Daily intakes of naturally occurring radioisotopes in typical Korean foods.

The concentrations of naturally occurring radioisotopes ((232)Th, (228)Th, (230)Th, (228)Ra, (226)Ra, and (40)K) in typical Korean foods were evaluated. The daily intakes of these radioisotopes were calculated by comparing concentrations in typical Korean foods and the daily consumption rates of these foods. Daily intakes were as follows: (232)Th, 0.00-0.23; (228)Th, 0.00-2.04; (230)Th, 0.00-0.26; (228)Ra, 0.02-2.73; (226)Ra, 0.01-4.37 mBq/day; and (40)K, 0.01-5.71 Bq/day. The total daily intake of the naturally occurring radioisotopes measured in this study from food was 39.46 Bq/day. The total annual internal dose resulting from ingestion of radioisotopes in food was 109.83 muSv/y, and the radioisotope with the highest daily intake was (40)K. These values were same level compiled in other countries.

Fabrication of a gold nanoparticles decorated carbon nanotubes based novel modified electrode for the electrochemical detection of glucose.

A modified electrode based on gold nanoparticles decorated multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), MWNT-Au(nano)-ME is fabricated. MWNTs are functionalized with 4-aminothiophenol and coated over the glassy carbon electrode. Further, Au nanoparticles are deposited into MWNTs coated GC electrode by electrochemical reduction of HAuCl4. Field emission transmission electron microscope (FETEM) image shows the formation of approximately 5 nm sized Au nanoparticles without any agglomeration on the MWNTs surface. Further, the presence of Au nanoparticles is confirmed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) studies. The electrocatalytic activity of the MWNT-Au(nano)-ME towards the detection of glucose is investigated. MWNT-Au(nano)-ME shows enhanced current response than pristine MWNT-ME over the entire (+0.05 to +0.80 V) potential range. The modified electrode shows linear response to current with the concentration of glucose between 1 and 20 mM. Larger current responses to glucose oxidation are witnessed at +0.60 V than at +0.05 V. However, a large interference signal, reflecting the accelerated oxidation of electroactive interference is observed at +0.60 V. No overlapping signal from the interferents such as ascorbic acid, acetaminophen, and dopamine are observed at the MWNT-Au(nano)-ME at +0.05 V. Further, the MWNT-Au(nano)-ME shows high resistance to the toxictiy of chloride ions.

The accumulation of radiocesium in coarse marine sediment: effects of mineralogy and organic matter.

The controlling factors affecting the accumulation of (137)Cs in marine sediment have not been investigated in detail, especially in coarse grained sediment. Eighty eight coarse marine sediment samples near Wuljin, Korea, were characterized by quantitative X-ray-diffraction (XRD), gamma-ray, and total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. Those factors were then compared. The grain size was in the range of -0.48 to 3.6Mdphi corresponding to sand grains. TOC content was in the range of 0.06-1.75%, and the concentration of (137)Cs was

Radiocesium reaction with illite and organic matter in marine sediment.

The mineralogical effect on the (137)Cs reaction with marine sediment has not been systematically studied yet, even though illite has been known to adsorb Cs preferentially on its frayed edge sites in a low Cs concentration. Ninety-three marine sediment samples were collected near Yangnam, Korea for quantitative X-ray-diffraction (XRD), gamma-ray, and total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. Illite content was in the range of 0-23 wt.% and those of (137)Cs and TOC were minimum detectable activity (MDA) approximately 7.19 Bq/kg-dry and approximately 3.32%, respectively. The illite content in the marine sediment showed a good relationship with the (137)Cs content (R(2)=0.69), but with an increase in the illite content, the relationship became less linear. This trend can be clearly shown in two groups of samples with different size fractions (< and >5Mdvarphi). For the samples of larger particle sizes (low contents of illite), the relationship is linear, but for the samples of the smaller particle sizes (high illite content) it is less linear with a decreased slope, indicating that increase in illite content does not significantly contribute to the fixation of (137)Cs in marine sediment. Rather, the TOC has a more linear relationship with (137)Cs content with no slope change in all particle size ranges. This may indicate that humic materials in marine sediment block the access of (137)Cs to the frayed edge site and reduces the adsorption of (137)Cs on illite and that the organic materials in marine sediment play more important roles in adsorbing Cs than illite.

Preparation and characterization of polyalkene membranes modified with four different ion-exchange groups by radiation-induced graft polymerization.

Three different cation-exchange membranes with carboxylic acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfonic acid groups, and one anion-exchange membrane with a triethylamine group were prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization. The maximum capacities of the carboxylic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfonic acid, and triethylamine groups were 3.0, 2.30, 2.43, and 1.42 mmol/g, respectively. The physico-chemical properties of the polyalkene non-woven fabric membrane with four different ion-exchange groups were examined by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy. The prepared ion-exchange membrane was applied to the removal of terephthalic acid in dyeing wastewater.

Nationwide survey of radon levels in Korea.

A nationwide radon survey was conducted to provide data on the annual average indoor radon concentration in Korean homes. This survey also provided data on the variation of radon concentration with season, house type, and building age. The arithmetic mean (AM) of annual radon concentration in Korean homes was 53.4 +/- 57.5 Bq m(-3). The indoor radon concentration showed a lognormal distribution with a geometric mean (GM) and its standard deviation (GSD) of 43.3 +/- 1.8 Bq m(-3). The radon concentrations in the traditional Korean-style houses were about two times higher than those in apartments and row houses. The average annual outdoor radon concentration was 23.3 Bq m(-3). The average annual effective dose to the general public from radon was 1.63 mSv y(-1).