Evaluations of N-(Isobutoxymethyl) acrylamide gel dosimeter by NMR technique for radiotherapy and uncertainty in dose measurements.

N-(Isobutoxymethyl) acrylamide (NIBMA) monomer in gelatin, named NIBMAGAT gel dosimeter, was prepared and investigated by nuclear magnetic imaging (NMR) for radiotherapy in the dose range of 0-30 Gy. NIBMA monomer polymerizes upon irradiation, increasing spin-spin relaxation rate R2. The addition of glycerol as a co-solvent in the gel matrix improved its radiation sensitivity better than the co-solvents of acetone and methanol. The increase of glycerol content by 1% wt/wt enhanced the sensitivity by ˜ 3.1%. This gel has better radiation sensitivity as compared to the polyacrylamide gel (PAG) dosimeter; the sensitivities of NIBMAGAT gel and normoxic polyacrylamide gel (nPAG) are ≈0.13 and ≈0.1 s-1.Gy-1, respectively. By comparing NIBMAGAT gel dosimeter with PAG, nMAG and nPAG gel dosimeters, NIBMAGAT gel dosimeter is less influenced by scanning temperature than the last three dosimeters. The gel is water equivalent and has an energy-independent response from 80 keV to 20 MeV. The overall uncertainty of dose measurement using NIBMAGAT gel is 5.46% at 2σ. Our findings suggest the applicability of using NIBMAGAT gel dosimeter by NMR technique for dose verification/planning in the practice of clinical radiotherapy.

Gamma-ray induced degradation of diazinon and atrazine in natural groundwaters.

Degradation of diazinon and atrazine pesticides present in natural groundwaters was investigated on a laboratory scale upon gamma-irradiation from a (60)Co source. The effects of pesticide type, initial concentration, characteristics of natural groundwater, potential radical scavengers and absorbed dose on efficiency of pesticide degradation were investigated using GC-MS. gamma-Irradiation experiments were carried out for three concentrations (i.e. 0.329, 1.643 and 3.286 microM/diazinon and 0.464, 2.318 and 4.636 microM/atrazine) with irradiation doses over the range 0.5-5.6 kGy for diazinon and 0.2-21 kGy for atrazine. gamma-Radiolysis showed that diazinon was much easier to degrade by ionizing radiation compared to atrazine in all natural groundwater samples. This was observed at the three initial concentrations over the range irradiation doses. The irradiation doses required for degradation of 50 and 90% diazinon (distilled water) and atrazine (humic aqueous solution) at the three concentrations were not sufficient to degrade the same concentrations in different natural groundwater samples. Moreover, the presence of naturally occurring inorganic scavengers in solutions of diazinon and atrazine decreased significantly the efficiency of radiolytic degradation of pesticides, especially at higher concentrations.

Radiolytic degradation of atrazine aqueous solution containing humic substances.

Degradation of atrazine herbicide in humic substances (HS) aqueous solutions and distilled water solutions was investigated on a laboratory scale upon gamma-irradiation from a (60)Co source. In addition, the effect of ionizing radiation on the atrazine residues removal efficiency was investigated in relation to degradation of by-products. gamma-Irradiation experiments were carried out for three targeted concentrations (i.e. 0.464, 2.318 and 4.636 microM) with doses over the range 0.1-60 kGy. The initial concentration of herbicide, scavengers and irradiation doses play a significant role in the degradation efficiency as shown by decay constants of atrazine residues. gamma-Radiolysis showed that atrazine exhibited high degradation percentages at low absorbed doses in HS aqueous solutions compared to distilled water solutions. Absorbed doses from 0.6 to 21 kGy and from 6 to 72 kGy at a dose rate of 14.52 kGyh(-1) achieved 90% degradation for atrazine with initial concentrations over the range 0.464-4.636 microM in humic and distilled water solutions, respectively. The radiolytic degradation by-products and their mass balances were qualitatively determined with good confidence using gas chromatography/quadruple mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with electron impact ionization (EI(+)) mode.