Determination of radionuclides in Mytilus galloprovicialis by Alpha And Gamma-Spectroscopy

The natural radionuclides 238U ,234Th, 40K and the main man-made 137Cs, have been studied in Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819) sampled in the Thermaikos gulf – North Aegean Sea, considered as a bioindicator for radiological assessment in the Mediterranean. The ratio 234U/238U has also been determined. In terms of 137Cs, the activity concentrations in seawater from the studied area have been measured as well, and the concentration factors of 137Cs in Mytilus galloprovincialis are given as a parameter of the organism response to radioactive pollution

Contextual factors among indiscriminate or larger attacks on food or water supplies, 1946-2015

This research updates previous inventories of malicious attacks on food and water to include data from 1946 through mid-2015. A systematic search of news reports, databases and previous inventories of poisoning events was undertaken. Incidents that threatened or were intended to achieve direct harm to humans, and that were either relatively large (number of victims > 4 or indiscriminate in intent or realisation were included. Agents could be chemical, biological or radio-nuclear. Reports of candidate incidents were subjected to systematic inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as validity analysis (not always clearly undertaken in previous inventories of such attacks). We summarise contextual aspects of the attacks that may be important for scenario prioritisation, modelling and defensive preparedness. Opportunity is key to most realised attacks, particularly access to dangerous agents. The most common motives and relative success rate in causing harm were very different between food and water attacks. The likelihood that people were made ill or died also varied by food/water mode, and according to motive and opportunity for delivery of the hazardous agent. Deaths and illness associated with attacks during food manufacture and prior to sale have been fewer than those in some other contexts. Valuable opportunities for food defence improvements are identified in other contexts, especially food prepared in private or community settings

Study of a Greek area with enhanced indoor radon concentrations

In this paper the focus is on Arnea Chalkidikis, an area in Greece with granitic geological background and indications of possible elevated radon concentration indoors. Data are reported of indoor radon measurements with etched track detectors and those are used for dosimetric estimations. Moreover, data are reported on soil gas and soil radon concentrations in Arnea, as well as radon and uranium concentrations in water samples. From the measured radon concentrations in water samples the contribution to the overall dose has been calculated. For a period of I month, indoor radon and progeny activity has also been monitored in the dwelling that has the maximum indoor radon concentration in Greece. This dwelling is in Arnea and the dose delivered to the inhabitants has been calculated. The mean annual effective dose due to indoor radon was 4.5 mSv and about 11% of this was due to the use of water. Mean soil gas concentration and soil radon concentration were (90 +/- 30) kBq m(-3) (p < 0.05) and (30 +/- 5) kBq m(-3) (p < 0.05) respectively. Mean uranium concentration of the water samples was (98 +/- 13) mBq l(-1) (p < 0.05)

Radon survey in Greece - risk assesment

A large scale radon survey using track etch detectors has been carried out from 1995 to 1998 in Greece in order to estimate the radon concentrations in Greek dwellings and the exposure of the Greek population to radon. The total data set consisted of 1277 samples. Residential potential alpha energy concentration values ranged between (0.024+/-0.009) and (8+/-1) WLM per year (P<0.05) and effective doses between (0.09+/-0.04) and (28+/-4) mSv (P<0.05). The mean lifetime risk for the Greek population due to radon was found to be 0.4%. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Environmental modelling of NORM

Within the IAEA EMRAS programme, a working group was established to look at the modelling of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in a variety of environments. There are many models already available. However, guidance on how and when to apply specific models is lacking in many cases. Development of models has often been carried out without a clear understanding of the possible applications of the models. Some models have been developed only for specific applications in specific industries, and are not generally useful. The work carried out during this program has resulted in the identification of several important issues that require consideration in the selection and utilization of computer models for NORM risk assessment. These issues discussed below cover suitability, selection, use and misuse of available models, as well as training and guidance for modelers, and acquisition of data for model inputs

Evaluation of scattering factor values for internal dose assessment following the IDEAS guidelines: Preliminary results

The IDEAS Guidelines for the assessment of internal doses from monitoring data suggest default measurement uncertainties (i.e. scattering factors, SFs) to be used for different types of monitoring data. However, these default values were mainly based upon expert judgement. In this paper, SF values have been calculated for different radionuclides and types of monitoring data using real data contained in the IDEAS Internal Contamination Database. Results are presented. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved

Internal dosimetry : Towards harmonisation and coordination of research.

The CONRAD Project is a Coordinated Network for Radiation Dosimetry funded by the European Commission 6th Framework Programme. The activities developed within CONRAD Work Package 5 ('Coordination of Research on Internal Dosimetry') have contributed to improve the harmonisation and reliability in the assessment of internal doses. The tasks carried out included a study of uncertainties and the refinement of the IDEAS Guidelines associated with the evaluation of doses after intakes of radionuclides. The implementation and quality assurance of new biokinetic models for dose assessment and the first attempt to develop a generic dosimetric model for DTPA therapy are important WP5 achievements. Applications of voxel phantoms and Monte Carlo simulations for the assessment of intakes from in vivo measurements were also considered. A Nuclear Emergency Monitoring Network (EUREMON) has been established for the interpretation of monitoring data after accidental or deliberate releases of radionuclides. Finally, WP5 group has worked on the update of the existing IDEAS bibliographic, internal contamination and case evaluation databases. A summary of CONRAD WP5 objectives and results is presented here

Coordination of research on internal dosimetry in Europe: The CONRAD project

The EUropean RAdiation DOSimetry Group (EURADOS) initiated in 2005 the CONRAD Project, a Coordinated Network for Radiation Dosimetry funded by the European Commission (EC), within the 6th Framework Programme (FP). The main purpose of CONRAD is to generate a European Network in the field of Radiation Dosimetry and to promote both research activities and dissemination of knowledge. The objective of CONRAD Work Package 5 (WP5) is the coordination of research on assessment and evaluation of internal exposures. Nineteen institutes from 14 countries participate in this action. Some of the activities to be developed are continuations of former European projects supported by the EC in the 5th FP (OMINEX and IDEAS). Other tasks are linked with ICRP activities, and there are new actions never considered before. A collaboration is established with CONRAD Work Package 4, dealing with Computational Dosimetry, to organise an intercomparison on Monte Carlo modelling for in vivo measurements of 241Am deposited in a knee phantom. Preliminary results associated with CONRAD WP5 tasks are presented here. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved

A new Certified Reference Material for radionuclides in Irish sea sediment (IAEA-385)

A new Certified Reference Material (CRM) for radionuclides in sediment (IAEA-385) is described and the results of the certification process are presented. Eleven radionuclides (K-40, Cs-137, Ra-226, Ra-228, Th-230, Th-232, U-234, U-238, Pu-238, Pu239+240 and Am-241) have been certified and information mass activities with 95% confidence intervals are given for seven other radionuclides (Sr-90, Pb-210(Po-210), U-235, Pu-239, Pu-240 and Pu-241). Results for less frequently reported radionuclides (Co-60, Tc-99, Cs-134, Eu-155, Ra-224 and Np-239) and information on some activity and mass ratios are also reported. The CRM can be used for quality assurance/quality control of the analysis of radionuclides in sediment samples, for the development and validation of analytical methods and for training purposes. (C) 2008 IAEA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved