Population doses from terrestrial gamma exposure in Serbia

Background: Terrestrial radiation emitted from naturally occurring radionuclides, such as 40K and radionuclides from the 238U and 232Th series and their decay products represent the main external source of irradiation to the human body. The purpose of this study was to provide a preliminary assessment of the doses from terrestrial exposure of population in Serbia and to estimate a potential radiation hazard for population inhabiting investigated areas. Methods: The gamma dose rates, external hazard indexes, and annual effective doses due to terrestrial naturally occurring radionuclides (238U, 232Th and 40K) were calculated based on their activities in soil samples in Serbia as determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. Results: The total absorbed gamma dose rate due to these radionuclides varied from 16.9 to 125 nGy h-1, with a mean of 62.8 nGy h-1. Assuming a 20% occupancy factor, the corresponding annual effective dose varied from 2.07 to 15.4×10-5 Sv with the mean value of 7.7×10-5 Sv, i.e. annual effective dose was in range of the world wide average values. Conclusion: According to the values of external hazard index obtained in this study (mean Hex = 0.35), the radiation hazard was insignificant for the population living in investigated areas

Assessment of the potential risk to human health due to natural radionuclides in surface soil around Nikola Tesla A coal-fired power plant, Serbia

V International Conference on Radiation in Various Fields of Research : RAD 2017 : book of abstracts; June 12-16, 2017; Budva, Montenegr

Security Challenges Due to the Appearance of Counterfeit, Fake and Suspicious Items in the Nuclear Supply Chain

Poslednjih godina, usled ekonomske i političke nestabilnosti širom sveta, raste zabrinutost zbog moguće infiltracije falsifikovanih, lažnih i sumnjivih predmeta (FLSPa) u lanac nuklearnog snabdevanja. FLSPi ne prolaze kroz rigorozne procedure kontrole kvaliteta, koje su obavezne za legitimne artikle, tako da mogu odstupati od propisanih specifikacija. Unutar lanca nuklearnog snabdevanja, FLSP mogu umanjiti integritet opreme, sistema, struktura, komponenti ili uređaja koji doprinose nuklearnoj sigurnosti i/ili nuklearnoj bezbednosti. Nenamerno uvođenje ili zlonamerno umetanje FLSPa u nuklearni lanac snabdevanja može dovesti do pojave nuklearnog bezbednosnog događaja. Prevencija i procena rizika su od suštinskog značaja za obuzdavanje sigurnosnih posledica nezakonite trgovine, a tehnologija bi mogla da igra centralnu ulogu u praćenju, u cilju smanjenja resursa dostupnih politički motivisanim i terorističkim akterima. Zbog toga, neophodno je razviti mere za ublažavanje implikacija na nuklearnu bezbednost od FLSP koji su se infiltrirali u lanac nuklearnog snabdevanja, ili u potpunosti sprečiti njihovo uvođenje. Zahtevi za obezbeđenje kontrole kvaliteta za svaku kategoriju dobavljača i klasifikacija kvaliteta nabavljenog artikla ili usluge treba da budu deo FLSP programa i sastavni deo Integrisanog sistema menandžmenta kontrole kvaliteta. Od velike je važnosti izvršiti sveobuhvatan pregled postojećeg međunarodnog zakonodavstva i propisa koji se odnose na FLSP i sagledati proces nabavke u svetlu implikacija FLSP na nuklearnu bezbednost.In recent years, due to economic and political instability around the world, there has been growing concern over the possible infiltration of counterfeit, fraudulent and suspect items (CFSIs) into the nuclear supply chain. CFSIs do not undergo the same rigorous quality assurance procedures as legitimate items, and deviate from prescribed specifications. Within the nuclear supply chain, CFSIs can diminish the integrity of equipment, systems, structures, components or devices that contribute to nuclear safety and/or nuclear security. The inadvertent introduction or malicious insertion of CFSIs within the nuclear supply chain could lead to the occurrence of a nuclear security event. Prevention and risk assessment are essential in containing the security consequences of illicit trade, and technology could play a central role in monitoring – with the aim of reducing the resources available to politically motivated and terrorist actors. Therefore, it is necessary to develop measures to mitigate the nuclear security implications of CFSIs that have infiltrated the nuclear supply chain, or prevent their introduction altogether. Quality Assurance requirements for each supplier category and the quality classification of the procured item or service should be part of CFSI Program as an integral part of the Integrated Management System and Quality Assurance Program. It is of great importance to make comprehensive review of existing international legislations and regulations which refers to CSFIs and to look into procurement process in the light of nuclear security implications of CFSIs.XXXII Simpozijum Društva za zaštitu od zračenja Srbije i Crne Gore, 4-6. oktobar 2023; Budva, Crna GoraProceedings: [https://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/11602

Natural radioactivity in the soil samples of Subotica, Serbia

The activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th from 23 locations of the territory of Subotica were determined by gamma ray spectrometry. Based on the results obtained the value of absorbed gamma dose rate in air was calculated. Mean values of activity concentrations were found to be 277 Bq kg-1 for 40K, 18 Bq kg-1 for 226Ra and 18 Bq kg-1 for 232Th. The total absorbed gamma dose rate varied between 20 and 44 nGy h-1. The mean value 31 nGy h-1 is lower than the world average value

Просторна и вертикална дистрибуција Cs137 у земљишту Србије

U ovom radu prikazane su specifične aktivnosti 137Cs u zemljištu Srbije u periodu od 2006. do 2014. godine. Predstavljena je prostorna distribucija ovog radionuklida, distribucija po dubini zemljišnog profila za različite tipove zemljišta i veza sa fizičko-hemijskim karakteristikama zemljišta. Ovi rezultati daju uvid u glavne faktore koji utiču na migraciju 137Cs u zemljištu, što doprinosi saznanjima o ponašanju ovog radionuklida u životnoj sredini i faktorima koji regulišu njegovu mobilnost unutar kopnenih ekosistema.In this study the specific activities of 137Cs were determined in the soil of Serbia in the period from 2006 to 2014. The spatial and vertical distribution of 137Cs in the soil profiles of different soil types and its relationships with the physico-chemical soil properties were analyzed. The obtained results provide insight into the key factors influencing the migration of 137Cs in the soil, which contributes to knowledge of its behavior in the environment and the factors affecting its mobility within terrestrial ecosystems.Article is part of: [http://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/8230

Assessment of heavy metal content in soils of some urban and rural environments in Serbia

This study deals with the assessment of heavy metals contents in soil of Serbia in urban and rural environment. Analysed heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) were determined using an atomic absorption spectrometry. Concentrations of Co, Cu, Ni and Zn at some sampling sites of urban environment exceeded the limit values, which are still far from the remediation values established by Legislation of the Republic of Serbia.Physical chemistry 2016 : 13th international conference on fundamental and applied aspects of physical chemistry; Belgrade (Serbia); 26-30 September 201

Quantification of radioisotopic pollution of soil from coal fired power plant surrounding

This paper is focused on determination of activity concentration of gamma emitters in surface layer of soil, in surrounding of the coal-fired power plant complex. Also, the impact of coal-fired power plant emissions on certain of physical and chemical properties of the soil was studied. The results of this study indicated that the operation of the power plant has no significant negative impact on the environment in terms of the content of radionuclides. The effect of the coal-fired power plant emissions on soil is a function of the pollutant gradient existing in the area. The increased soil acidity can adversely affect the microbiological and pedogenetic processes in soil which cause cation-anion imbalance and microbe population reduction to affect soil fertility. © 2020, Editura Academiei Romane. All rights reserved

The distribution of the mass concentrations of potassium, thorium and uranium in soils from the territories of the cities of Serbia

U radu su prikazane masene koncentracije kalijuma, torijuma i uranijuma u uzorcima zemljišta sa teritorija 16 većih gradova Srbije sakupljenih u periodu od 2003. do 2015. godine, izračunate na osnovu gamaspektrometrijski izmerenih aktivnosti ovih radionuklida. Srednje vrednosti koncentracija analiziranih elemenata u uzorcima zemljišta iznose za kalijum 1,6% (od 0,5 do 2,6%), torijum 8,7 mg/kg (od 2,4 do 15,1 mg/kg) i uranijum 2,6 mg/kg (od 0,8 do 4,7 mg/kg). Masene koncentracije kalijuma, torijuma i uranijuma u analiziranim zemljištima pokazuju normalnu raspodelu. Analizirana je međusobna zavisnost parova radionuklida i dobijeni su Pirsonovi koeficijenti korelacije od 0,88 za K/Th, 0,89 za K/U i 0,98 za Th/U.In this study, the mass concentrations of potassium, thorium and uraniuminsoils collected from the territories of 16 cities of Serbia collected in the period 2003-2015, were calculated based on specific activities of these radionuclides measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. The mean values of elemental mass concentrations in analyzed soil samples were found to be 1.6% for K, 8.7 mg/kg for Th and 2.6 mg/kg for U. The mass concentration of potassium, thorium and uranium in analyzed soils follows normal distribution. The relationshipsbetween pairs of radionuclides were analyzed and obtained Pearson correlation coefficientsof were 0.88 for K/Th, 0.89 for K/U and 0.98 for Th/U

Просторна и вертикална дистрибуција Cs137 у земљишту Србије

U ovom radu prikazane su specifične aktivnosti 137Cs u zemljištu Srbije u periodu od 2006. do 2014. godine. Predstavljena je prostorna distribucija ovog radionuklida, distribucija po dubini zemljišnog profila za različite tipove zemljišta i veza sa fizičko-hemijskim karakteristikama zemljišta. Ovi rezultati daju uvid u glavne faktore koji utiču na migraciju 137Cs u zemljištu, što doprinosi saznanjima o ponašanju ovog radionuklida u životnoj sredini i faktorima koji regulišu njegovu mobilnost unutar kopnenih ekosistema.In this study the specific activities of 137Cs were determined in the soil of Serbia in the period from 2006 to 2014. The spatial and vertical distribution of 137Cs in the soil profiles of different soil types and its relationships with the physico-chemical soil properties were analyzed. The obtained results provide insight into the key factors influencing the migration of 137Cs in the soil, which contributes to knowledge of its behavior in the environment and the factors affecting its mobility within terrestrial ecosystems.Article is part of: [http://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/8230

Population doses from terrestrial gamma exposure in Belgrade (Serbia) and their relation to geological setting

Terrestrial radiation exposure emitted from naturally occurring radionuclides, such as 40K and radionuclides from the 238U and 232Th series and their decay products represent the main external source of irradation to human body. The purpose of this study was to provide the assessment of the doses from terrestrial exposure of population in Belgrade. The gamma dose rate, annual effective doses and external hazard indexes due to terrestrial natural occurring radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, 40K) were calculated based on their activities in soil samples in Belgrade determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. The mean value of the total absorbed gamma dose rate outdoors due to terrestrial radionuclides for Belgrade was 59 nGy/h which is close to the worldwide average value (58 nGy/h). The values of the gamma dose rate varied among sampling locations as a consequence of different geological formations in the investigated area. The mean value of annual effective dose of 73 Sv was significantly lower than the maximum allowed dose of 1 mSv for the population and was consistent with the worldwide average value. The mean value of external hazard index was found to be 0.28. The results of this assessment study pointed out that there is no significant radiation risk to the population of Belgrade due to terrestrial exposure to radiation from natural sources outdoors.I International Conference on Radiation in Various Fields of Research : RAD 2017 : book of abstracts; April 25-27, 2012; Niš, Serbi