European Atlas of Natural Radiation

Natural ionizing radiation is considered as the largest contributor to the collective effective dose received by the world population. The human population is continuously exposed to ionizing radiation from several natural sources that can be classified into two broad categories: high-energy cosmic rays incident on the Earth’s atmosphere and releasing secondary radiation (cosmic contribution); and radioactive nuclides generated during the formation of the Earth and still present in the Earth’s crust (terrestrial contribution). Terrestrial radioactivity is mostly produced by the uranium and thorium radioactive families together with potassium. In most circumstances, radon, a noble gas produced in the radioactive decay of uranium, is the most important contributor to the total dose. This Atlas aims to present the current state of knowledge of natural radioactivity, by giving general background information, and describing its various sources. This reference material is complemented by a collection of maps of Europe displaying the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources. It is a compilation of contributions and reviews received from more than 80 experts in their field: they come from universities, research centres, national and European authorities and international organizations. This Atlas provides reference material and makes harmonized datasets available to the scientific community and national competent authorities. In parallel, this Atlas may serve as a tool for the public to: • familiarize itself with natural radioactivity; • be informed about the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources; • have a more balanced view of the annual dose received by the world population, to which natural radioactivity is the largest contributor; • and make direct comparisons between doses from natural sources of ionizing radiation and those from man-made (artificial) ones, hence to better understand the latter.JRC.G.10-Knowledge for Nuclear Security and Safet

European Atlas of Natural Radiation

Natural ionizing radiation is considered as the largest contributor to the collective effective dose received by the world population. The human population is continuously exposed to ionizing radiation from several natural sources that can be classified into two broad categories: high-energy cosmic rays incident on the Earth’s atmosphere and releasing secondary radiation (cosmic contribution); and radioactive nuclides generated during the formation of the Earth and still present in the Earth’s crust (terrestrial contribution). Terrestrial radioactivity is mostly produced by the uranium and thorium radioactive families together with potassium. In most circumstances, radon, a noble gas produced in the radioactive decay of uranium, is the most important contributor to the total dose.This Atlas aims to present the current state of knowledge of natural radioactivity, by giving general background information, and describing its various sources. This reference material is complemented by a collection of maps of Europe displaying the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources. It is a compilation of contributions and reviews received from more than 80 experts in their field: they come from universities, research centres, national and European authorities and international organizations.This Atlas provides reference material and makes harmonized datasets available to the scientific community and national competent authorities. In parallel, this Atlas may serve as a tool for the public to: • familiarize itself with natural radioactivity;• be informed about the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources;• have a more balanced view of the annual dose received by the world population, to which natural radioactivity is the largest contributor;• and make direct comparisons between doses from natural sources of ionizing radiation and those from man-made (artificial) ones, hence to better understand the latter.Additional information at: https://remon.jrc.ec.europa.eu/About/Atlas-of-Natural-Radiatio

RADON IN DWELLINGS ACCORDING TO THE RADIOOACTIVITY OF BUILDING MATE- RIALS AND OTHERS PARAMETERS

ΠΡΟΣΔΙΟΡΙΣΤΗΚΑΝ ΟΙ ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΕΙΣ ΡΑΔΟΝΙΟΥ ΣΕ ΚΑΤΟΙΚΙΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΣΤΙΚΟΥ ΚΕΝΤΡΟΥ ΤΗΣΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗΣ , ΟΙ ΣΤΑΘΜΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΦΥΣΙΚΗΣ ΡΑΔΙΕΝΕΡΓΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΟ ΠΟΣΟ ΤΟΥ ΡΑΔΟΝΙΟΥ ΠΟΥ ΔΙΑΦΕΥΓΕΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΑ ΟΙΚΟΔΟΜΙΚΑ ΥΛΙΚΑ ΚΑΙ ΤΟ ΕΔΑΦΟΣ, ΚΑΘΩΣ ΚΑΙ ΟΙ ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΕΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΡΑΔΟΝΙΟΥ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΤ ΜΟΣΦΑΙΡΑ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟ ΝΕΡΟ ΤΟΥ ΔΙΚΤΥΟΥ ΥΔΡΕΥΣΗΣ, ΜΕ ΣΚΟΠΟ ΝΑ ΜΕΛΕΤΗΘΕΙ Η ΕΙΣΡΟΗ ΤΟΥ ΡΑΔΟΝΙΟΥ ΣΕ ΠΡΟΤΥΠΗ ΜΟΝΟΚΑΤΟΙΚΙΑ ΕΞ'ΑΙΤΙΑΣ ΟΛΩΝ ΑΥΤΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΠΗΓΩΝ. ΟΙ ΣΥΓΚΕΝΡΩΣΕΙΣ ΡΑΔΟΝΙΟΥ ΣΤΙΣ ΚΑΤΟΙΚΙΕΣ ΚΥΜΑΙΝΟΝΤΑΙ ΑΠΟ 8 ΕΩΣ 143 ΒQ.M-3 ,(ΕΤΗΣΙΑ 30 +-23BQ.M-3) ΚΑΙ ΕΠΗΡΕΑΖΟΝΤΑ Ι ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΒΡΟΧΟΠΤΩΣΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΝ ΡΥΘΜΟ ΕΞΑΕΡΙΣΜΟΥ (ΘΕΡΜΟΚΡΑΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΤΜΟΣΦΑΙΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΗΛΙΚΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΚΑΤΟΙΚΙΑΣ ). OΙ ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΕΙΣ ΤΟΥ RA-226 ΣΤΟ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟ ΤΣΙΜΕΝΤΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ ΠΟΡΤΛΑΝΤ (P35/II) ΕΙΝΑΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΙΣ ΠΛΕΟΝ ΥΨΗΛΕΣ (ΕΩΣ 140 BQ.KG-1) ΚΑΙ ΟΦΕΙΛΟΝΤΑΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΣΘΗΚΗ ΠΤΗΤΙ ΚΗΣ ΤΕΦΡΑΣ (ΣΕ ΠΟΣΟΣΤΟ ΕΩΣ 20%) Η ΟΠΟΙΑ ΟΜΩΣ ΕΛΑΤΤΩΝΕΙ ΤΟ ΠΟΣΟ ΤΟΥ ΡΑΔΟΝΙΟΥ ΠΟΥ ΔΙΑΦΕΥΓΕΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΟΚΚΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΤΣΙΜΕΝΤΟΥ . Ο ΡΥΘΜΟΣ ΕΚΡΟΗΣ ΡΑΔΟΝΙΟΥ ΠΟΥ ΔΙΑΦΕΥΓΕΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΥΣ ΤΟΙΧΟΥΣ ΠΡΟΣΔΙΟΡΙΣΤΗΚΕ ΣΕ 5.6=-2.3 BQ.M-3 ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΕΡΧΕΤΑΙ ΚΥΡΙΩΣ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΣΚΥΡΟΔΕΜΑ . Η ΕΚΡΟΗ ΤΟΥ ΡΑΔΟΝΙΟΥ ΑΠΟ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΕΙΑ ΣΕ ΒΑΘΟΣ 70CM ΕΝΤΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΕΔΑΦΟΥΣ ΣΕ ΕΤΗΣΙΑ ΒΑΣΗ ΕΧΕΙ ΤΙΜΗ 20.8 +- 9.2 BQ.M-2.H-1 ΚΑΙ ΕΠΗΡΕΑΖΕΤΑΙ ΙΣΧΥΡΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΘΕΡΜΟΚΡΑΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΤΜΟΣΦΑΙΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΒΡΟΧΟΠΤΩΣΗ . Ο ΜΕΣΟΣ ΕΤΗΣΙΟΣ ΡΥΘΜΟΣ ΕΙΣΡΟΗΣ ΡΑΔΟΝΙΟΥ ΣΤΙΣ ΚΑΤΟΙΚΙΕΣ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΝΕΡΟ ΔΙΚΤΥΟΥ ΥΔΡΕΥΣΗΣ ΒΡΕΘΗΚΕ ΣΕ 79 +-39BQ.H-1 ΑΝΑ ΕΝΟΙΚΟ. ΟΙ ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΕΙΣ ΡΑΔΟΝΙΟΥ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΤΜΟΣΦΑΙΡΑ ΚΥΜΑΙΝΟΝΤΑΙ ΑΠΟ 3 ΕΩΣ 14 BQ.M-3 (ΕΤΗΣΙΑ 9+-3 BQ.M-3). ΤΟ ΠΟΣΟΣΤΟ ΣΥΜΜΕΤΟΧΗΣ ΤΗΣΚΑΘΕ ΠΗΓΗΣ ΡΑΔΟΝΙΟΥ ΣΕ ΤΥΠΙΚΗ ΜΟΝΟΚΑΤΟΙΚΙΑ ΣΕ ΕΠΑΦΗ ΜΕ ΤΟ ΕΔΑΦΟΣ (ΜΕΣΟ ΡΥΘΜ Ο ΕΞΑΕΡΙΣΜΟΥ 1 H-1 ) ΕΙΝΑΙ 37 +-18% ΓΙΑ ΤΟ ΕΔΑΦΟΣ ,THE LEVEL OF INDOOR RADON CONCENTRATIONS IN APARTMENT DWELLINGS IN THE CITY OF THESSALONIKI, NORTH GREECE, THE NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY AND EMENATING RADON FROMBUILDING MATERIALS , AS WELL AS THE RADON EXHALATION FROM THE SOIL , THE RADON CONCENTRATION IN PU BLIC WATER SUPPLY AND OUTDOORS WERE STUDIED , IN ORDERTO ESTIMATE THE RADON ENTRY INTO A TYPICAL ONE-STORY HOUSE. THE INDOOR RADONCONCENTRATIONS RANGED BETWEEN 8 AND 143 BQ.M-3(ANNUAL 30.3 =- 22.7 BQ.M-3) AND WERE AFFECTED BY RAINFALL AND CHANGES OF VENT ILATION RATE (THE ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE AND THE AGE OF BUILDING). SIGNIFICANT HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF RA-226 UP TO 140 BQ.KG-1 WERE MEASURED IN GREEK CEMENT TYPE PORTLAND35/II DUE TO THE FLY ASH ADDED UP TO 20% , BUT THE AMOUNT OF RADON EMANATING REDUCED ACCORDING TO FLY ASH ADDITIVES. RADON IS DOMINANTLY ORIGINATED FROM CONCRETE WITH EXHALATION RATE AT THE LEVEL OF 5.61+- 2.32 BQ.M-2.H-1 THE RADON EXHALATION RATE FROM A SURFACE IN DEPTH 70 CM INTO THE SOIL WAS ASSESSED AT 20.8+-9.2BQ.M-2.H-1 (MEAN ANNUA L VALUE) AND WERE AFFECTED BY RAINFALL AND AIR TEMPERATURE . THE RADON CONCENTRATIONS IN PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY RANGED BETWEEN 1.6 AND 11.7 KBQ.M-3 (ANNUAL 4.96+-2.4 KBQ.M-3). THE OUTDOOR RADON CONCENTRATIONS SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND A TMOSPHERIC POLLUTION , ESPECIALLY SMOKE. THE MEAN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION FACTOR OF EACH RADON SOURCE AT A TYPICAL ONE-STORY HOUSE FOUND TO BE 37+-18% ATTRIBUTED TO THE SOIL , 38+-15% TOTHE ATMOSPHERE, 20+-9% TO THE BUILDING MATERIALS AND 6+-3% TO THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY

Natural radioactivity distribution and gammaradiation exposure of beach sands close to Kavalapluton, Greece

This study aims to evaluate the activity concentrationsof 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 228Th and 40K along thebeaches of Kavala being adjacent to the rock-types of theKavala pluton. These ranged from 14–940, 16–1710, 26–4547, 27–4488 and 194–1307 Bq/kg respectively, representingthe highest values of natural radioactivity measuredin sediments of Greece. The (%wt.) heavy magnetic (HM)(allanite, amphibole, mica, clinopyroxene, magnetite andhematite) fraction, the heavy non-magnetic (HNM) (monazite,zircon, titanite and apatite) fraction and the totalheavy fraction (TH), were correlated with the concentrationsof the measured radionuclides in the bulk samples.The heavy fractions seem to control the activity concentrationsof 238U and 232Th of all the samples, showingsome local differences in the main 238U and 232Th mineralcarrier. The measured radionuclides in the beach sandswere normalized to the respective values measured in thegranitic rocks, which are their most probable parentalrocks, so as to provide data upon their enrichment or depletion.The annual equivalent dose varies between 0.01and 0.35 mSv y−1 for tourists and from 0.03 to 1.48 mSv y−1for local people working on the beach

Investigation of Trace and Critical Elements (Including Actinides) in Flotation Sulphide Concentrates of Kassandra Mines (Chalkidiki, Greece)

Pyrite/arsenopyrite (Py-AsPy), galena (PbS), and sphalerite (ZnS) concentrates from the flotation plants of Olympias and Stratoni (Kassandra mines, Chalkidiki, N. Greece) were investigated for their major, trace, minor, and critical element contents, including actinides associated to natural radioactivity. It is revealed that in addition to the Pb, Zn, Ag, and Au being exploited by Hellas Gold S.A., there are also significant concentrations of Sb and Ga (Sb: >0.2 wt.% in PbS concentrate; Ga:25 ppm in ZnS concentrate), but no considerable contents of Bi, Co, V, or REE. Concerning other elements, As was found in elevated concentrations (>1 wt.% in Py-(As)Py-AsPy Olympias concentrate and almost 1 wt.% in Stratoni PbS and ZnS concentrates) together with Cd (specifically in ZnS concentrate). However, actinides occurred in very low concentrations (U < 2 ppm and Th < 0.5 ppm in all examined concentrates), limiting the possibility of natural radioactivity in the Hellas Gold S.A. products. The concentrations of the natural radionuclides (238U, 232Th, and 40K) are much lower than those of commercial granitic rocks, and thus the associated radioactive dose is insignificant

Europe-wide atmospheric radionuclide dispersion by unprecedented wildfires in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, April 2020

International audienceFrom early April 2020, wildfires raged in the highly contaminated areas around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (CNPP), Ukraine. For about 4 weeks, the fires spread around and into the Chernobyl exclusion zone (CEZ) and came within a few kilometers of both the CNPP and radioactive waste storage facilities. Wildfires occurred on several occasions throughout the month of April. They were extinguished, but weather conditions and the spread of fires by airborne embers and smoldering fires led to new fires starting at different locations of the CEZ. The forest fires were only completely under control at the beginning of May, thanks to the tireless and incessant work of the firefighters and a period of sustained precipitation. In total, 0.7–1.2 TBq 137Cs were released into the atmosphere. Smoke plumes partly spread south and west and contributed to the detection of airborne 137Cs over the Ukrainian territory and as far away as Western Europe. The increase in airborne 137Cs ranged from several hundred μBq·m–3 in northern Ukraine to trace levels of a few μBq·m–3 or even within the usual background level in other European countries. Dispersion modeling determined the plume arrival time and was helpful in the assessment of the possible increase in airborne 137Cs concentrations in Europe. Detections of airborne 90Sr (emission estimate 345–612 GBq) and Pu (up to 75 GBq, mostly 241Pu) were reported from the CEZ. Americium-241 represented only 1.4% of the total source term corresponding to the studied anthropogenic radionuclides but would have contributed up to 80% of the inhalation dose

Chapter 5: Radon

Natural ionising radiation is considered the largest contributor to the collective effective dose received by the world’s population. Man is continuously exposed to ionising radiation from several sources that can be grouped into two categories: first, high-energy cosmic rays incident on the Earth’s atmosphere and releasing secondary radiation (cosmic contribution); and, second, radioactive nuclides generated when the Earth was formed and still present in its crust (terrestrial contribution). Terrestrial radioactivity is mostly produced by the uranium (U) and thorium (Th) radioactive families together with potassium (40K), a long-lived radioactive isotope of the elemental potassium. In most cases, radon (222Rn), a noble gas produced by radioactive decay of the 238U progeny, is the major contributor to the total dose. This European Atlas of Natural Radiation has been conceived and developed as a tool for the public to become familiar with natural radioactivity; be informed about the levels of such radioactivity caused by different sources; and have a more balanced view of the annual dose received by the world’s population, to which natural radioactivity is the largest contributor. At the same time, it provides reference material and generates harmonised data, both for the scientific community and national competent authorities. Intended as an encyclopaedia of natural radioactivity, the Atlas describes the different sources of such radioactivity, cosmic and terrestrial, and represents the state-of-the art of this topic. In parallel, it contains a collection of maps of Europe showing the levels of natural sources of radiation. This work unfolds as a sequence of chapters: the rationale behind; some necessary background information; terrestrial radionuclides; radon; radionuclides in water and river sediments; radionuclides in food; cosmic radiation and cosmogenic radionuclides. The final chapter delivers the overall goal of the Atlas: a population-weighted average of the annual effective dose due to natural sources of radon, estimated for each European country as well as for all of them together, giving, therefore, an overall European estimate. As a complement, this introductory chapter offers an overview of the legal basis and requirements on protecting the public from exposure to natural radiation sources. In Europe, radiation has a long tradition. Based on the Euratom Treaty, the European Atomic Energy Community early established a set of legislation for protecting the public against dangers arising from artificial ('man-made') ionising radiation, but this scope has since been extended to include natural radiation. Indeed, the recently modernised and consolidated Basic Safety Standards Directive from 2013 contains detailed provisions on the protection from all natural radiation sources, including radon, cosmic rays, natural radionuclides in building material, and naturally occurring radioactive material