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Briones C, Jubera J, Alonso H, Olaiz J, Santana JT, Rodríguez-Brito N, Arriola-Velásquez AC, Miquel N, Tejera A, Martel P, González-Díaz E, Rubiano JG. Indoor radon risk mapping of the Canary Islands using a methodology for volcanic islands combining geological information and terrestrial gamma radiation data. Sci Total Environ 2024; 922:171212. [PMID: 38428605 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Within the framework of the recent approval of the National Plan Against Radon by the Council of Ministers of the Spanish Government, one of its five axes focuses on the delimitation of priority action areas. In line with this objective, this paper presents the indoor radon risk maps of the Canary Islands. Due to the volcanic origin of the Canary Islands, there is a great deal of geological heterogeneity in the soils on which buildings settle, making it very difficult to delimit radon-risk areas in the process of creating maps. Following a methodology developed in previous works for a study area formed of a set of representative municipalities, this paper presents radon risk maps of the Canary Islands based on lithostratigraphic information and high-resolution terrestrial gamma radiation maps. The goodness of fit of these maps is verified based on a statistical analysis of indoor radon concentration measurements carried out at representative building enclosures. In order to analyse the level of risk to the population, these maps were combined with built up areas (urban fabric) maps and estimations of the annual effective doses due to radon was obtained by applying a dosimetric model. This methodology improves the capability to delimit indoor radon risk areas, with a greater margin of safety. In this respect, it is estimated that areas classified as low risk have indoor radon concentrations 41 % below the current reference level of 300 Bq/m3 established by national regulations in compliance with the precepts laid down in the European EURATOM Directive.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Briones
- Dpto. de Técnicas y Proyectos en Ingeniería y Arquitectura de la Universidad de La Laguna, 38204, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - J Jubera
- Servicio de Laboratorios y Calidad de la Construcción del Gobierno de Canarias, 38107, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - H Alonso
- Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - J Olaiz
- Servicio de Laboratorios y Calidad de la Construcción del Gobierno de Canarias, 38107, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - J T Santana
- Servicio de Laboratorios y Calidad de la Construcción del Gobierno de Canarias, 38107, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - N Rodríguez-Brito
- Servicio de Laboratorios y Calidad de la Construcción del Gobierno de Canarias, 38107, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - A C Arriola-Velásquez
- Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - N Miquel
- Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - A Tejera
- Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - P Martel
- Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - E González-Díaz
- Dpto. de Técnicas y Proyectos en Ingeniería y Arquitectura de la Universidad de La Laguna, 38204, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - J G Rubiano
- Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Canary Islands, Spain.
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Arriola-Velásquez ADC, Tejera A, Alonso H, Miquel-Armengol N, Rubiano JG, Martel P. Radiological risk assessment of beaches from volcanic oceanic islands: A case study of the Eastern Canary Islands (Spain). Environ Pollut 2024; 340:122809. [PMID: 37918776 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
This work constitutes the first survey that allows the establishment of baseline levels of environmental radioactivity in beach sands from the volcanic oceanic islands of La Graciosa, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. Activity concentration values of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were measured by gamma spectroscopy in 108 samples, collected from 39 beaches across the whole study region. The radiological hazard risks associated with these sands were studied. The mean absorbed dose rate in the study region was 20 nGy h-1, which is below the world average value. The mean outdoor annual effective dose for the beaches studied was 0.025 mSv y-1, which is within the internationally accepted safe limit. Additionally, the assessment of the radium equivalent showed that all samples from the Eastern Canary Islands are below the safe limit of 370 Bq kg-1. Despite not posing any radiological risk to the human population, the radiological hazard indices obtained in Gran Canaria were significantly higher than those of other islands. These significant differences seem to be related to the presence of sediments in the beaches of Gran Canaria that have their origin in lithologies with higher activity concentration values of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K that are not present in the rest of the islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Del Carmen Arriola-Velásquez
- Department of Physics, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales i-UNAT, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Alicia Tejera
- Department of Physics, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales i-UNAT, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
| | - Héctor Alonso
- Department of Physics, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales i-UNAT, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Neus Miquel-Armengol
- Department of Physics, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales i-UNAT, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Jesús G Rubiano
- Department of Physics, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales i-UNAT, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Pablo Martel
- Department of Physics, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales i-UNAT, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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Rodríguez-Losada JA, Eff-Darwich A, Gutiérrez LEH, Pérez RV. Characterizing regional radon-in-air levels in rocks of the Canary Islands (Spain): new data and results. Environ Geochem Health 2022; 44:4359-4379. [PMID: 35050441 PMCID: PMC9675681 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01202-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this work, a regional-scale strategy to characterize the radon activity levels in the Canary Islands (Spain) is described. The main objectives of this strategy consisted of (1) studying the likely relationship between radon concentration and lithology of the rock matrix through the lithological data of 247 samples from volcanic rocks of the Canary Islands and (2) implementing a series of monitoring sites in the form of boreholes and wells to study the evolution of radon-in-air activity on a daily to yearly timescale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A. Rodríguez-Losada
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología Y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, Av. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias” (INVOLCAN), Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Antonio Eff-Darwich
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología Y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, Av. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias” (INVOLCAN), Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | | | - Ronaldo Viñas Pérez
- Government of Canary Islands, Ministry of Education and Universities, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
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Cinelli G, Tondeur F, Dehandschutter B, Menneson F, Rincones J. Harmonization and mapping of terrestrial gamma dose rate data in Belgium. J Environ Radioact 2022; 248:106885. [PMID: 35436723 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
With several databases available, including two sets of in situ measurements of the ambient gamma dose rate and an airborne survey of K, Th, U in soil, Belgium is a favourable case for exploring the mapping methodology for terrestrial radiation. The first step is the harmonization of the different data sets, taking in situ measurements with an ion chamber as the reference. Corrections are necessary, based on the data themselves (a) to the measurements of permanent monitoring stations, (b) to the data calculated from airborne measurements of the soil activity, due in particular to the attenuation by the forest cover, and (c) to the other data calculated from the soil activity, due to the lower activity of the upper layer. After subtracting the cosmic contribution, a harmonized database of the terrestrial gamma dose rate (TGDR) based on 379 in situ measurements was built, together with a harmonized data set of 30134 TGDR values calculated from the concentrations of K, Th, U in soil deduced from the airborne survey. The two data sets are in good agreement with each other for all statistical characteristics that were examined like basic statistics, qq-plots, analysis of variance (ANOVA) or variograms, which validates the airborne-based data set by the link with in situ ion chamber measurements. ANOVA reveals the strong relation between TGDR and the soil class, which justifies the use of a soil map as the framework for developing the TGDR map. The variograms show the absence of residual spatial correlations within soil classes. The two harmonized TGDR data sets were mapped at the nodes of a kilometric grid by the moving average method within soil groups. There is a rather good agreement between the maps, confirming the equivalence between the two data sets and the validation of the airborne based one, which can obviously give more detail. After reducing the maps to a 10 km × 10 km grid, the two data sets were used to check the accuracy of the Belgian part of the European TGDR contained in the European Atlas of Natural Radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Cinelli
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy; Laboratory of Observations and Measurements for the Climate and the Environment,National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Palermo, Italy.
| | - François Tondeur
- Nuclear and Radiation Physics Laboratory, ISIB, Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | - Jorge Rincones
- Nuclear and Radiation Physics Laboratory, ISIB, Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant, Brussels, Belgium
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Nuhu H, Hashim S, Mohd Sanusi MS, Ghoshal SK, Bradley DA. Thoron activity concentration in Malaysian soil gas: Geogenic impact assessment. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2022.110303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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López-Pérez M, Martín-Luis C, Catalán A, Salazar-Carballo PA. Estimation of radiation doses due to groundwater intake at a volcanic island: Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). Food Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.108830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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TURGAY ME, CİCEKFİDAN M, SEZGİN N. Exposure Analysis at the territory of Nevşehir (Cappadocia) due to additive gamma-rays in air, TURKEY. Journal of the Turkish Chemical Society Section A: Chemistry 2022. [DOI: 10.18596/jotcsa.891062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Ozaydin Ozkara R, Eke C, Boztosun I. A study on the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, 137Cs and radiological risk assessments in soil samples from Seydisehir and Beysehir districts of Konya in Turkey. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-021-08046-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Briones C, Jubera J, Alonso H, Olaiz J, Santana JT, Rodríguez-Brito N, Tejera A, Martel P, González-Díaz E, Rubiano JG. Methodology for determination of radon prone areas combining the definition of a representative building enclosure and measurements of terrestrial gamma radiation. Sci Total Environ 2021; 788:147709. [PMID: 34029827 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The recommendations of the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) have recently been incorporated into Spanish regulations in the Basic Document of Health Standards of the Technical Building Code (CTE), section HS6, on protection against radon exposure. This further accentuates the need to delimit radon prone areas as a strategy to address measures which minimise the effects of this gas on the population. In this research, measurements of terrestrial gamma radiation and indoor radon of dwellings have been carried out in the same location to delimit these risk areas. A new methodology has been developed including a definition of a Representative Building Enclosure (RBE) and it is proposed a Building Storey Index (IBS) which allows normalizing measurements of indoor radon activity concentration taken in different levels from the ground to the RBE. The results show the need to consider the type of contact that exists between the building and the ground as a determining factor of radon risk. Terrestrial gamma radiation is used as a proxy for radioisotopic composition of soils to characterise the indoor radon risk at different geological formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Briones
- Dpto. de Técnicas y Proyectos en Ingeniería, y Arquitectura de la Universidad de La Laguna, 38204 Canary Islands, Spain
| | - J Jubera
- Servicio de Laboratorios y Calidad de la Construcción del Gobierno de Canarias, 38107 Canary Islands, Spain
| | - H Alonso
- Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Canary Islands, Spain
| | - J Olaiz
- Servicio de Laboratorios y Calidad de la Construcción del Gobierno de Canarias, 38107 Canary Islands, Spain
| | - J T Santana
- Servicio de Laboratorios y Calidad de la Construcción del Gobierno de Canarias, 38107 Canary Islands, Spain
| | - N Rodríguez-Brito
- Servicio de Laboratorios y Calidad de la Construcción del Gobierno de Canarias, 38107 Canary Islands, Spain
| | - A Tejera
- Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Canary Islands, Spain
| | - P Martel
- Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Canary Islands, Spain
| | - E González-Díaz
- Dpto. de Técnicas y Proyectos en Ingeniería, y Arquitectura de la Universidad de La Laguna, 38204 Canary Islands, Spain
| | - J G Rubiano
- Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Canary Islands, Spain.
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Nuhu H, Hashim S, Aziz Saleh M, Syazwan Mohd Sanusi M, Hussein Alomari A, Jamal MH, Abdullah RA, Hassan SA. Soil gas radon and soil permeability assessment: Mapping radon risk areas in Perak State, Malaysia. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254099. [PMID: 34320010 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study geogenic radon potential (GRP) mapping was carried out on the bases of field radon in soil gas concentration and soil gas permeability measurements by considering the corresponding geological formations. The spatial pattern of soil gas radon concentration, soil permeability, and GRP and the relationship between geological formations and these parameters was studied by performing detailed spatial analysis. The radon activity concentration in soil gas ranged from 0.11 to 434.5 kBq m−3 with a mean of 18.96 kBq m−3, and a standard deviation was 55.38 kBq m−3. The soil gas permeability ranged from 5.2×10−14 to 5.2×10−12 m2, with a mean of 5.65×10−13 m2. The GRP values were computed from the 222Rn activity concentration and soil gas permeability data. The range of GRP values was from 0.04 to 154.08. Locations on igneous granite rock geology were characterized by higher soil radon gas activity and higher GRP, making them radon-prone areas according to international standards. The other study locations fall between the low to medium risk, except for areas with high soil permeability, which are not internationally classified as radon prone. A GRP map was created displaying radon-prone areas for the study location using Kriging/Cokriging, based on in situ and predicted measured values. The GRP map assists in human health risk assessment and risk reduction since it indicates the potential of the source of radon and can serve as a vital tool for radon combat planning.
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Luiz do Carmo Leal A, da Costa Lauria D, Ribeiro FCA, Viglio EP, Franzen M, de Albuquerque Medeiros Lima E. Spatial distributions of natural radionuclides in soils of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil: Influence of bedrocks, soils types and climates. J Environ Radioact 2020; 211:106046. [PMID: 31581001 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
To investigate whether and in which extension the levels of natural radionuclides in soils vary with parent rock, soil type, and climatic condition factors, a large-scale survey was carried out to cover the semiarid and tropical wet climate regions of the territory of Pernambuco state (Brazil). The radionuclide concentrations were analyzed by gamma spectrometry. The median values of the activity concentrations of 226Ra (20), 228Ra (38) and 40K (458) (Bq kg-1) in the soils agreed with the values reported worldwide. The concentrations of 40K in the soils from the semiarid region were higher than those in the soils from the tropical region, whereas the radium isotope levels were higher in soils from the tropical region. The less-developed soils from the semiarid region, such as Leptosols and Neosols, had the highest 40K levels, unlike the more developed soils (Acrisols and Ferrosols) from the tropical wet area, which showed the lowest contents of 40K and the highest content of radium isotopes. The low 40K contents in well-developed soils may be attributed to the leaching of 40K by the high rainfall rates of the tropical area. In contrast, the rainfall scarcity and high potential evaporation rates of the semiarid environment may be responsible for 40K accumulation in soils. The highest Ra isotope concentrations in the well-drained soils from the tropical climate may be ascribed to the presence of heavy minerals and adsorption on Fe oxyhydroxides, which are very common in those soils. The more developed the soil the lower the K concentration, regardless of the climate. For Ra, the differences are more significant for well-drained soils, and in this case, the tropical climate, with its high rainfall rate, makes the difference. As a conclusion, climate and soil formation time showed high and contrasting influence on the 40K and radium isotope contents in soils. Less developed soils from semiarid had the highest content of 40K, whereas the more developed soils from tropical areas had the highest content of radium.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Luiz do Carmo Leal
- Federal Institute of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Dr. José Augusto Pereira dos Santos, s/nº, Neves, São Gonçalo, RJ, CEP 24425-285, Brazil.
| | - Dejanira da Costa Lauria
- Institute of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry (IRD/CNEN), Av. Salvador Allende, 3773 - Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22783-127, Brazil.
| | - Fernando C A Ribeiro
- Institute of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry (IRD/CNEN), Av. Salvador Allende, 3773 - Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22783-127, Brazil.
| | - Eduardo Paim Viglio
- Geological Survey of Brazil (CPRM), Av. Pasteur, 404 - Urca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22290-240, Brazil.
| | - Melissa Franzen
- Geological Survey of Brazil (CPRM), Av. Sul, 2291, Recife, PE 50770-011, Brazil.
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Alomari AH, Saleh MA, Hashim S, Alsayaheen A, Abdeldin I, Bani Khalaf R. Measurement of gross alpha and beta activity concentration in groundwater of Jordan: groundwater quality, annual effective dose and lifetime risk assessment. J Water Health 2019; 17:957-970. [PMID: 31850902 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2019.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The current study was conducted to measure the activity concentration of the gross alpha and beta in 87 groundwater samples collected from the productive aquifers that constitute a major source of groundwater to evaluate the annual effective dose and the corresponding health impact on the population and to investigate the quality of groundwater in Jordan. The mean activity concentration of gross alpha and beta in groundwater ranges from 0.26 ± 0.03 to 3.58 ± 0.55 Bq L-1 and from 0.51 ± 0.07 to 3.43 ± 0.46 Bq L-1, respectively. A very strong relationship was found between gross alpha and beta activity concentrations. The annual effective dose for alpha and beta was found in the range of 0.32-2.40 mSv with a mean value of 0.89 mSv, which is nine times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limit and one and half times higher than the national regulation limit. The mean lifetime risk was found to be 45.47 × 10-4 higher than the Jordanian estimated upper-bound lifetime risk of 25 × 10-4. The data obtained in the study would be the baseline for further epidemiological studies on health effects related to the exposure to natural radioactivity in Jordan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Hussein Alomari
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johore Bahru, Johore 81310, Malaysia E-mail:
| | - Muneer Aziz Saleh
- Nuclear Engineering programme, Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johore Bahru, Johore 81310, Malaysia
| | - Suhairul Hashim
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johore Bahru, Johore 81310, Malaysia E-mail:
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Alonso H, Rubiano JG, Guerra JG, Arnedo MA, Tejera A, Martel P. Assessment of radon risk areas in the Eastern Canary Islands using soil radon gas concentration and gas permeability of soils. Sci Total Environ 2019; 664:449-460. [PMID: 30759409 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The Basic Safety Standard (BSS) Directive 2013/59/EURATOM of the European Union (EU) has stated the need for member states to establish national action plans to mitigate their general population's long-term risks of exposure to radon gas. Maps of radon-prone areas provide a useful tool for the development of such plans. This paper presents the maps of radon-prone areas in the Eastern Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote) obtained from assessment of Geogenic Radon Potential (GRP) distribution in the territory. GRP constitutes a magnitude that is contingent on both radon activity concentration and gas permeability of soils. An extensive campaign covering all geological formations of the Eastern Canary Islands was undertaken to locally sample these parameters. Geostatistical analysis of the spatial distribution of radon concentration in soils, permeability and GRP was performed on each of the islands, and the relationship between these magnitudes and the characteristic geological formations of the volcanic islands was investigated. Areas dominated by basic volcanic and plutonic rocks (originated by both recent and ancient volcanism) exhibit relatively low levels of radon in soils, and with the exception of specific cases of very high permeability, these areas are not classified as prone to radon risk according to international criteria. Areas in which intermediate or acidic volcanic and plutonic rocks predominate are characterised by greater radon activity concentration in soils, rendering them radon-prone. Given these results, Lanzarote is classified as an island with low radon risk all over its surface; Fuerteventura presents low-medium risk; and Gran Canaria contains extensive areas in the centre and north where the risk is medium or high. This classification is consistent with the risk maps obtained by National and European agencies from indoor radon measurements conducted on these islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Alonso
- Physics Department, Campus de Tafira, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - J G Rubiano
- Physics Department, Campus de Tafira, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
| | - J G Guerra
- Physics Department, Campus de Tafira, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - M A Arnedo
- Physics Department, Campus de Tafira, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - A Tejera
- Physics Department, Campus de Tafira, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - P Martel
- Physics Department, Campus de Tafira, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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Tejera A, Pérez-Sánchez L, Guerra G, Arriola-Velásquez AC, Alonso H, Arnedo MA, Rubiano G, Martel P. Natural radioactivity in algae arrivals on the Canary coast and dosimetry assessment. Sci Total Environ 2019; 658:122-131. [PMID: 30577011 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, the use of wild and culture harvest seaweed in food industry is a booming productive sector. In this context, a radiological characterization of five globally common seaweed species that were collected in arrival on Gran Canaria coast was carried out. The studied algae species were Cymopolia barbata, Lobophora variegata, Sargassum vulgare, Dictyota dichotoma and Haliptilon virgatum. Radionuclides analysed by alpha and gamma spectrometry were 238U, 234U, 235U, 210Po, 234Th, 226Ra, 210Pb, 228Th, 224Ra, 40K and 7Be. Activity concentrations, ratios, and concentration factors (CF) were determined for all samples collected. The CF in algae was higher for reactive-particle radionuclides (210Po, 234Th, 228Th and 210Pb) than for conservative ones (40K and the uranium isotopes). 210Po, 228Th and 234Th CF were one or two orders of magnitude higher than those recommended by the IAEA. L. variegata, C. barbata and S. vulgare showed a clear preference for 210Pb and 210Po, for uranium radioisotopes, and for 40K and 234Th, respectively. A dosimetry assessment due to seaweed ingestion showed considerable values of annual committed effective dose for H. virgatum (605 ± 19 μSv/y), L. variegata (574 ± 17 μSv/y) and D. dichotoma (540 ± 30 μSv/y). Hence, this study suggests that an algae radiological characterization is recommended as part of the product valorising process.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Tejera
- Physics Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
| | - L Pérez-Sánchez
- Physics Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - G Guerra
- Physics Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - A C Arriola-Velásquez
- Physics Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - H Alonso
- Physics Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - M A Arnedo
- Physics Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - G Rubiano
- Physics Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - P Martel
- Physics Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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Kapdan E, Altinsoy N, Karahan G, Yuksel A. Outdoor radioactivity and health risk assessment for capital city Ankara, Turkey. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2018; 318:1033-42. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-018-6060-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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16
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Alashrah S, El-Taher A, Mansour H. Assessment of radiological parameters and metal contents in soil and stone samples from Harrat Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. MethodsX 2018; 5:485-494. [PMID: 30622918 PMCID: PMC6314967 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The current work deals with measurement and distribution of natural radionuclides for twelve (12) soil and fifteen (15) stone samples collected from Harrats Al Madinah in western region of Saudi Arabia. Two methods were used in this investigation gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF).The activity concentrations of radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) were measured using γ-ray spectrometer NaI(Tl) model (A320) made in the U.S.A. The average values of the concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were 37.5 ± 0.1, 28.0 ± 0.5 and 300.6 ± 1.7 Bq/kg respectively. The obtained results show that the mean radium equivalent activity, annual effective dose, external and internal hazard indices and radiation level index were 100.67 BqKg-1, 55.63μSv, 0.27, 0.37 and 0.73 respectively. The results were compared with the recommended limits in the literature from other locations and with the global allowable limits recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection and United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The obtained results are concordant with the magnitude of safe criteria and exposure risks which were recommended in public papers. The current study is considered as the first baseline data for the natural radioactivity and metal contents measured by X-ray fluorescence method in the Harrat Al Madinah city.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saleh Alashrah
- Physics Department, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Atef El-Taher
- Physics Department, College of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, 71452, Egypt
| | - Howaida Mansour
- Physics Department, College of Science and Art, Ar Rass, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
- Physics Department, Faculty of Women for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shams University, Egypt
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Modarresi SM, Masoudi SF, Karimi M. A method for self-attenuation and sample-height correction for counting efficiency of HPGe using Marinelli beaker geometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-018-5725-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Mohammad Modarresi S, Farhad Masoudi S. On the gamma spectrometry efficiency of reference materials and soil samples. J Environ Radioact 2018; 183:54-58. [PMID: 29306092 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The relative discrepancies between the gamma spectrometry efficiency of RGU, RGTh, RGK reference materials and some soil samples have been studied using a MCNP model of a real HPGe detector. It has been shown that, in a specified geometry, efficiencies differences depend on the sample elemental composition. The elemental compositions of RGU-1, RGTh-1 reference materials and a soil sample have been evaluated using X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) method and used in the MCNP simulation along with RGK-1 and six other soil samples with different elemental compositions to calculate their efficiencies in different gamma ray energies. To estimate the maximum relative efficiencies differences between soil samples and reference materials, five soil samples with higher attenuation properties were selected from a large data set of soils elemental compositions. The results show that the efficiency differences between soil samples and reference materials are almost ignorable for more than 100 KeV gamma energies. It strongly depends on the sample attenuation factor in the lower energies, so use of a self-attenuation correction is essential for radionuclide counting in low energies gamma rays. Results show about 8 percent discrepancy between RGU and two soil samples efficiencies in 63.2 KeV energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mohammad Modarresi
- Department of Physics, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, P.O. Box 15875-4416, Tehran, Iran
| | - S Farhad Masoudi
- Department of Physics, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, P.O. Box 15875-4416, Tehran, Iran.
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Ribeiro FCA, Silva JIR, Lima ESA, do Amaral Sobrinho NMB, Perez DV, Lauria DC. Natural radioactivity in soils of the state of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil): Radiological characterization and relationships to geological formation, soil types and soil properties. J Environ Radioact 2018; 182:34-43. [PMID: 29182917 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Located in the south-western part of Brazil, the state of Rio de Janeiro is geotectonically contained within a complex structural province that resulted in the amalgamation of the Western Gondwana Paleocontinent. To undertake an extensive radiological characterization of this complex geological province and investigate the influence of bedrock, soil type and soil chemical-physical characteristics on natural radionuclide levels in soils, 259 surface soil samples were collected that encompassed the main soil types and geological formations throughout the state. Gamma spectrometry analysis of the samples resulted in median values of 114 Bq.kg-1for 40K, 32 Bq.kg-1 for 226Ra and 74 Bq.kg-1 for 228Ra. The median value for 226Ra was similar to the world median value for soils, the 40K value was well below the worldwide value, and that for 228Ra exceeded the world median value. The intense weathering caused by the high rainfall rates and high temperatures may be responsible for the low levels of 40K in the soils, of which the strongly acidic and clayey soils are markedly K-depleted. A soil from a high-grade metamorphic rock (granulite) presented the lowest 226Ra (18 Bq.kg-1) content, whereas the highest levels for 226Ra (92 Bq.kg-1) and 228Ra (139 Bq.kg-1) were observed in a young soil enriched in primary minerals (Leptsol). A lowland soil (Gleysol) showed the highest median of 40K (301 Bq.kg-1). Strongly acidic soils tended to present high amounts of 226Ra, and sandy soils tended to contain low levels of 228Ra. The external radiation dose indicates that the state has a background radiation level within the natural range.
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Affiliation(s)
- F C A Ribeiro
- Institute of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry (IRD), Brazilian National Commission on Nuclear Energy (CNEN), Av. Salvador Allende, s/n, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22783-127 Brazil.
| | - J I R Silva
- Institute of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry (IRD), Brazilian National Commission on Nuclear Energy (CNEN), Av. Salvador Allende, s/n, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22783-127 Brazil.
| | - E S A Lima
- Department of Soils, Institute of Agronomy, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ), Rodovia BR 465, Km 07, s/n, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil.
| | - N M B do Amaral Sobrinho
- Department of Soils, Institute of Agronomy, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ), Rodovia BR 465, Km 07, s/n, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil.
| | - D V Perez
- National Centre of Soil Research (CNPS), Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA), Rua Jardim Botânico, nº 1024, Bairro Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22460-000, Brazil.
| | - D C Lauria
- Institute of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry (IRD), Brazilian National Commission on Nuclear Energy (CNEN), Av. Salvador Allende, s/n, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22783-127 Brazil.
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Abstract
Abstract
The aim of this study is to determine the levels of background radiation in nine districts of Kırıkkale, Turkey. The outdoor gamma dose rate in the air was measured using a portable digital environmental radiation detector at 170 locations. The mean outdoor gamma dose rate in the air was determined as 121 nGy h−1 with a range between 23 and 320 nGy h−1. The annual effective dose for districts was between 0.04 and 0.59 mSv year−1 with a mean value of 0.23 mSv year−1. Excess lifetime cancer risk values for districts ranged from 0.14×10−3 to 2.07×10−3 with a mean of 0.80×10−3. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs in 84 soil samples were determined using HPGe detector. The mean activity values (ranges) of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs in soil samples were found to be 20.4 (4.9±3.0–53.0±0.8) Bq kg−1, 38.8 (3.7±0.2–163.5±1.8) Bq kg−1, 598.0 (108.5±70.2–1500.5±38.7) Bq kg−1 and 3.9 (0.2±0.1–11.9±0.7) Bq kg−1, respectively. The mean activity concentration of 232Th and 40K was higher than the world’s mean value. The mean radium equivalent activity was 119.76 Bq kg−1 which is lower than the recommended maximum value of 370 Bq kg−1. The mean external terrestrial gamma dose rate was found to be 56.71 nGy h−1. This mean value was lower than the world mean of 60 nGy h−1. The calculated external hazard value was 0.32 and within the acceptable limit which is less than unity (Hex≤1). The indoor radon concentration in 150 houses for the summer and winter seasons was determined using solid state nuclear track detector (CR-39). The mean indoor concentration for the summer season was found to be 63.27 Bq m−3 ranging from 14.0±1.5 to 288.0±21.9 Bq m−3. On the other hand, the mean indoor concentration in the winter season was found to be 86.94 Bq m−3 ranging from 17.0±4.5 to 484.0±26.9 Bq m−3. The present results showed that the radon activity concentrations in winter were 42.3% higher than in the summer. The mean annual effective dose equivalent and lifetime cancer risk were also calculated.
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