Environmental radioactivity assessment of the Brunei Darussalam coastline of the South China Sea

Radioactivity levels of naturally occurring radionuclides at the coast of Brunei Darussalam were evaluated along with their dose rates. Twenty-six berm and intertidal sediment samples were measured using gamma-ray spectrometry. The mean activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in berm sediments were 10.07 ± 1.02 Bq/kg, below the minimum detectable activity, and 21.44 ± 1.23 Bq/kg, respectively, whereas for intertidal sediments they were 7.01 ± 0.87, 1.67 ± 0.15 and 4.99 ± 0.42 Bq/kg, respectively. With respect to the radiological health risk, the average hazard indices, absorbed gamma dose rate, effective dose equivalent, and excess lifetime cancer risk were found to be less than the global average. Calculation of the activity ratio showed that ⁴⁰K is the main source of radiation in the coastal sediments. Furthermore, the difference in radioactivity levels between the berm sediments and intertidal sediments collected at the same location was investigated. Finally, a standard geological terminology of the littoral zone profile is proposed for describing coastal samples for universal communication among researchers.

Analysis of gross alpha, gross beta activities and beryllium-7 concentrations in surface air: their variations and statistical prediction model

Measurement of gross alpha, gross beta activities and cosmogenic beryllium-7 (7Be) concentrations were made both daily and weekly during the years 2001--2004 from samples of atmospheric aerosols filtered from the air at Tehran Nuclear Research Center (35 41' N) and Zahedan (28 29' N). Weekly aerosol samples collected with the high-volume air samplers on cellulose filters were used to determine the 7Be contents of samples, using a semiconductor gamma spectrometer. Airborne dust samples were collected daily on fiber glass filters and used to determine the gross beta and gross alpha activities with automatic beta analyzer and a ZnS(Ag) counter, respectively. In this work, the concentration and meteorological data were used to determine models for gross alpha, gross beta and 7Be. The air concentrations of gross beta and gross alpha activities and 7Be concentrations displayed lognormal distributions during the study period. Both beta and 7Be have maximum activity concentrations during warm mid-year months.

Radon and thoron progeny concentration variability in relation to meteorological conditions at Bucharest (Romania)

The paper presents results of natural radioactivity levels in the atmosphere obtained for a 5 years period (1994-1999) at the Bucharest Environmental Radioactivity Surveillance Station (BERSS). The variability of radon and thoron progeny activity concentrations is analysed in relation to the local dynamics of the meteorological parameters (wind speed, air temperature, air pressure, cloud cover, relative humidity). The radon and thoron progeny concentrations display a daily and seasonal variation, with the highest values in the early morning and the lowest values in the afternoon. The outdoor radon progeny concentrations show maximum values in autumn and minimum values in spring-summer. The outdoor thoron progeny concentrations display maximum values in autumn and minimum values in winter. Significant statistical correlations with the meteorological parameters were obtained. The study on the temporal variability of natural atmospheric radioactivity near Bucharest is a starting point for further assessment of the radiological consequences resulting from human activities.