A Wireless Gamma-Ray Monitoring System for Cemented Radwaste Drums.

In the framework of the PREDIS EU project, a wireless battery-operated gamma-ray detection system was developed in order to provide a medium-to-long-term monitoring system for radioactive waste drums. It was initially proposed to monitor the gamma radioactivity outcoming from steel drums containing cemented radwaste, even though it could be usefully employed in a wider range of applications. Gamma rays are penetrating and convey information from the drum's internal structure, as the count rate measured on the surface depends on the thickness and density of the crossed materials. A number of sensors arranged around a drum, typically four units, provide indications of the emission anisotropy, and any sensitive change in the measured count rate would hint at some anomaly, thus triggering a suitable inspection by operators.

Comparison of different methodologies for estimating gold thickness in multilayer samples using XRF spectra.

A detailed comparison of methodologies for assessing gold leaf thickness in multilayer samples using the XRF technique was performed. Standard three-layer samples and six methods of analysis were used: two-line ratio of one or two elements, de Boer's analytical procedure, multivariate PLS analysis and percentage concentration of elements in the layers. The accuracy of each method and the consistency among the results of the methods emerged. The PLS method and the analytical approach might be preferred because they are faster.

The first indoor radon mapping in the Campania region, Italy.

For the first time, a map of the 222Rn gas has been produced in the Campania region, the southern part of Italy, based on the activity concentration measured in indoor environments. This work is part of the radon mitigation policy and complies with the recent Italian Legislative Decree 101/2020, which implements the European Basic Safety Standards, Euratom Directive 59/2013, where Member States must declare areas with elevated levels of indoor radon concentration. The obtained map, divided by Campania municipalities, identifies priority areas with activity concentration values exceeding the reference level of 300 Bq m-3. In addition, an effective statistical analysis of the dataset has been carried out.

Radon Survey in Bank Buildings of Campania Region According to the Italian Transposition of Euratom 59/2013.

222Rn gas represents the major contributor to human health risk from environmental radiological exposure. In confined spaces radon can accumulate to relatively high levels so that mitigation actions are necessary. The Italian legislation on radiation protection has set a reference value for the activity concentration of radon at 300 Bq/m3. In this study, measurements of the annual radon concentration of 62 bank buildings spread throughout the Campania region (Southern Italy) were carried out. Using devices based on CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors, the 222Rn level was assessed in 136 confined spaces (127 at underground floors and 9 at ground floors) frequented by workers and/or the public. The survey parameters considered in the analysis of the results were: floor types, wall cladding materials, number of openings, door/window opening duration for air exchange. Radon levels were found to be between 17 and 680 Bq/m3, with an average value of 130 Bq/m3 and a standard deviation of 120 Bq/m3. About 7% of the results gave a radon activity concentration above 300 Bq/m3. The analysis showed that the floor level and air exchange have the most significant influence. This study highlighted the importance of the assessment of indoor radon levels for work environments in particular, to protect the workers and public from radon-induced health effects.

ANALYSIS OF RADON TIME SERIES RECORDED IN SLOVAK AND CZECH CAVES FOR THE DETECTION OF ANOMALIES DUE TO SEISMIC PHENOMENA.

Anomalies in the radon (222Rn) releases in underground environments are one of the phenomena that can be observed before earthquake occurrence. Continuous measurements of radon activity concentration, and of meteorological parameters that influence the gas emission, were performed in three Slovak and Czech caves during 1-y period (1 July 2016-30 June 2017). The radon activity concentration in caves shows seasonal variations, with maxima reached during summer months. The anomalies in the radon time series are identified using a combination of three mathematical methods: multiple linear regression, empirical mode decomposition and support vector regression. The radon anomaly periods were compared with earthquake occurrences in Europe. Coincidences between both phenomena were found, since all monitored caves reflect contemporaneous local tectonic changes. The results indicate that radon continuous monitoring could assist a better understanding of radon emissions, along active tectonic structures, during seismic events.

Paleodiet characterisation of an Etrurian population of Pontecagnano (Italy) by Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)(#).

Human bones recovered from the archaeological site of Pontecagnano (Salerno, Italy) have been studied to reconstruct the diet of an Etrurian population. Two different areas were investigated, named Library and Sant' Antonio, with a total of 44 tombs containing human skeletal remains, ranging in age from the 8th to the 3rd century B.C. This time span was confirmed by 14C dating obtained using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) on one bone sample from each site. Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) was used to extract information about the concentration of Sr, Zn, Ca elements in the bone inorganic fraction, whilst stable isotope ratio measurements (IRMS) were carried out on bone collagen to obtain the delta13C and delta15N. A reliable technique has been used to extract and separate the inorganic and organic fractions of the bone remains. Both IRMS and AAS results suggest a mixed diet including C3 plant food and herbivore animals, consistent with archaeological indications.

137Cs, 60Co and 40K uptake by lettuce plants in two distributions of soil contamination.

(137)Cs and (60)Co, two of the radionuclides more representative of discharges from nuclear facilities, are of interest for radiological protections because of their great mobility in biosphere and affinity with biological systems. The aim of the present work is the investigation of the possible influence of the vertical distribution of (137)Cs and (60)Co in soil upon their uptake by lettuce as function of plant's growth. An experiment ad hoc has been carried out in field conditions. The results show that (i) the transfer of (137)Cs and (60)Co from soil to lettuce is independent by their distribution in soil, (ii) the soil-plant transfer factors of (137)Cs and (60)Co show a similar trend vs. growth stage, (iii) the (40)K transfer factor trend is different from those of anthropogenic radionuclides, and (iv) (137)Cs and (60)Co specific activities are about 1Bq/kg, in the mature vegetable with soil activity from 9 to 21kBq/m(2).