Study of 210Po and 210Pb in the riverine environments of coastal Karnataka

Activity of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb were measured in soil and sediment samples collected from the major rivers Kali, Sharavathi and Netravathi of Coastal Karnataka. The activity of these two radionuclides were determined by radiochemical separation of ²¹⁰Po and counting the activity using a ZnS(Ag) Alpha counter. The activity of ²¹⁰Pb was higher than that of ²¹⁰Po in the riverine environs. The ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb content in sediment was found to increase with silt/clay and organic matter contents. However no significant correlation was found between the activity ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb with pH in sediments. The activity of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb and influence of physico-chemical parameters on these radionuclides were studied and discussed in this paper.     

Environmental fate of Ra in cation-exchange regeneration brine waste disposed to septic tanks, New Jersey Coastal Plain, USA: migration to the water table

Fate of radium (Ra) in liquid regeneration brine wastes from water softeners disposed to septic tanks in the New Jersey Coastal Plain was studied. Before treatment, combined Ra (²²⁶Ra plus ²²⁸Ra) concentrations (maximum, 1.54 Bq L⁻¹) exceeded the 0.185 Bq L⁻¹ Maximum Contaminant Level in 4 of 10 studied domestic-well waters (median pH, 4.90). At the water table downgradient from leachfields, combined Ra concentrations were low (commonly ≤0.019 Bq L⁻¹) when pH was >5.3, indicating sequestration; when pH was ≤5.3 (acidic), concentrations were elevated (maximum, 0.985 Bq L⁻¹ - greater than concentrations in corresponding discharged septic-tank effluents (maximum, 0.243 Bq L⁻¹)), indicating Ra mobilization from leachfield sediments. Confidence in quantification of Ra mass balance was reduced by study design limitations, including synoptic sampling of effluents and ground waters, and large uncertainties associated with analytical methods. The trend of Ra mobilization in acidic environments does match observations from regional water-quality assessments.     

Rn concentration in public secondary schools in Galicia (Spain)

In the framework of a ²²²Rn screening campaign that was carried out in 58 public secondary schools in Galicia (NW Spain), the largest radon-prone area in the Iberian Peninsula, a positive correlation between indoor ²²²Rn concentration and outdoor gamma exposure rate was obtained. A new approach to the data acquisition in screening surveys was tested, improving the performances of this type of study and gathering useful data for future remedial actions. Using short-period detectors (charcoal canisters) firstly, in order to detect places showing ²²²Rn concentrations over 400 Bq m⁻³, the number of locations to be measured with long-period detectors (etched track detectors) is reduced. In this screening campaign, 34% of the schools surveyed presented at least one site exceeding the 400 Bq m⁻³ recommended action level established by the EU, and 15% had at least one site with ²²²Rn values over 800 Bq m⁻³. The maximum value recorded was 2084 ± 63 Bq m⁻³. These results are discussed and compared with data obtained in schools of several countries with similar geology. Seven schools were also studied for seasonal variations of ²²²Rn activity concentration. The results were not conclusive, and no significant correlation between season and ²²²Rn concentration was established. Finally, a continuous ²²²Rn concentration monitor was placed in the secondary school exhibiting a mean value of the ²²²Rn concentration very close to 400 Bq m⁻³. Maximum ²²²Rn concentration values were found to occur at times when the school was unoccupied.     

Natural radioactivity levels in topsoil from the Pearl River Delta Zone, Guangdong, China

Concentrations of the natural radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K have been measured by γ-ray spectrometry in 796 topsoil samples from the Pearl River Delta Zone (PRDZ) of Guangdong, China. The mean concentrations for ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were found to be 140 ± 37 Bq kg⁻¹, 134 ± 41 Bq kg⁻¹, 187 ± 80 Bq kg⁻¹ and 680 ± 203 Bq kg⁻¹ dry mass, respectively. These values were all higher than the mean values in soil for China and the world. Outdoor air-absorbed dose rates, calculated from activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K, ranged from 86 to 237 nGy h⁻¹, with a mean value of 165 ± 46 nGy h⁻¹. The corresponding annual outdoor effective dose rate per person was estimated to be between 0.11 and 0.29 mSv y⁻¹, with a mean value of 0.20 ± 0.06 mSv y⁻¹, which was also higher than the world mean value of 0.07 mSv y⁻¹. The radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq) and the external hazard index (I_r) resulted from the natural radionuclides in soil, were also calculated and found to vary from 230 to 676 Bq kg⁻¹ and from 0.6 to 1.8, respectively. The Ra_eq and the I_r in all the investigated regions were up to 75% higher than the set limits of 370 Bq kg⁻¹ and 1.0, respectively.     

通过测量氡的放射性来监测大气稳定度的新方法

介绍了一种通过测量氡和其短周期衰变产物的自然放射性来监测大气稳定度的新方法,该指标反映了低层大气边界层的混合特性,能够反映一次污染物的稀释扩散特征.将这种方法测量的大气稳定度与通用的帕斯奎尔分类法计算的稳定度进行对比,该方法不仅能准确反映大气稳定度长期趋势和昼夜变化,还能反映大气稳定度的瞬时变化,是解析环境污染数据,特别是一次污染物的有利工具.2007年在兰州市的观测结果显示PM10与大气稳定度的观测数值有很好的一致性趋势,表明低层大气的混合特性是决定一次污染物浓度的关键因素.     

上海市大气中人工放射性水平调查及评价

为掌握上海市大气中人工放射性本底水平，于１９８９年９月－１９９１年１１月进行了调查。调查结果，大气气溶胶采样后１天和采样后７天的总β放射性（包括人工的和天然的）浓度分别为９．３×１０＾－２Ｂｑ／ｍ＾３和２．６×１０＾－３Ｂｑ／ｍ＾３，其中＾９０Ｓｒ浓度＜１．８×１０＾－６Ｂｑ／ｍ＾３，＾１３７Ｃｓ浓度＜１．３×１０＾－５Ｂｑ／ｍ＾３；雨水沉降物总β放射性（包括人工的和天然的）沉降率为０．７８Ｂｑ／     

滇西临沧褐煤放射性水平及区域污染分析

通过对临沧及云南省褐煤中放射性核素238U2、32Th2、26Ra比活度调查,类比各煤种放射性水平,得出临沧褐煤为铀煤伴生矿。通过临沧铀锗煤中放射性核素在利用过程中的转移估量和临沧城区放射环境现状调查,分析铀锗煤矿利用形成的小区域辐射污染及对放射环境的影响,得出煤中放射性核素的二次污染导致了区域放射环境水平的提高。     

Maternal serum free α- and free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin in pregnancies with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: Implications for screening for Down's syndrome

A study was performed to investigate the concentrations of the α and β free sub-units of human chorionic gonadotrophin (free α-hCG and free β-hCG) in maternal serum between 15 and 22 weeks of pregnancy in 126 pregnancies among 92 women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Each IDDM pregnancy was matched with two control singleton pregnancies for gestational age (same completed week) and duration of sample storage (same calendar quarter). The median free α-hCG level in the IDDM pregnancies was 0·86 multiples of the median (MOM) for pregnancies without IDDM at the same gestational age (P<0·002) (95 per cent confidence interval 0·80–0·94). The corresponding free β-hCG level was 0·96 MOM (95 per cent confidence interval 0·85–1·09). These results enable free α-hCG values to be adjusted so that antenatal screening for Down's syndrome can be performed using this marker in IDDM pregnancies as well as in non-diabetic pregnancies.     

A pilot study of the relationship between multiple sclerosis and the physical environment in northwest Ireland

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease of unknown origin, but it is thought likely to have an environmental component in addition to genetic predisposition. It appears common in areas with underlying radon-producing granites. Radon exposure before the age of 15 years is postulated as a contributory cause in genetically susceptible individuals. Pilot studies were undertaken, with results which indicate that radon exposure may be a factor, and that the hypothesis warrants further investigation.     

液态锂铅合金残渣中微量氚的回收

氚提取的系统设计中,如何严格限制氚损失和减小其辐射风险是非常重要的问题.利用同位素交换法对模拟液态锂铅合金残渣中的微量氚进行回收.研究结果表明,同位素交换法对液态锂铅合金残渣中的氚回收是有效的;交换载带气的最佳组成为He 0.1% D2.载带气相同时,交换温度和交换次数对渣中氚的回收率有显著影响.温度越高、交换次数越多,氚回收率越高;823 K时,经过6次交换后的氚回收率接近80%.此外,依据气体与液态金属接触的动力学数学模型,推导出了锂铅合金滞留氚量释放的数学近似表达式.