Estonian waterworks treatment plants: clearance of residues, discharge of effluents and efficiency of removal of radium from drinking water.

Considerable levels of radium were detected in a certain fraction of the Estonian drinking water supply network. Some of these waterworks have treatment systems for the removal of (mainly) iron and manganese from drinking water. Three of these waterworks and another one equipped with a radium removal pilot plant were examined, and a specific study was conducted in order to assess the environmental compatibility of effluents and residues produced in the plants. (226)Ra and (228)Ra activity concentrations were analysed in both liquid (backwash water) and solid (sand filter and sediment) materials to evaluate their compliance, from the radiological point of view, with current Estonian legislation and international technical documents that propose reference levels for radium in effluents and residues. Also with regard to water treatment by-products, a preliminary analysis was done of possible consequences of the transposition of the European Basic Safety Standards Draft into Estonian law. Radium removal efficiency was also tested in the same plants. Iron and manganese treatment plants turned out to be scarcely effective, whilst the radium mitigation pilot plant showed a promising performance.

Radium isotopes in Estonian groundwater: measurements, analytical correlations, population dose and a proposal for a monitoring strategy.

In some areas of Estonia, groundwater contains a significant number of natural radionuclides, especially radium isotopes, which may cause radiation protection concern depending on the geological structure of the aquifer. Indeed, the parametric value of 0.1 mSv y⁻¹ for the total indicative dose established by European Directive 98/83/EC, adopted as a limit value in Estonian national legislation, is often exceeded. A Twinning Project between Estonia and Italy was carried out within the framework of the Estonian Transition Facility Programme, sponsored by the European Union. Its aims were to assess the radiological situation of Estonian groundwater and related health consequences. The first step was a study of Estonian aqueducts and the population served by them, and a thorough analysis of the radiological database for drinking water, from which the relevant effective doses for the population were obtained. Particular attention was devoted to doses to children and infants. Correlations between the chemical parameters were investigated, in order to suggest the best possible analytical approach. Lastly, a monitoring strategy, i.e. sampling points and sampling frequencies, was proposed.

Radon mapping in south Tyrol: comparison between two different procedures.

In this paper two different procedures for radon mapping have been compared on the same database referring to indoor radon records of South Tyrol. The first procedure is based on descriptive statistics applied to administrative units while the second one implies a more complicated statistical analysis applied to a regular grid: it involves floor level normalization of radon data, filling and smoothing algorithms for the territory cells.

In progress identification of radon prone areas: Toscana and Veneto.

Two studies aimed at defining radon prone areas in Toscana and Veneto, based on indoor measurements, are merged in this paper to extract the key points for a possible general methodology. In territorial units, the geometric mean (GM) and standard deviation (GSD) are evaluated from empirical data and the fraction of dwellings above the reference level (RL) is derived according to a log-normal model. In Toscana the sampling base is made of nearly 1,000 measurements (dwellings and kindergartens), apportioned according to the lithological classes (22) of the region. In Veneto 1,230 measurements in dwellings of the upper part of the region (estimates are given for the south), have been assigned to 6 x 5 km2 sequential units of the territory: the detection floor has been considered and results are referred to the regional mean dwellings condition with respect to the floor. Empirical GM and GSD values are corrected to increase statistical power based on two different methods. Maps of the percentages of dwellings with more than 200 Bq x m(-3) are presented. Areas with magmatic rocks in southern Toscana and northern parts of Vicenza and Belluno provinces in Veneto clearly emerge with more than 10% of dwellings above 200 Bq x m(-3). Efforts are required to establish proper confidence limits for estimates and to trace radon maps upon an administrative basis.

Study of the temporal variables in the spontaneous speech of three neologistic jargonaphasics.

Hesitation analysis of spontaneous production from three neologistic jargonaphasics is described. The results appear to differ from patient to patient as far as the relative proportion in the number and length of pauses before correct words and mistakes is concerned. Generalization of the conclusion beyond single cases may not therefore be legitimate.

Coarticulation in Italian /VtV/ sequences: a palatographic study.

Patterns of linguopalatal contact during the production of intervocalic /t/ in different vowel contexts were examined by means of electropalatography, in order to assess the degree of dependency between tongue tip/blade and tongue body, the relative strength of anticipatory and carryover effects and their temporal extent. Results show that the coupling between tip and body of the tongue is rather loose: constraints imposed on tongue body by consonant production are described qualitatively and quantitatively. Carryover effects are stronger and more systematic than anticipatory effects: both can extend across the consonant. Results also indicate that coarticulatory effects depend on the identity of the vowel held constant and, to a lesser extent, on stress position. Some hypotheses are presented concerning articulatory goals and strategies in /VtV/ productions.

Discrimination and identification of emotions in human voice by brain-damaged subjects.

Discrimination and identification of emotions in human voice was studied in normal controls and in 4 groups of brain-damaged subjects, subdivided along the right/left and anterior/posterior dimensions. Results showed a failure of right-brain-damaged patients, the right posterior group being significantly worse than all the other groups. Qualitative differences emerged as well: both a conceptual and an acoustic deficit seem to contribute to right posterior patient performance.