A software for indoor radon risk mapping based on geology

A computer code dedicated to indoor radon risk mapping is presented, based on geology and on indoor radon measurements. Assuming a lognormal distribution of the data at the local scale, it provides the estimation of the percentage of houses above a chosen reference level, at the points of a grid specified by the user, using the moving average of data belonging to the same geological unit as the grid point

30 years of European Commission Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring Database (REMdb) – an open door to boost environmental radioactivity research

Abstract. The Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring data bank (REMdb) was created in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident (1986) by the European Commission (EC) – Directorate-General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC), sited in Ispra (Italy). Since then it has been maintained there with the aim to keep a historical record of the Chernobyl accident and to store the radioactivity monitoring data gathered through the national environmental monitoring programs of the member states (MSs). The legal basis is the Euratom Treaty, Chapter III Health and Safety, Articles 35 and 36, which clarify that MSs shall periodically communicate to the EC information on environmental radioactivity levels. By collecting and validating this information in REMdb, JRC supports the DG for Energy in its responsibilities in returning qualified information to the MSs (competent authorities and general public) on the levels of radioactive contamination of the various compartments of the environment (air, water, soil) on the European Union scale. REMdb accepts data on radionuclide concentrations from EU MSs in both environmental samples and foodstuffs from 1984 onwards. To date, the total number of data records stored in REMdb exceeds 5 million, in this way providing the scientific community with a valuable archive of environmental radioactivity topics in Europe. Records stored in REMdb are publicly accessible until 2011 through an unrestricted repository "REM data bank – Years 1984–2006" https://doi.org/10.2905/jrc-10117-10024 (De Cort et al., 2007) and "REM data bank – Years 2007–2011" https://doi.org/10.2905/de42f259-fafe-4329-9798-9d8fabb98de5 (De Cort et al., 2012). Access to data from 2012 onwards is granted only after explicit request, until the corresponding monitoring report is published. Each data record contains information describing the sampling circumstances (sampling type, begin and end time), measurement conditions (value, nuclide, apparatus, etc.), location and date of sampling, and original data reference. In this paper the scope, features and extension of REMdb are described in detail

Seasonality of 7 Be concentrations in Europe and influence of tropopause height

This study aims at analysing the latitudinal variability of both the yearly and seasonal pattern of Be-7 surface activity concentrations, at addressing the impact of tropopause height (TPH) on Be-7 distribution and at evaluating the time lag between TPH and Be-7 at European level. With this aim, weekly Be-7 and daily TPH data at 17 sampling stations during 10 yr (2001-2010) are analysed. Be-7 shows a clear increasing tendency in the period and generally tends to increase with decreasing latitude. The seasonal pattern generally shows maxima during the warm period and minima during the cold one. The seasonal variogram analysis points out a good spatial correlation for TPH data while a weaker one is observed for Be-7, having TPH a larger influence on Be-7 during summer. The influence of TPH on Be-7 exhibits a large spatial variability, with a clear gap between south and north in the area of the polar front jet. The results identify the presence of two main groups, in particular separating between stations located in northern Europe (50 degrees N and higher) and stations in southern Europe (south of 50 degrees N). A similar behaviour for stations located in the same geographical area is also observed when looking at the day of maximum impact of TPH on Be-7 concentrations. The results suggest that Be-7 concentrations respond in different time ranges to changes in the TPH, observing seasonal differences in each group. These results represent the first European approach to the understanding of the TPH impact on Be-7 concentrations at surface levels

Special issue - European Radon Week 2020

Why European Radon Week? Why combine three different workshops into a single unique event? Around Europe, several radon events have been organised separately. The European Radon Association (ERA) organised an annual workshop, and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) used to host a radon event every 2 years. Occasionally, there are standalone events like the workshop summarising the results of the MetroRADON project

Analysis of 222Rn Surface Concentrations in the Basque Country (Spain): A Case Study of Heat Waves

The objective of this study was to characterize radon concentrations registered in the Radiological Surveillance Network of the Basque country in relation to local meteorological parameters, and to determine its behaviour under heatwave events. For this purpose, radon measurements and meteorological parameters from June 2012 to June 2015 were analysed at two sites, Bilbao and Vitoria (northern Spain), in a region characterized by complex orography, causing large temporal and spatial variability in meteorological conditions. Yearly, seasonal, and diurnal cycle differences and similarities were investigated at both sites. The temporal evolution of radon concentration was analysed at both sites during the two heatwave periods officially identified by the State Meteorological Agency (8–11 August 2012 and 17–23 August 2012). The analysis revealed two different patterns of radon concentrations, in terms of both time and intensity, under this synoptic pattern, making it also possible to identify regional transport channels of radon concentrations between the two sites. This set of results evidences the adequate position of both stations to represent the spatial and temporal evolution of radiological variables continuously in this region

European data portal for radioactivity in the environment

A prototype of a web tool to report all environmental samples collected via the following activities EURDEP, REM database and European Atlas of Natural Radiation. This tool must become a part of the REM website and enable users to search, aggregate and export the natural radioactivity data in the view of interactive maps, PDF downloadable.JRC.G.10-Knowledge for Nuclear Security and Safet

Structural Characterization of Natural and Processed Zircons with X-Rays and Nuclear Techniques

In ceramic industry, zircon sand is widely used in different applications because zirconia plays a role as common opacifying constituent. In particular, it is used as a basic component of glazes applied to ceramic tiles and sanitary ware as well as an opacifier in unglazed bulk porcelain stoneware. Natural zircon sands are the major source of zirconium minerals for industrial applications. In this paper, long, medium, and short range studies were conducted on zirconium minerals originated from Australia, South Africa, and United States of America using conventional and less conventional techniques (i.e., X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS), and Perturbed Angular Correlations (PAC)) in order to reveal the type and the extension of the regions that constitute the metamict state of zircon sands and themodifications therein produced as a consequence of the industrial milling process and the thermal treatment in the production line. Additionally, HPGe gamma-ray spectroscopy confirms the occurrence of significant levels of natural radioactivity responsible for metamictization in the investigated zircon samples. Results from XRD, PALS, and PAC analysis confirm that the metamict state of zircon is a dispersion of submicron disordered domains in a crystalline matrix of zircon.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Structural Characterization of Natural and Processed Zircons with X-Rays and Nuclear Techniques

In ceramic industry, zircon sand is widely used in different applications because zirconia plays a role as common opacifying constituent. In particular, it is used as a basic component of glazes applied to ceramic tiles and sanitary ware as well as an opacifier in unglazed bulk porcelain stoneware. Natural zircon sands are the major source of zirconium minerals for industrial applications. In this paper, long, medium, and short range studies were conducted on zirconium minerals originated from Australia, South Africa, and United States of America using conventional and less conventional techniques (i.e., X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS), and Perturbed Angular Correlations (PAC)) in order to reveal the type and the extension of the regions that constitute the metamict state of zircon sands and themodifications therein produced as a consequence of the industrial milling process and the thermal treatment in the production line. Additionally, HPGe gamma-ray spectroscopy confirms the occurrence of significant levels of natural radioactivity responsible for metamictization in the investigated zircon samples. Results from XRD, PALS, and PAC analysis confirm that the metamict state of zircon is a dispersion of submicron disordered domains in a crystalline matrix of zircon.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

The European Radiological Data Exchange Platform (EURDEP): 25 years of monitoring data exchange

Abstract. During the early phase of an accident with the release of radioactive material to the environment at the local or transboundary scale, a rapid and continuous system of information exchange, including real-time monitoring data to competent authorities and the public, is critical for setting up countermeasures. This information and data exchange must be carried out in a harmonized and consistent manner to facilitate its interpretation and analysis. After the Chernobyl accident in 1986, and in order to avoid the competent authorities being unprepared again for a similar event, the European Commission (EC) defined and put in place a directive (Council Decision 87/600/EURATOM, 1987) which essentially obliges a member state that decides to implement widespread countermeasures to protect its population to notify the European Commission without delay. The same Council Decision also specifies that the results of radiological monitoring must be made available to the European Commission and all potentially affected member states. Over the past 30 years, the European Commission has invested resources in developing and improving a complete system to carry out this delicate task, currently composed of two platforms: the European Community Urgent Radiological Information Exchange (ECURIE) and the European Radiological Data Exchange Platform (EURDEP). This paper aims to increase knowledge of the latter system as a valuable tool for understanding and analysing the radioactivity levels in Europe. Commencing with background information, in this paper, we will describe the EURDEP system in detail, with an emphasis on its status, data availability, and how these data are diffused depending on the audience. Within the scope of this publication, we describe an example of measurements available in the EURDEP system, which to be used for scientific purposes. We provide two complete datasets (air-concentration samples – https://doi.org/10.2905/23CBC7C4-4FCC-47D5-A286-F8A4EDC8215F; De Cort et al., 2019a; and gamma dose rates – https://doi.org/10.2905/0F9F3E2D-C8D7-4F46-BBE7-EACF3EED1560; De Cort et al., 2019b) for the recent radiological release of 106Ru in Europe, which occurred between the end of September and early October 2017. Records stored are publicly accessible through an unrestricted repository called COLLECTION belonging to the JRC Data Public Catalogue (https://data.jrc.ec.europa.eu, last access: 1 July 2019)