Using tobacco plants as biomonitors of contaminated norm areas.

One of the largest biomonitoring tasks is the assessing and environment monitoring of radiological wastes produced by mining. Po-210 and Pb-210 are easy to mobilise even in a weak acidic medium and as we know the biological behaviour and accumulation capacity of tobacco, this could be a suitable option for biomonitoring. During our work the Pb-210 and Po-210 concentration values of tobacco parts and soil samples originating from a Hungarian remediated uranium mine site were determined. The source preparation was spontaneous deposition following combined acidic leaching with a Po-209 tracer; the detection was carried out with a semiconductor ('PIPS') detector alpha-spectrometer. According to the results for the tobacco plant parts and soil samples, secular equilibrium could be found between the Pb-210 and Po-210 isotopes, and the isotope content of the lower leaves of the tobacco plants was in correlation with the isotope concentration of the soil; therefore, the measurement of the activity concentration is suitable for tracing smaller levels of washing out. The Po-210 activity concentration values of tobacco (average: 15.5 ± 3.6 Bq kg(-1)) and soil (average: 60.1 ± 15.2 Bq kg(-1)) samples originating from the area investigated compared with samples from another part of Hungary, Balatonalmádi (tobacco: 12.5 ± 1.0 Bq kg(-1), soil: 57.0 ± 4.7 Bq kg(-1)), do not show significant radionuclide migration.

Tafel-analysis of the AP-CITROX decontamination technology of Inconel alloy 690.

Safe, effective, cost-effective, easy feasible and low-waste decontamination technologies are fundamental importance from environmental and radiation protection aspects. In this study the effectiveness of AP-CITROX decontamination technology of Inconel alloy 690 was investigated. Non-radioactive representative metal samples were formed to test of decontamination technology and the clear-, the corroded-, the decontaminated layer were analysed electrochemically. The results indicate that the passivation step of the technology was not completed.

Radon and thoron parallel measurements in Hungary.

Hungarian detectors modified and developed at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), Japan were placed at different sites, including homes and underground workplaces in Hungary, in order to gain information on the average radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) concentration levels. Measurements were carried out in dwellings in a village and a manganese mine in Hungary. The radon and thoron concentrations in the dwellings of the village in the summer period were found to be 154 (17-1083) and 98 (1-714) Bq m(-3), respectively. Considering the results of other radon measurements during the winter (814 Bq m(-3)) and summer (182 Bq m(-3)) periods, the thoron concentrations were also expected to be higher in winter. In the manganese mine, radon and thoron were measured at 20 points for 6 months, changing the detectors each month. The averages were 924 (308-1639) and 221 (61-510) Bq m(-3) for radon and thoron, respectively. These results showed significant variance with the date and place of the measurement.

Radiological and material characterization of high volume fly ash concrete.

The main goal of research presented in this paper was the material and radiological characterization of high volume fly ash concrete (HVFAC) in terms of determination of natural radionuclide content and radon emanation and exhalation coefficients. All concrete samples were made with a fly ash content between 50% and 70% of the total amount of cementitious materials from one coal burning power plant in Serbia. Physical (fresh and hardened concrete density) and mechanical properties (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of elasticity) of concrete were tested. The radionuclide content (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) and radon massic exhalation of HVFAC samples were determined using gamma spectrometry. Determination of massic exhalation rates of HVFAC and its components using radon accumulation chamber techniques combined with a radon monitor was performed. The results show a beneficial effect of pozzolanic activity since the increase in fly ash content resulted in an increase in compressive strength of HVFAC by approximately 20% for the same mass of cement used in the mixtures. On the basis of the obtained radionuclide content of concrete components the I -indices of different HVFAC samples were calculated and compared with measured values (0.27-0.32), which were significantly below the recommended 1.0 index value. The prediction was relatively close to the measured values as the ratio between the calculated and measured I-index ranged between 0.89 and 1.14. Collected results of mechanical and radiological properties and performed calculations clearly prove that all 10 designed concretes with a certain type of fly ash are suitable for structural and non-structural applications both from a material and radiological point of view.

Population dose in the vicinity of closed Hungarian uranium mine.

In order to determine the exposure to natural sources of radiation for people in the vicinity of remediated Hungarian uranium mine regional surveys were carried out. The surveys evaluated indoor radon concentrations and outdoor and indoor external gamma dose rates. Radon concentration has been measured with nuclear etched track detectors for 4 months in 129 houses in Kovágószolos and in 23 houses in Cserkút. In some houses measurements have been carried out for a year and the measurement results of the 4 months were corrected according to these. The corrected radon concentrations altered between 15 and 2314 Bq m(-3). An average of 257 Bq m(-3) in Kovágószolos and 125 Bq m(-3) in Cserkút was measured. The average was 434 Bq m(-3) for the 48 houses within 100 m of the passage of the former mine that is under the village of Kovágószolos. The higher values of Kovágószolos are likely to be the result of the influence of mining. The terrestrial gamma-ray dose rate was measured outdoors and indoors at these houses. Values of 139 (62-233) nGy h(-1) and 133 (93-275) nGy h(-1) were measured in Kovágószolos and Cserkút, respectively. The average annual effective doses for the two villages studied were 3 and 5 mSv y(-1), but the maximum value was 40 mSv y(-1).

Radiation dose from coal slag used as building material in the Transdanubian region of Hungary.

Coals mined in the Transdanubian region in Hungary have an elevated concentration of (226)Ra, which becomes enriched in the slag after burning. This slag has been used as filling and/or insulating material in building works. The aim of this study was to investigate the radiological situation in this territory in terms of the possible impact of this residual material from coal. Flats in three towns with a coal mine and a coal-fired power plant operating in their neighbourhood were examined. The radionuclide contents (including (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K) of the slag used for building were determined, and the slags were categorised according to the international standards and recommendations. The external gamma dose rate and the radon concentration in the sites were measured, and based on these data dose assessments were made. The (226)Ra concentration of the slag was 160-2,893 Bq kg(-1); the indoor gamma dose rates were 82-633 nGy h(-1); the radon concentration measured with a nuclear track detector varied from 29 to 1,310 Bq m(-3); the assessed dose contributions in the three towns were 0.65-1.57 mSv y(-1) due to gamma radiation and 2.2-15.2 mSv y(-1) due to radon.

Cost assessment of ventilation and averted dose due to radon in dwellings.

The inhalation dose due to radon and its progenies could be averted by ventilation in dwellings; however, on the other hand the increased ventilation augments the heating cost. Therefore a cost-benefit analysis could contribute to optimise the ventilation rate. In our current work we applied our former defined parameters of the optimising procedure to assess the optimised ventilation and radon concentration in dwellings with average parameters. To assess the inhalation dose rates the time-dependent concentrations of all the progenies were calculated in case of periodic and continuous ventilation as well, at three different radon entry rates (5, 10, 20kBqh(-1)). The optimal ventilation rates in case of continuous ventilation are 0.22, 0.40 and 0.66h(-1), respectively. By these conditions the optimal radon concentration takes 160-210Bqm(-3). According to the more detailed analysis the periodic ventilation gives, in general, a better solution than the continuous one. The Monte Carlo simulations provided a large uncertainty; therefore, before the practical application of the results the uncertainty should be decreased taken into account the local conditions.

Radionuclide content of NORM by-products originating from the coal-fired power plant in Oroszlány (Hungary).

At the Thermal Power Plant in Oroszlány (Hungary), a huge amount of by-products have been produced since 1961. In this survey, coal and other by-products were examined (fly ash, bottom ash, fluidised bed bottom ash, gypsum and slurry-type ash). The natural isotopes were determined using an HPGe detector. It was found that the radionuclide content of coal was significantly lower ((226)Ra = 45.3±6.3, (232)Th = 26.3±5.7 and (40)K = 210±21 Bq kg(-1)) than that in the case of ashes other than the fluidised type. The average values of the bottom ash-deposited in the largest quantities-were three times higher than those for coal ((226)Ra = 144±18, (232)Th = 84.3±14 and (40)K = 260±25 Bq kg(-1)). In the case of fractionised bottom ash, the radionuclide content of <0.1 mm was 45 % higher than that of >1.6 mm and the massic radon exhalation of <0.1 mm was approximately four times higher than that above this range.

Preparation and characterisation of ceramic-based thoron sources for thoron calibration chamber.

The aim of this study is to explore the correlations between the properties of the source's material and the thoron flux produced. This means a complex procedure that involves morphological characterisation (the determination of specific surface area and pore size distribution) and thoron emanation and exhalation measurements as well. In this work, the preparation of 27 thoron sources has been carried out. Three types of ceramics with different morphological properties were used as a matrix material with three different thorium contents. Spheres were formed from the dollop, and they were fired at different temperatures (200, 600 and 900°C). The phase analysis of the samples was performed by powder X-ray diffraction. The pore size distribution was determined by mercury penetration. The thoron emanation was measured using an accumulation chamber; the measured thoron emanation coefficients were from 0.34 ± 0.03 to 7.69 ± 0.13 %. Based on the results, the preparation parameters of the thoron source optimised for the calibration procedure have been given.

Radiation hazard of coal-slags as building material in Tatabánya town (Hungary).

High concentrations of 226Ra (865-2,383 Bq kg(1)) were measured in the coal-slags, originated from the region of the settlement Tatabánya, Transdanubian Middle Mountains, Hungary. These slags are commonly used as building materials in this district. The external gamma dose rate was measured in 188 rooms at different heights above the floor. In 124 rooms with slags used for construction, the average absorbed dose rate was 296 nGy h(-1). In 10 apartments the average radon concentration was 502 Bq m(-3). In that case the estimated effective dose due to inhaled radon and its progeny and gamma radiation was 10.3 mSv y(-1).

Concentration of 226Ra in Hungarian bottled mineral water.

Concentration of the radionuclide 226Ra was determined in almost every type of bottled mineral water commercially available in Hungary. Determination of the radon coming from the radium dissolved in the water was used for activity measurement. As the results show, the 226Ra concentrations exceed the level of 100 mBq l(-1) in six cases out of the 28 types of mineral water investigated. In one case 3 Bq l(-1) was measured, which provides 0.3 mSv year(-1) committed effective dose for adults in the case of a consumption rate of 1 l day(-1). In soft drinks produced from mineral water a concentration of 2.6 Bq l(-1) was determined, which means 1.4 mSv year(-1) effective dose in the age group 12-17 years in the case of permanent daily drinking of 1 l of these beverages.

238U, 226Ra, 210Po concentrations of bottled mineral waters in Hungary and their committed effective dose.

Nowadays the consumption of bottled mineral waters has become very popular. The average consumption of these is 0.36 l d(-1) per person in Europe. A considerable segment of the population drinks almost only mineral water as drinking water, which is about 1 l d(-1). As is known, some kinds of mineral waters contain naturally occurring radionuclides in higher concentration than the usual drinking (tap) water. The WHO (1993) legislation concerning the drinking waters does not include the mineral waters. In our work, the concentrations of (226)Ra, (238)U and (210)Po were determined in mineral waters available in Hungary. To determine the (226)Ra concentration the emanation method was used. The (238)U and (210)Po concentrations were determined by alpha spectrometry using semiconductor detector. The dose contribution was calculated using the radionuclide concentrations and the dose conversion factors from the Basic Safety Standard IAEA (1995), for 1 l d(-1) mineral water consumption. In some cases the calculated doses were considerable higher than the limit for drinking waters. Especially for children the doses can be remarkably high.

Occupational and patient doses in the therapeutic cave, Tapolca (Hungary).

The radon concentration has been measured for three years in a hospital cave used for medical treatment of respiratory diseases. A mean value of the actual equilibrium factor measured in the cave in different seasons was used, different from the commonly used 0.4. The dose contribution to the patients and the staff was calculated using these data. The results of the dose assessment show that the staff in the hospital cave can receive doses up to the dose limit for occupational exposure (20 mSv y(-1)) when working 4 h per day in the cave. Patients receive 0.18-4.22 mSv committed effective dose during the treatment period depending on the exposure periods. The only solution to reduce the dose to the staff seems to be decreasing the time they spend underground, because intensive ventilation would disturb the special microclimate of the cave.

Calibration of CR-39-based thoron progeny device.

Radon isotopes and their progenies have proven significant role in respiratory tumour formation. In most cases, the radiological effect of one of the radon isotopes (thoron) and its progenies has been neglected together with its measurement technique; however, latest surveys proved that thoron's existence is expectable in flats and in workplace in Europe. Detectors based on different track detector measurement technologies have recently spread for measuring thoron progenies; however, the calibration is not yet completely elaborated. This study deals with the calibration of the track detector measurement method suitable for measuring thoron progenies using different devices with measurement techniques capable of measuring several progenies (Pylon AB5 and WLx, Sarad EQF 3220). The calibration factor values related to the thoron progeny monitors, the measurement uncertainty, reproducibility and other parameters were found using the calibration chamber. In the future, the effects of the different parameters (aerosol distribution, etc.) will be determined.

The activity concentration of 210Po in Romanian commercial cigarettes and the radiation exposure estimation derived from their regular consumption.

Due to the relatively high activity concentrations of (210)Po that are found in tobacco, cigarette smoking has been found to be the principal pathway of the intake of this radionuclide. The (210)Po concentrations in the lung tissues may contribute significantly to an increase in the internal radiation dose and in the number of instances of lung cancer observed among smokers. The study of (210)Po in tobacco is required due to its potential for human radiation exposure through ingestion and inhalation. The risk factor caused by (210)Po in Romanian commercial cigarettes is not yet evaluated. Ten of the most frequently smoked brands of cigarettes sold in Romania were investigated in this work for this purpose. The activity concentration of (210)Po was determined by alpha spectrometry using a PIPS detector after chemical leaching and spontaneous deposition of (210)Po on a stainless steel disc from diluted HCl solution. The samples were spiked with (209)Po for chemical recovery calculation. The (210)Po activity concentrations of the measured types of cigarettes ranged from 4.65 to 10.22 mBq sample(-1) and the resulted average concentration of (210)Po isotopes is 8.35±0.80 mBq cigarette(-1) (the errors form a 2σ interval of confidence). When comparing the results of this study with the activity concentration values reported by other countries it was found that the results of this study are in the lower end of the world range. The estimation of this study shows that cigarette smokers, who are smoking one pack (20 cigarettes) per day, are exposed to an effective dose of 75.51 µSv y(-1).

Radon emanation and exhalation characteristic of heat-treated clay samples.

The exhaled radon originated from building materials corresponds to the indoor radon activity concentration. One of the most commonly used building materials is the brick made from clay by heat treatment. In this study, the radon emanation and radon exhalation features of clay samples are presented as a function of heat applied (100-950°C). The free radon exhalation was determined with the help of radon accumulation kit. The initial radon exhalation value continuously reduced owing to the increased temperature. In the case of the highest temperature treated sample, the measured exhalation was <1 % of the original. The tendency of the loss relates to the internal structure modification, which was also investigated (porosity, specific surface and superficial morphology by environmental scanning electron microscope snapshots). On the basis of the obtained result, it can be safely stated that strong correlation can be observed between the internal structural changes and the found exhalation profile.

Radiological investigation of the effects of red mud disaster.

On 4 October 2010, the gate of a red mud waste dump of a Hungarian alumina factory was damaged and ∼800.000 m(3) of alkaline red mud flooded the vicinity of the dumps. Red mud samples were collected from the contaminated area and they were investigated from the radiological point of view. The activity concentrations were as follows: (232)Th: 264 (194-337) Bq kg(-1), (238)U: 265 (197-332) Bq kg(-1), (226)Ra: 180 (143-237) Bq kg(-1), (40)K: 283 (228-360) Bq kg(-1). As a function of the moisture content (0-28 %), the obtained radon emanation coefficients were relatively high (7.6-20 %) and, consequently, the radon exhalation also increased.

Preliminary results from an indoor radon thoron survey in Hungary.

More than half of the radiation dose of natural origin comes from radon. However, according to some surveys in certain cases, the radiation dose originating from thoron may be considerable. Among the factors disturbing the measurement of radon, the presence of thoron may also influence the measured radon value, making the estimated radiation exposure imprecise. Thoron has previously been surveyed, mainly in Asia; however, recent surveys for some European locations have found that significant thoron concentrations also need to be considered. In this survey, several types of commercially available SSNTDs (solid-state nuclear track detectors) capable of measuring both radon and thoron were placed at the same time in 73 houses and 7 workplaces in Hungary with 3-month exposition periods. In order to measure thoron, the distance of the detector sets was fixed as 15-20 cm from the walls. The radon concentration was measured with five types of SSNTDs: NRPB, NRPB SSI, Raduet, DTPS and DRPS. The first four types had relatively good accordance (within ± 10 %), but the results of the DRPS detectors were considerably lower when compared with other detectors for radon concentrations over 100 Bq m(-3). The thoron averages were provided by two different types of detectors: Raduet and DTPS. The difference between their average results was more than 30 % and was six times the maximum values. Therefore, the thoron measurement results were judged to be erroneous, and their measurement protocol should be clearly established for future work.

Dependence of radon emanation of red mud bauxite processing wastes on heat treatment.

Natural radioactivity content, radon emanation and some other physical characteristics of red mud were investigated, so that to identify the possibilities of the safe utilization of such material as a building material additive. Based on the radionuclide concentration, red mud is not permitted to be used directly as a building material, however, mixing of a maximum 20% red mud and 80% clay meets the requirements. The main aim of this work was to determine the dependence of the emanation factor of red mud firing temperature and some other parameters. The relevant experimental procedure was carried out in two different ways: without any additional material, and by adding a known amount of sawdust (5-35 wt%) then firing the sample at a given temperature (100-1000 degrees C). The average emanation factor of the untreated dry red mud was estimated to 20%, which decreased to about 5% at a certain heat treatment. Even lower values were found using semi-reductive atmosphere. It has been concluded that all emanation measurements results correlate well to the firing temperature, the specific surface and the pore volume.