Temporal variation of 212Pb concentration in outdoor air of Milan and a comparison with 214Bi

Continuous measurement of hourly concentrations of 212Pb attached to aerosol particles was carried out during the whole year 2000 in the outdoor air of Milan (Italy). An improved experimental method based on on-line alpha spectroscopy during atmospheric particulate matter sampling allowed the contemporary determination of 212Pb and 214Bi through the deconvolution of the alpha energy spectral distribution analysis. The 212Pb hourly concentrations were about 100 times lower than 214Bi but showed a similar characteristic diurnal time trend. However, the influence of meteorological parameters such as rain and wind was more evident in 212Pb than in 214Bi concentrations. The 212Pb average annual concentration was 0.090 +/- 0.060 Bq/m3 with daily mean concentration varying from 0.013 to 0.333 Bq/m3.     

The temporal variations of (7)Be, (210)Pb and (210)Po in air in England

We have conducted measurements of naturally occurring radionuclides (7)Be, (210)Pb and (210)Po in air at ground level at Chilton, Oxfordshire, England. The sampling and analysis regime for the latter two isotopes has been optimised to minimise uncertainties in measurement due to decay of (210)Po and in-growth of (210)Pb during the sampling and analysis period. Analysis times were reduced by using Cerenkov counting to assay the (210)Bi daughter of (210)Pb. Monthly data collected over a four-year period are presented and discussed. (7)Be activity concentrations appear to peak in spring. (210)Pb activity concentrations also follow a seasonal trend reflecting different (222)Rn emanation rates from soil during winter and summer. Data for (210)Po show no such trend.     

7Be to 210Pb concentration ratio in ground level air in Belgrade area

7Be to 210Pb concentration ratios in ground level air on two monitoring stations (MS1 and MS2) in Belgrade area were determined from 1996 to 2001. The average monthly concentrations of 7Be in ground level air were in the range of 0.6-18.3 mBq/m3 and exhibited one or two summer/early fall maxims and one minimum in winter. The maximum concentrations for 210Pb were generally observed in the fall, with the average concentrations in the range of 1.09 x 10(-4) to 30.9 x 10(-4) Bq/m3. The 7Be/210Pb ratios were in the range of 1.7-12.7 (MS1) and 1.8-11.3 (MS2), with summer maxims and late fall/winter minimums. The mean Radionuclides Loading Indices values approach zero except for 1996/1997 (MS1) and 2001 (MS2) due to higher concentrations of 7Be and 210Pb. The mean monthly concentrations of both radionuclides exhibited lognormal distributions. There is significant correlation between the 7Be/210Pb activities ratio and the air stability classes A + B + C for both monitoring stations (correlation coefficients 0.61-0.65), and no correlation with D class and E + F classes. Correlation was found between the activity of 7Be and air stability classes A + B + C (0.46-0.68), and E + F (0.38 for MS1), while for 210Pb, a moderate correlation (0.38-0.40) was found with the E + F air stability classes.     

Speciation of 210Po and 210Pb in air particulates determined by sequential extraction

Speciation of (210)Po and (210)Pb in air particulates of two Syrian phosphate sites with different climate conditions has been studied. The sites are the mines and Tartous port at the Mediterranean Sea. Air filters were collected during September 2000 until February 2002 and extracted chemically using different selective fluids in an attempt to identify the different forms of these two radionuclides. The results have shown that the inorganic and insoluble (210)Po and (210)Pb (attached to silica and soluble in mineral acids) portion was found to be high in both sites and reached a maximum value of 94% and 77% in the mine site and Tartous port site, respectively. In addition, only 24% of (210)Pb in air particulates was found to be associated with organic materials probably produced from the incomplete burning of fuel vehicle and similar activities. Moreover, the (210)Po/(210)Pb activity ratio in air particulates was higher than that in all samples at both sites and varied between 3.85 in November 2000 at Tartous port site and 20 in April 2001 at the mine area. These activity ratios were also higher than the natural levels. The (210)Po/(210)Pb activity ratio was also determined in each portion resulting from the selective extraction and found to be higher than that in most samples. The sources of (210)Po excess in these portions are discussed. Soil suspension, which is common in the dry climate dominant in the area, sea water spray and heating of phosphate ores were considered; polonium is more volatile than the lead compounds at even moderate temperature. Furthermore, variations in the chemical forms of (210)Po and (210)Pb during the year were also investigated. However, the results of this study can also be utilized for dose assessment to phosphate industry workers.     

(90)Sr, (210)Po and (210)Pb in lichen and reindeer in Norway

Concentrations of (90)Sr, (210)Po and (210)Pb in lichen and reindeer were studied in central (?stre Namdal) and southern Norway (V?g?) during 2000-2003. The study focussed on potential differences in concentrations of these nuclides in reindeer of different ages. Concentrations of (90)Sr in bones of approximately 10 year old adult females were about 40% higher than those in calves' antlers ((90)Sr concentrations in antlers and bones of calves are similar), while the available data from V?g? suggest that (90)Sr concentrations in reindeer calves decreased with an effective ecological half-time of 9.03+/-0.06 years during 1988-2002. Furthermore, (90)Sr concentrations were 50-80% higher in bone of reindeer of a similar age from V?g? compared to those from ?stre Namdal. Concentrations of (210)Po and (210)Pb in muscle and liver tissues were comparable to those reported for reindeer in other Nordic areas, with no significant difference in (210)Po and (210)Pb concentrations between adults and calves or between reindeer from the two different study areas.     

222Rn and 210Pb in the Arctic summer air

As part of an extensive air chemistry programme, during summer 1980, on board the Swedish ice-breaker ‘Ymer’, levels of ²²²Rn (radon) and its long-lived daughters ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po were measured. The radon was trapped on charcoal and the long-lived daugther products sampled on filters on a daily basis. In addition, short-lived progenies were followed continuously on the filters in order to achieve a time resolution of about one hour. The concentrations of radon and ²¹⁰Pb in the Arctic summer air north of latitude 75° N averaged 75 ± 21 (1 sd) and 0·075 ± 0·028 mBqm⁻³, r respectively. During a two week period of persistent polar winds, the mean radon concentration was 19 ±5 mBq m⁻³. During such ‘Arctic background’ conditions, radon exhalation from the sea may contribute significantly to the measured radon-in-air concentration. It is shown that steady-state equilibrium models, applied to an air mass over the sea, overstimate the aerosol residence-time calculated from activity ratios. Time-dependent calculations indicate a mean aerosol residence time of 4 to 7 d in Arctic air. Good agreement is observed between radon levels and the time since the air mass left larger areas. Both the ²²²Rn and the long-lived daughter measurements are insensitive to contamination from ship and local settlement.     

Primary and secondary components of PM2.5 in Milan (Italy)

In sampling campaigns--carried out by means of a high-volume gravimetric sampler--performed between August 2002 and December 2003, 24-h PM2.5 samples have been collected at an urban background site in downtown Milan and analyzed for elemental and organic carbon, ionic species (i.e., chloride, nitrates, sulfates and ammonium) and some elemental species. Chemical speciation data are evaluated also in terms of primary and secondary components of fine particulate matter: in particular, the contribution of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) and of the primary contribution from traffic to observed PM2.5 concentration levels are evaluated by means of the EC tracer method.     

Seasonal variation of air kerma rate in Sicily

Thermoluminescence dosimetry has been used to measure air kerma in 29 sites in Sicily. Four three month measurement campaigns have been carried out in order to assess seasonal variations. Average annual values between 20 and 90 nGy h(-1), after cosmic background subtraction, are reported. Average annual values are strongly dependent on site lithology, and we find that winter data are generally the highest, while spring and autumn rates are generally the lowest with very similar trends in any site. Summer values generally lay in between. Largest seasonal variations are found in sites along the southern coast of the island, probably because of stronger action of winds affecting radon, along with its progeny, concentrations at ground level.     

Seasonal and spatial variation of atmospheric 210Pb and 7Be deposition: features of the Japan Sea side of Japan

Monthly depositional fluxes of (210)Pb and (7)Be at Tatsunokuchi, Japan which faces the Japan Sea were studied over a 12-year period from 1991 to 2002. The data were compared with the spatial variability of these fluxes at Taejon in Korea and at 11 other sites in Japan from Ishigaki of the southern islands of Okinawa to Wakkanai of the northern end of Hokkaido over a 2-year period from 2000 to 2001. The monthly depositions of both (210)Pb and (7)Be at Tatsunokuchi revealed very similar seasonal variations with a single peak; both depositions were high in winter and low in summer. This phenomenon was found to be not transient but stationary. The deposition of these nuclides was much greater on the Japan Sea side of Japan than on the Pacific Ocean side. The cause for high deposition of (210)Pb and (7)Be in winter might be explained by a combination of a series of the following processes: blowing out of air masses with a high (210)Pb concentration near the surface layer over the continent by strong winter monsoons, additional flow of cold air masses with high (7)Be concentration at high latitude, well-mixing with generation of ascending current and convection clouds over the Japan Sea, and heavy snowfalls accompanying them.     

Polonium (210Po) and lead (210Pb) in marine organisms and their transfer in marine food chains

The determination of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb was performed in marine organisms from the seashore to abyssal depths, encompassing a plethora of species from the microscopic plankton to the sperm whale. Concentrations of those radionuclides ranged from low values of about 5 × 10⁻¹ Bq kg⁻¹ (wet wt.) in jellyfish, to very high values of about of 3 × 10⁴ Bq kg⁻¹ (wet wt.) in the gut walls of sardines, with a common pattern of ²¹⁰Po > ²¹⁰Pb.These radionuclides are primarily absorbed from water and concentrated by phyto- and microzooplankton, and then are transferred to the next trophic level along marine food chains. Investigation in epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic and abyssobenthic organisms revealed that ²¹⁰Po is transferred in the marine food webs with transfer factors ranging from 0.1 to 0.7, and numerically similar to those of the energy transfer in the marine food chains. As ²¹⁰Po preferentially binds to amino acids and proteins, its transfer in food chains likely traces protein transfer and, thus, ²¹⁰Po transfer factors are similar to ecotrophic coefficients. ²¹⁰Pb is transferred less efficiently in marine food chains and this contributes to increased ²¹⁰Po:²¹⁰Pb activity ratios in some trophic levels.     

Variation of the activity concentrations and fluxes of natural (210Po, 210Pb) and anthropogenic (239,240Pu, 137Cs) radionuclides in the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain)

The activity concentrations and fluxes of natural (210Pb, 210Po) and anthropogenic (239,240Pu, 137Cs) radionuclides have been determined in the different water masses crossing the Strait of Gibraltar. New data have been gathered during four multidisciplinary and multinational sampling campaigns, performed between 1997 and 1999 within the framework of the CANIGO-FLUGIST Project. Mean activity concentrations of 210Po (1.53+/-0.34 Bq m(-3), n = 30) and 210Pb (1.16+/-0.50 Bq m(-3), n = 31) in the Atlantic water entering the Mediterranean basin are about double those measured in the Mediterranean outflow, namely 0.84+/-0.34 Bq m(-3) (n = 22) for 210Po and 0.66+/-0.34 Bq m(-3) (n = 22) for 210Pb. The opposite trend is observed for 231,240Pu, with average concentrations of 9.9+/-3.0 mBq m(-3) (n = 29) in the incoming Atlantic flow and 22.0+/-3.0 mBq m(-3) (n = 22) in the outpouring Mediterranean water. In the case of 137Cs, the same concentrations were quantified in the waters moving inwards (2.52+/-0.28 Bq m(-3), n = 27) and outwards (2.14+/-0.52 Bq m(-3), n = 21) from the Mediterranean Sea. On this basis, the Mediterranean basin experiences a net annual input flux of 14 TBq of 210Pb and 19 TBq of 210Po, and a net annual loss of 0.34 TBq of 239,240Pu, while--at present--137Cs input and output fluxes appear to be balanced.     

Intercomparison of alpha and gamma spectrometry techniques used in (210)Pb geochronology

(210)Pb geochronology is a widely used tool in sedimentological studies aimed at the absolute ages of modern sediments (up to 100 years). (210)Pb activities required to model sedimentation regimes are measured using either alpha, gamma or beta spectrometry. Sediment accumulation rates derived from (210)Pb activity profiles measured by these methods are often used interchangeably in mass balance studies. Yet there is a lack of investigations considering the comparability of data derived using different analytical methods. Differences between methods could be caused by different behaviors of (210)Pb and (210)Po (used for alpha measurement) in the marine environment. In gamma spectrometry errors may arise when many gamma emitters are measured simultaneously and their activity peaks overlap. In alpha spectrometry chemical separation of (210)Po may result in analytical error due to incomplete sample dissolution. In the present study we evaluate total, supported and excess (210)Pb activities and their use in deriving sediment accumulation rates and (210)Pb excess inventories for three sediment cores collected from the Barents Sea. (210)Pb activities derived by alpha and gamma methods are shown to agree within counting error and there is also good agreement in the derived sediment accumulation rates. The inherent compatibility of analytical results based on alpha or gamma techniques is established.     

Factors affecting 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in mussels and implications for environmental bio-monitoring programmes

The activity of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb was determined in mussels of the same size (3.5-4.0 cm shell length) sampled monthly over a 17-month period at the Atlantic coast of Portugal. Average radionuclide concentration values in mussels were 759 ± 277 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²¹⁰Po (range 460-1470 Bq kg⁻¹ dry weight), and 45 ± 19 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²¹⁰Pb (range 23-96 Bq kg⁻¹ dry weight). Environmental parameters and mussel biometric parameters were monitored during the same period. Although there was no seasonal variation of radionuclide concentrations in sea water during the study period, the concentration of radionuclide activity in mussels varied seasonally displaying peaks of high concentrations in winter and low concentrations in summer. Analysis of radionuclide data in relation to the physiological Condition Index of mussels revealed that ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb activities in the mussel (average activity per individual) remained nearly constant during the investigation period, while mussel body weight fluctuated due to fat storage/expenditure in the soft tissues. Similar variation of radionuclide concentrations was observed in mussels transplanted from the sea coast into the Tejo Estuary. However, under estuarine environmental conditions and with higher food availability throughout the year, transplanted mussel Condition Index was higher than in coastal mussels and average radionuclide concentrations were 210 ± 75 Bq kg⁻¹ (dry weight) for ²¹⁰Po and 10 ± 4 Bq kg⁻¹ (dry weight) for ²¹⁰Pb, therefore lower than in coastal mussels with similar shell length. It is concluded that the apparent seasonal fluctuation and inter-site difference of radionuclide concentrations were mostly caused by mussel body weight fluctuation and not by radionuclide body burden fluctuation. This interpretation can be extended to the apparent seasonal fluctuation in concentrations of lipophilic and lipophobic contaminants in mussels, and provides an explanation for occasional high concentrations of ²¹⁰Po and man-made contaminants measured in mussels far from pollution sources.     

Transfer of (40)K, (238)U, (210)Pb, and (210)Po from soil to plant in various locations in south of Syria

Transfer factors of (40)K, (238)U, (210)Pb, and (210)Po from soil to some agriculture crops in various locations in south of Syria (Dara'a and Assuwaydaa districts) have been determined. Soil and vegetable crops (green pepper, cucumber, tomato, and eggplant), legumes crops (lentil, chickpea, and broad bean), fruit trees (apple, grape, and olives) and cereals (barley and wheat) were collected and analyzed for (238)U, (210)Pb, and (210)Po. The results have shown that higher transfer factors (calculated as Bqkg(-1) dry wt. plant material per Bqkg(-1) dry wt. soil) for (210)Po, (210)Pb and (238)U were observed in vegetable leaves than fruits and cereals leaves; the highest values of transfer factor (TF) for (238)U were found to be 0.1 for straw of chickpea. Transfer factors for (210)Po varied between 2.8x10(-2) and 2 in fruits of eggplant and grain of barley, respectively. In addition, several parameters affecting transfer factors of the radionuclides were evaluated. The results can be considered as base values for TF of natural radionuclides in the region.     

Modeling the Pb activity concentration in the lower atmosphere

A worldwide radionuclide network of 80 stations, part of the International Monitoring System, is being setup to monitor compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The radioactivity sampled at these stations is primarily ²²⁰Rn progenies affecting the detection capability. A model linking the ²²⁰Rn emanation with the sampled ²¹²Pb activity was developed and is presented here. The model and the performed measurements show that the variation of the sampled ²¹²Pb activity can be fully explained by the variation of the local ²²⁰Rn activity concentration.     

Long period study of outdoor radon concentration in Milan and correlation between its temporal variations and dispersion properties of atmosphere

The results of a survey of outdoor radon concentrations in Milan are reported. Measurements were performed hourly over a continuous four year period from January 1997 to December 2000. Radon concentration was obtained by two means: both direct measurement of radon; and measurement of its decay products. The average daily pattern of radon concentration featured a minimum in the late afternoon and a maximum in the early hours of the morning. A seasonal pattern with higher concentrations in winter than in summer (from around 15 Bq m(-3) in winter to around 5 Bq m(-3) in summer) was also observed. Similar average annual values of around 10 Bq m(-3) were obtained. The annual effective outdoor radon dose was found to be 0.12 mSv. The variation from minimum in the afternoon to maximum the following morning was found to be a good indicator of the height of the nocturnal mixing layer. The variation between maximum and minimum levels on the same day is an index of the maximum height of the mixing layer. Furthermore, our long term measurements of radon have permitted us to examine the dispersion characteristics of the atmosphere over Milan, and to establish the frequency of conditions unfavourable to the dispersion of atmospheric pollutants.     

Experimental methods of determining the activity depth distribution of implanted 210Pb in glass

Glass is often used in radon surveys to estimate retrospective radon concentrations, as radon progenies are embedded in the upper surface layer. Experimental methods based on etching to determine the depth distribution of recoil-implanted 210Po in glass from radon decay in air is presented. By carefully controlling chemical concentrations and exposure time during which the glass is etched, stepwise removal of the surface material was possible. Two different etching agents, diluted HF/HNO3 and NaOH were utilised, with very similar results. Experimental recoil depths of 210Po agree with theoretical calculations from the literature. The maximum implantation depth obtained using this procedure was 100 +/- 20nm.     

Evaluation of 210Pb and 210Po in cigarette tobacco produced in Brazil

Cigarette smoking is one of the pathways that might contribute significantly to the increase in the radiation dose reaching man, due to the relatively large concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po found in tobacco leaves. In the present study, the concentrations of these two radionuclides were determined in eight of the most frequently sold cigarette brands produced in Brazil. 210Pb was determined by counting the beta activity of 210Bi with a gas flow proportional detector after radiochemical separation and precipitation of PbCrO4. 210Po was determined by alpha spectrometry using a surface barrier detector after radiochemical separation and spontaneous deposition of Po on a copper disk. The results showed concentrations ranging from 11.9 to 30.2 mBq per gram of dry tobacco for 210Pb and from 10.9 to 27.4 mBq per gram of dry tobacco for 210Po. The collective committed effective dose resulting from the use of cigarettes produced in Brazil per year is estimated to be 1.5 x 10(4) man-Sv.     

Temporal changes of 7Be, 137Cs and 210Pb activity concentrations in surface air at Monaco and their correlation with meteorological parameters

Results of analysis of ⁷Be, ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb on aerosol filters carried out from 1998 to 2010 in Monaco show that a weak correlation between activity concentrations of these radionuclides in the atmosphere and meteorological parameters has been found for ⁷Be and temperature (r = 0.50), ²¹⁰Pb and temperature and humidity (r = 0.43 and 0.41, respectively), and ¹³⁷Cs and precipitation (r = 0.51). The minimum and maximum ⁷Be activity concentrations were observed during 2000 and 2009, corresponding with the maximum and minimum solar activity, respectively. The maximum ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration found in May-June 1998 was due to the accident at Algeciras in Spain. The deposition velocities of ⁷Be, ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb depended on the precipitation rate, and attained maximum values during dry seasons. The investigated radionuclides may be used as atmospheric tracers, especially in long-term periods.     

Inhalation of 210Po and 210Pb from cigarette smoking in Poland.

The carcinogenic etfect of 210Po and 210Pb with respect to lung cancer is an important problem in many countries with very high cigarette consumption. Poland has one of the highest consumptions of cigarettes in the world. The results of 210Po determination on the 14 most frequently smoked brands of cigarettes which constitute over 70% of the total cigarette consumption in Poland are presented and discussed. Moreover, the polonium content in cigarette smoke was estimated on the basis of its activity in fresh tobaccos, ash, fresh filters and post-smoking filters. The annual effective doses were calculated on the basis of 210Po and 210Pb inhalation with the cigarette smoke. The results of this work indicate that Polish smokers who smoke one pack (20 cigarettes) per day inhale from 20 to 215 mBq of 210Po and 210Pb each. The mean values of the annual effective dose for smokers were estimated to be 35 and 70 microSv from 210Po and 210Pb, respectively. For persons who smoke two packs of cigarettes with higher radionuclide concentrations, the effective dose is much higher (471 microSv yr(-1)) in comparison with the intake in diet. Therefore, cigarettes and the absorption through the respiratory system are the main sources and the principal pathway of 210Po and 210Pb intake of smokers in Poland.