Title: Comparison of radionuclide ratios in atmospheric nuclear explosions and nuclear releases from Chernobyl and Fukushima seen in gamma ray spectrometry
Author: J. I. Friese, R. F. Kephart, D. D. Lucas
Reference: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry , May 2013, Volume 296, Issue 2, pp 899-903
DOI: 10.1007/s10967-012-2213-0
Keywords : CTBT, Chernobyl, Fukushima, Radionuclide monitoring, Gamma spectroscopy
Abstract: The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty has remote radionuclide monitoring followed by an On Site Inspection (OSI) to clarify the nature of a suspect event as part of its verification regime. An important aspect of radionuclide measurements on site is the discrimination of other potential sources of similar radionuclides such as reactor accidents or medical isotope production. The Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear reactor disasters offer two different reactor source term environmental inputs that can be compared against historical measurements of nuclear explosions. The comparison of whole-sample gamma spectrometry measurements from these three events and the analysis of similarities and differences are presented. This analysis is a step toward confirming what is needed for measurements during an OSI under the auspices of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10967-012-2213-0
Title: Care of children in a natural disaster: lessons learned from the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami
Author: Takeo Yonekura, Shigeru Ueno, Tadashi Iwanaka
Reference: Pediatric Surgery International, October 2013, Volume 29, Issue 10, pp 1047-1051
DOI: 10.1007/s00383-013-3405-6
Keywords: Earthquake, Tsunami, Nuclear accident, Natural disaster, Children
Abstract: The Great East Japan earthquake was one of the most devastating natural disasters ever to hit Japan. We present features of the disaster and the radioactive accident in Fukushima. About 19,000 are dead or remain missing mainly due to the tsunami, but children accounted for only 6.5 % of the deaths. The Japanese Society of Pediatric Surgeons set up the Committee of Aid for Disaster, and collaborated with the Japanese Society of Emergency Pediatrics to share information and provide pediatric medical care in the disaster area. Based on the lessons learned from the experiences, the role of pediatric surgeons and physicians in natural disasters is discussed.
ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00383-013-3405-6
Title: Plutonium, 90Sr and 241Am in human bones from southern and northeastern parts of Poland
Author: Kamil Brudecki, Jerzy W. Mietelski, Robert Anczkiewicz, Edward B. Golec, Ewa Tomankiewicz,
Konstanty Kuźma, Paweł Zagrodzki, Joanna Golec, Sebastian Nowak, Elżbieta Szczygieł, Zbigniew Dudkiewicz
Reference: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Volume 299, Issue 3 , pp 1379-1388
DOI: 10.1007/s10967-013-2850-y
Keywords: Plutonium, Americium, Strontium, Chernobyl, Mass spectrometry, Pu isotopic ratios, Human bones
Abstract: The paper presents the results of our study on 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Am and 90Sr concentration in human bones carried out on a set of 88 individual samples of central Europe origin. Bone tissue samples were retrieved under surgery while introducing hip joint implants. The conducted surgeries tend to cover either southern or northeastern parts of Poland. While for the southern samples only global fallout was expected to be seen, a mixed global and Chernobyl fallout were to be reflected in the others. Alpha spectrometry was applied to obtain activity concentration for 238Pu, 239+240Pu, 241Am, while liquid scintillation spectrometry for 90Sr and mass spectrometry to receive 240Pu/239Pu mass ratio. Surprisingly enough, and to the contrary to our expectations we could not see any significant differences in either Pu activity or Pu mass ratio between the studied populations. In both populations Chernobyl fraction proved marginal. The results on 90Sr and 241Am confirm similarities between the two examined groups.
ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10967-013-2850-y
Title: Soil-to-mushroom transfer of 137Cs, 40K, alkali–alkaline earth element and heavy metal in forest sites of Izmir, Turkey
Author: Özlem Karadeniz, Günseli Yaprak
Reference: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry , April 2011, Volume 288, Issue 1, pp 261-270
DOI: 10.1007/s10967-010-0908-7
Keywords: Soil to mushroom transfer, 137Cs, 40K, Alkali–alkaline earth elements, Heavy metals
Abstract: The present work is devoted to an investigation on the soil to mushroom transfer parameters for 137Cs and 40K radionuclides, as well as for some stable elements and heavy metals. The results of transfer factors for 137Cs and 40K were within the range of 0.06–3.15 and 0.67–5.68, respectively and the most efficiently transferred radionuclide was 40K. The TF values for 137Cs typically conformed to a lognormal distribution, while for 40K showed normal distribution. Statistically significant correlations between 137Cs soil to mushroom transfer factors and agrochemical soil properties have been revealed. Although the concentration ratios varied within the species, the most efficiently transferred elements seems to have been K, followed by Rb, Zn, Cu, Cd, S, Cs and Hg.
ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10967-010-0908-7
Title: 90Sr, 238U, 234U, 137Cs, 40K and 239/240Pu in Emmental type cheese produced in different regions of Western Europe
Author: P. Froidevaux, , J.-J. Geering, L. Pillonel, J.-O. Bosset, J.-F. Valley
Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 72, Issue 3, 2004, Pages 287–298
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0265-931X(03)00179-6
Keywords: Strontium-90; Cheese; Uranium isotopes; Milk-to-cheese transfer; Food authenticity
Abstract: A method is presented for the determination of 90Sr and uranium in Emmental type cheese collected in dairy plants from different European countries. Results display a significant correlation (r=0.708, Student t-test=6.02) between the 90Sr content of the cheese and the altitude of grazing. The highest 90Sr activity is 1.13 Bq kg−1 of cheese and the lowest is 0.29 Bq kg−1. Uranium activity is very low with a highest 238U value of 27 mBq kg−1. In addition, 234U/238U ratio shows a large enrichment in 234U for every location. Without any significant indication of the geographic origin of the cheese, this enrichment is believed to be due to the geological features of the pasture, soil and underground water. These results tend to prove that the contamination of milk by uranium originates principally from the water that the cows drink instead of the forage. This finding may have a great importance in models dealing with dairy food contamination by radionuclides following a nuclear accident. Also, the 90Sr content and to a lesser extent the 234U/238U ratio could be used to trace the authenticity of the origin of the cheese. 137Cs activity is lower than the detection limit of 0.1 Bq kg−1 in all the samples collected (n=20). Based on natural 40K activity in cheese (15–21 Bq kg−1), the decontamination factor for the alkaline cations from milk to cheese is about 20. Plutonium activity stays below the detection limit of 0.3 mBq kg−1.
ＵＲＬ：http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X03001796
Title: Concentration of 137Cs and 40K in meat of omnivore and herbivore game species in mountain forest ecosystems of Gorski Kotar, Croatia
Author: Nikica Šprem, Ivan Babić, Domagoj Barišić, Delko Barišić
Reference: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, October 2013, Volume 298, Issue 1, pp 513-517
DOI: 10.1007/s10967-013-2475-1
Keywords: Game meat, 137Cs, 40K, Omnivore, Herbivore, Mountain forest ecosystem
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate 137Cs and 40K load in large mammal game species in the mountain forest region of Gorski Kotar in Croatia approximately a quarter of century after the Chernobyl accident. 137Cs and 40K activity were determined by the gamma-spectrometric method in 49 meat samples of five large game species: brown bear (Ursus arctos), wild boar (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). The results indicated that herbivore game species (roe deer, red deer and chamois) show significantly lower 137Cs concentrations than omnivore species (brown bear, wild boar), thereby confirming the hypothesis that different dietary strategy impact caesium concentrations in meat. The measured caesium load in brown bear meat was in the range of two orders of magnitude, while caesium load in wild boar meat was found in the range of one order of magnitude. The estimated effective equivalent dose showed that uptake of the highest caesium doses would be from consumption of omnivore species meat, while much lower doses could be taken in with the consumption of meat from herbivore species.
ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10967-013-2475-1
Title: Studies of 90Sr presence in milk and commercial dairy products
Author: M. Kruk, J. Solecki
Reference: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry , November 2011, Volume 290, Issue 2, pp 325-332
DOI: 10.1007/s10967-011-1395-1
Keywords: 90Sr, Milk, Dairy products, Weighted effective doses
Abstract: The aim of this article was to present the studies of radiological level of some commercial dairy products in Mazovian, Kuyavian—Pomeranian and Lublin regions. They were carried out for 27 commercial dairy products such as two specimens of lean cottage cheese, three specimens of cottage cheese containing a limited percentage of fat, three specimens of fat cottage cheese, three specimens of milk containing 3.2% of fat, three specimens of milk containing 2.0% of fat, two specimens of sour cream containing 12% of fat, three specimens of sour cream containing 18% of fat, one specimen of 30% whipping cream, two specimens of homogenized (strawberry and vanilla) cheese, three specimens of hard rennet cheese, one specimen of powdered milk, one specimen of goat milk. For the given commercial dairy products there were calculated effective doses (μSv) obtained after consumption of 1 kg contaminated product for different age groups.
ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10967-011-1395-1
Title: Pu and Am sorption to the Baltic Sea bottom sediments
Author: G. Lujanienė, P. Beneš, K. Štamberg, K. Jokšas, I. Kulakauskaitė
Reference: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry , March 2013, Volume 295, Issue 3, pp 1957-1967
DOI: 10.1007/s10967-012-2281-1
Keywords: Pu(IV), Pu(V), Bottom sediments, Seawater, Sorption
Abstract: Sorption of Am and Pu isotopes to bottom sediments of the Baltic Sea has been studied under natural and laboratory conditions. Data obtained from sequential extraction, sorption of Am(III), Pu(IV) and Pu(V) as well as oxidation state distribution experiments have shown that Pu(V) sorption mechanism includes a very fast Pu(V) reduction (reaction rate ≤ 2.33 × 10−3 s−1) to Pu(IV) by humic substances and/or by Fe(II) to Pu(IV) and partly to Pu(III). Following reduction Pu isotopes were bound to various components of bottom sediments via ion exchange and surface complexation reactions and a slow incorporation into the crystalline structure of Fe minerals. Kinetics experiments showed that the sorption of Pu(V), Pu(IV) and Am(III) to bottom sediments from natural seawater was controlled by the inert layer diffusion process.
ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10967-012-2281-1
Title: 137Cs, 40K, alkali–alkaline earth element and heavy metal concentrations in wild mushrooms from Turkey
Author: Özlem Karadeniz, Günseli Yaprak
Reference: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry , September 2010, Volume 285, Issue 3, pp 611-619
DOI: 10.1007/s10967-010-0575-8
Keywords: Mushroom, 137Cs, 40K, Internal dose, Alkali–alkaline earth elements, Heavy metals
Abstract: In 2002, an extensive study was performed in forest sites of Izmir. This first study results led on the one hand, to quantify of 137Cs and 40K concentration in mushrooms collected in the Izmir region and to a first evaluation of dose in people due to the ingestion of radionuclide-contaminated mushrooms. The mushroom concentration values varied over a wide range from below detection limit to 401 ± 4 Bq kg−1 (dry wt) for 137Cs. The 40K concentration values obtained for different species of mushrooms ranged from 588 ± 26 Bq kg−1 to 2024 ± 63 Bq kg−1 (dry wt). The annual effective dose values due to mushroom ingestion for 137Cs are lower than the ICRP-2007’s reference level value of 1 mSv for “existing” exposure situation. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was used to measure many alkali–alkaline earth elements and heavy metals in mushroom samples. The relationships among the concentrations of 137Cs and the stable elements were presented and the occurrence of metals in mushrooms was evaluated.
ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10967-010-0575-8
Title: Environmental radioactivity measurements in north–western Greece following the Fukushima nuclear accident
Author: K. Ioannides, K. Stamoulis, C. Papachristodoulou
Reference: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry , November 2013, Volume 298, Issue 2, pp 1207-1213
DOI: 10.1007/s10967-013-2527-6
Keywords: Fukushima, Radioiodine, Radiocaesium, Dose assessment, Greece
Abstract: The impact of the Fukushima nuclear accident in north–western Greece was assessed through an environmental monitoring programme activated by the Nuclear Physics Laboratory of the University of Ioannina. Measurements of 131I were carried out in atmospheric particulate, ovine milk and grass samples. In daily aerosol samplings, radioiodine was first detected on March 25–26, 2011 and reached maximum levels, up to 294 μBq m−3, between April 2 and April 4, 2011. In ovine milk samples, 131I concentrations ranged from 2.0 to 2.7 Bq L−1 between April 2 and April 6, 2011, while an average activity of 2.7 Bq kg−1 was measured in grass samples on April 4, 2011. The 134,137Cs isotopes were below detection limits in all samples and could only be determined in the air, by analysis of multiple daily filters. A maximum average activity concentration of 137Cs amounting to 24 μBq m−3 was measured during the period from April 5 to April 9, 2011, with the 134Cs/137Cs activity ratio being close to unity. Activity concentrations were consistent with measurements conducted in other parts of the country and were well below those reported in May 1986 after the Chernobyl accident. The committed effective dose to the whole body and to the thyroid gland from inhalation of 131I was estimated for the adult and infant population and was found to be of no concern for the public health.
ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10967-013-2527-6
