137Cs and 40K in the terrestrial vegetation of the Yenisey Estuary: landscape, soil and plant relationships

Ground gamma-ray survey of the Solforata gas discharge area, Alban Hills-Italy: a comparison between field and laboratory measurements

Measurements of environmental radioactivity by HPGe gamma-spectrometry were carried out with the aim of investigating the distribution of natural radionuclides in a volcanic area and to compare two different methodologies - an in situ gamma-survey of the area and high accuracy laboratory measurements of soil samples. Results demonstrate good performance of the in situ technique, also confirmed by a correlation analysis between the results obtained by the two methodologies. A volcanic gas discharge area was chosen as the test site for the presence of natural long-lived radionuclides such as (40)K and (238)U, (235)U and (232)Th, and their decay chain members. Clear evidence of (222)Rn degassing in the area was confirmed by (226)Ra values measured by the in situ technique. Higher (40)K values measured by the in situ technique may be attributed to the presence of vegetation in the study area.

Reference levels of natural radioactivity and (137)Cs in and around the surface soils of Kestanbol pluton in Ezine region of Çanakkale province, Turkey

The aim of the study was to conduct a systematic investigation on the natural gamma emitting radionuclides ((226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K) as well as (137)Cs in the surface soils from Kestanbol/Ezine plutonic area in Çanakkale province as part of the environmental monitoring program on radiologic impact of the granitoid areas in Western Anatolia. The activity measurements of the gamma emitters in the surface soil samples collected from 52 sites distributed all over the region has been carried out, by means of HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry system. The activity concentrations of the relevant radionuclides in the soil samples appeared in the ranges as follows: (226)Ra was 20-521 Bq kg(-1); (232)Th, 11-499 Bq kg(-1)and; (40)K, 126-3181 Bq kg(-1), yet the (137)Cs was much lower than 20 Bq kg(-1)at most. Furthermore, based on the available data, the radiation hazard parameters associated with the surveyed soils were calculated. The present data also allowed evaluation of some correlations that may exist in the investigated natural radionuclides of the soil samples from the plutonic area in Çanakkale province. It is concluded from the above that the concerned region did not lead to any significant radiological exposure to the environment.

Quantification of transfer of (238)U, (226)Ra, (232)Th, (40)K and (137)Cs in mosses of a semi-natural ecosystem

There is a lack of appropriate data on transfer of some radionuclides on many terrestrial biota groups. To expand the available data concentration ratios of (238)U, (226)Ra, (232)Th, (40)K and (137)Cs in mosses are presented in this paper. The relationship between concentration ratios of radionuclides and physicochemical characteristics of the underlying soil was also investigated. The data on concentration ratios obtained here will provide a useful addition to the currently used database of transfer parameters, particularly for natural radionuclides.

Radioactivity concentrations in soil and vegetables from the northern Jordan Rift Valley and the corresponding dose estimates

The Jordan Rift Valley (JRV) is considered the food bowl of Jordan, especially during the winter season. In this study, soil and vegetable samples collected from greenhouses in the northern JRV were analysed for their radioactive content. The activity concentrations of (238)U, (235)U, (232)Th, (226)Ra, (137)Cs and (40)K in soil were found to be (+/-SD) 33 +/- 12, 2.2 +/- 0.7, 11.2 +/- 3.3, 40.5 +/- 15.5, 3.5 +/- 1.3 and 156.0 +/- 46.6 (Bq kg(-1)), respectively. In vegetables, the activity concentration of (40)K was found in the range of 698-1439 Bq kg(-1), while those of (226)Ra and (228)Ra were found to be in the range of <0.61-2.56 and <0.69-3.35 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Transfer factors for (40)K were found to be high and ranged from 5 to 8, while those for (226)Ra and (228)Ra were found to be from <0.01 to 0.07 and from <0.09 to 0.42, respectively. The calculated external annual effective dose is found to be within the worldwide range.