0-25.7, and 0.1-5.8 Bq/g respectively, resulting in the AED exceeding UNCEAR recommended value and regulation limit enforced by AELB (1 mSv/y). Ra_eq calculated indicates that samples collected pose a significant threat to human health from gamma-ray exposure. Assessment of heavy metal content via pollution indices of soil and sediment showed significant contamination and enrichment from processing activities conducted. As and Fe were two of the highest metals exposed both via soil ingestion with an average of 4.6 × 10^-3 mg/kg-day and 1.4 × 10^-4 mg/kg-day, and dermal contact with an average of 5.6 × 10^-4 mg/kg-day and 6.0 × 10^-4. mg/kg-day respectively. Exposure via accidental ingestion of soil and sediment could potentially cause adverse non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health effect towards workers in the industry. Correlation analysis indicates the presence of a relationship between the concentration of NORM and trace elements.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.257-263
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• 2021

This study derives the relative cross-section for the natW(p,xn)176Re nuclear reaction by measuring the gamma rays generated from the nuclear reaction with natural tungsten using a 100 MeV linear accelerator of the Korea Multi-purpose Accelerator Complex in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. In general, research on isotopes with a short half-life always shows a tendency that the intensity of radioactivity decreases rapidly within a short period of time, making it very difficult to measure itself. In particular, 176Re is one of the relatively short radionuclides with a half-life of 5.3 minutes. In this study, 109.08 keV gamma rays generated from the 176Re isotope having such a short half-life were measured using a high-purity Ge detector(HPGe detector). The obtained relative measurements were the results in the 8 to 14 MeV proton energy domain published by Richard G. in 1967, and the TENDL-2019 value, which was the result of A. J. Koning in 2019, which evaluated the nuclear reaction cross-section by calculation based on this comparative analysis was performed. The results of this study are expected to be usefully applied to the design of nuclear fusion reactor which is known as future energy sources, elements ratio for the nuclear synthesis of astrophysics.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.565-583
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• 2020

In recent years, various social issues related to the natural radioactive elements detected in household goods and building materials are addressed, and should be solved promptly. In Korea, for more than 20 years, the Ministry of Environment has investigated the natural radioactive materials such as heavy metals, uranium, and radon in soil or groundwater. The origins of natural radioactive materials in them may have a close correlation with the geological factors including classification of rocks, petrogenetic origins, and deformation characteristics, but the exact geological correlations are not clarified because of the absence of the government policy preserved in the basement rocks, soils as well as groundwater in fault-related reservoirs. This study aims to perform a research on the correlation between the petrogeneses of the Phanerozoic plutonic rocks and natural radioactive concentrations in rocks (radon, uranium, thorium, potassium etc.) in Korea. Among the Phanerozoic plutonic rocks, alkaline plutonic rocks (syenite, monzonite and monzodiorite and alkali granite) show high U and Th concentrations by high solubilities of U, Th, Zr, REE, and Nb until the most extreme stages of magmatic fractionation (viz. crystal fractionation) due to high magma temperature and high alkalinity tendency. The highly fractionated high-K calalkaline and peraluminous granitic rocks (leucogranite, two-mica granite and leucocratic pegmatite are also U and Th concentrations compared with other less or medium fractionated granitic rocks (diorite, granodiorite and granite). The alkaline plutonic rocks are associated with intracontinental rifting and extensional environment after crustal thickening by collisional and subductional processes. In contrast, the dominant calc-alkaline granitic rocks in Korea are related to the arc environment of the subduction zone. In summary, the trends of the U, Th and K concentration from the Phanerozoic plutonic rocks in Korea are closely linked to the petrogenesis of the rocks in tectonic environment. The preliminary data for gamma-spectrometric mesurments of natural radionuclide contents (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K) in the Phanerozoic plutonic rocks show high values in the alkaline and highly fractionated granitic rocks.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.551-574
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• 2014

The occurrence, distribution, and hydrogeochemical characteristics of uranium and radon in groundwater within different lithologies in Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk provinces were investigated. A total of 201 groundwater samples from sedimentary rocks taking a large portion of the geology and from igneous rocks taking a small portion of the geology were analyzed and examined using factor analysis. Their radionuclide levels were used to construct detailed concentration maps. The groundwater types, defined using a Piper diagram, are mainly Ca-$HCO_3$ with less Na-$HCO_3$. Among the samples, one site exceeds $30{\mu}g/L$ of uranium (i.e., the maximum contaminant level of the USEPA) and three sites exceed 4,000 pCi/L of radon (i.e., the alternative maximum contaminant level). No samples were found to exceed the 15 pCi/L level of gross alpha or the 5 pCi/L level of radium. The concentration of uranium ranges from 0.02 to $53.7{\mu}g/L$, with a mean of $1.56{\mu}g/L$, a median of $0.47{\mu}g/L$, and a standard deviation of $4.3{\mu}g/L$. The mean concentrations of uranium for the different geological units increase in the following order: Shindong Group, Granites, Hayang Group, Yucheon Group, and Tertiary sedimentary rocks. The concentration of radon ranges from 2 to 8,740 pCi/L, with an mean of 754 pCi/L, a median of 510 pCi/L, and a standard deviation of 907 pCi/L. The mean radon concentrations for the investigated geological units increase in the following order: Granites, Yucheon Group, Tertiary sedimentary rocks, Hayang Group and Shindong Group. According to the factor analysis for each geological unit, uranium and radon behave independently of each other with no specific correlation. However, radionuclides show close relationships with some components. Regional investigations of radionuclides throughout the country require an integrated approach that considers the main lithological units as well as administrative districts.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 1987

Adsorption and desorption characteristics of $^{42}K$ and $^{45}Ca$ were studied by making use of the natural zeolite, bentonite, and vermiculite. The work included that the fittness tests for the Freundlich and the Langmuir adsorption isotherms and desorption of the radionuclides from adsorbents by extracting with $NH^+_4$ ($1N-NH_4OAc$). The adsorption by the radionuclides are fitted well with both of the adsorption equations. The Langmuir adsorption maximum of $^{42}K$ is higher than that of $^{45}Ca$ by the zeolite and bentonite except vermiculite, and the values of $^{42}K$ decrease in the order of Zeolite (Zt)>Bentonite (Bt)>Vemiculite (Vt). As for $^{45}Ca$, the maximum adsorption values decrease in the order of Bt>Vt>Zt. The ionic radii of K and Ca seem to be closely related with fixation in the cavity of the zeolite that adsorb more $^{42}K$ than $^{45}Ca$. The smaller ionic size of Ca seems to be resulted in the lower adsorption of $^{45}Ca$ by the zeolite because Ca could leave easily from the cavity. Ionic size of K, however, seems to be similar with size of the cavity. $^{45}Ca$ adsorption by the bentonite, on the other hand, show higher adsorption than $^{42}K$. The higher charge density of the divalent cations than those of the monovalent cations seems to be the main consideration. For the retention strength of the adsorbed $^{42}K$ and $^{45}Ca$ by the adsorbents, a comparison is made by use of the Langmuir constant(k). The results indicated that the constant values for K are smaller than those of Ca in all the adsorbents. It seems that the smaller values of the constant, the weaker retention strength. For $^{42}K$, the percentage of desorption decrease in the order of Zt>Bt>Vt, but in the case of $^{45}Ca$, it decreases in the order of Vt>Zt>Bt. The results show that the weaker binding strength as represented by small value of the Langmuir constant, the higher percentage of the removal except fixing preferably $K^+$ by the vemiculite. In conclusion, the zeolite could adsorb much more $^{42}K$ and remove it more than others. For $^{45}Ca$, the bentonite could adsorb more and desorb less than others.