RESUMEN
Both global and Chernobyl fallout have resulted in environmental contamination with radionuclides such as 137Cs, 90Sr and 239+240Pu. In environmental samples, 137Cs and 239+240Pu can be divided into the contributions of either source, if also the isotopes 134Cs and 238Pu are measurable, based on the known isotopic ratios in global and Chernobyl fallout. No analogous method is available for 90Sr. The activity ratios of Sr to Cs and Pu, respectively, are known for the actual fallout mainly from air filter measurements; but due to the high mobility of Sr in the environment, compared to Cs and Pu, these ratios generally do not hold for the inventory many years after deposition. In this paper we suggest a method to identify the mean contributions of global and Chernobyl fallout to total Sr in soil, sediment and cryoconite samples from Alpine and pre-Alpine regions of Austria, based on a statistical evaluation of Sr/Cs/Pu radionuclide activity ratios. Results are given for Sr:Cs, Sr:Pu and Cs:Pu ratios. Comparison with fallout data shows a strong depletion of Sr against Cs and Pu.
Asunto(s)
Radioisótopos de Cesio/análisis , Accidente Nuclear de Chernóbil , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Plutonio/análisis , Ceniza Radiactiva , Austria , Sedimentos Geológicos/análisis , Sedimentos Geológicos/química , Humanos , Contaminantes Radiactivos del Suelo/análisis , UcraniaRESUMEN
Varicocele is an important cause of male subfertility which may lead to varying degrees of pathological semen quality. Removal of varicocele can be an effective andrological treatment if associated with subfertility. Therefore, in a retrospective study, two possible methods of treatment, high ligation and transcatheter sclerotherapy, were compared with regard to semen parameters and conception rates. Three months after treatment, only high ligation showed a significant improvement of sperm concentration, morphology and motility. Sperm concentration and motility, however, similarly increased in both groups after six to nine months. Sclerotherapy showed a better conception rate of 25% than the surgical group with 14%. Sclerotherapy should be the treatment of first choice if associated with subfertility.