Radioactivity of dumps in mining areas of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in Poland

Underground coal mining is associated with large quantities of gangue. In the past, the majority of gangue was not utilized but was placed in the vicinity of the coalmines forming cone-shaped dumps. Some of them contained even millions of tons of rock. Nowadays, environmental precautions extort larger utilization of any kind of waste materials, for example in road construction, civil engineering or as stowing in underground abandoned workings. Examination of the composition of waste dumps, including radioactivity, is thus an important issue. The paper presents results of a radiological survey carried out in several dumps located in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in the south of Poland. Measurements of samples were carried out with the use of a gamma-ray spectrometer. Activity concentration results for the uranium and thorium decay chains are discussed

Uranium, radium and radon isotopes in selected brines of Poland

Natural radioactive isotopes were studied in nine different types of brines from four locations in Poland. Investigated brines are exploited from various geological structures composed of the rocks of different chemical and mineral composition as well as different age and depth. All investigated brines are used in balneotherapy (i.e. baths, inhalations, showers). The main goal of this study was to obtain some basic knowledge on the activity range of natural elements such as uranium, radium and radon in different brine types in Poland and their variability depending on their location in certain geological structures. Activities of 234,238U, 226,228Ra and 222Rn isotopes were measured with the use of two nuclear spectrometry techniques: liquid scintillation and alpha spectrometry. The activity concentrations of 222Rn vary from below 1 to 76.1 plus or minus 3.7 Bq/l, for the 226Ra isotope from 0.19 plus or minus 0.01 to 85.5 plus or minus 0.4 Bq/l and for 228Ra from below 0.03 to 2.17 plus or minus 0.09 Bq/l. For uranium isotopes, the concentrations are in the range from below 0.5 to 5.1 plus or minus 0.4 mBq/l for 238U and from 1.6 plus or minus 0.4 to 45.6 plus or minus 2.0 mBq/l for 234U. The obtained results indicate high radium activity concentrations corresponding to high mineralization of waters

Radioactivity in waters of Mt. Etna (Italy)

Radioactivity in underground waters from Mt. Etna was investigated on the basis of 13 samples. The samples were collected from springs, wells and galleries around the volcano. Water from nine out of thirteen intakes is used for consumption. Activity concentration of uranium isotopes 234,238U, radium isotopes 226,228Ra and radon 222Rn were determined with the use different nuclear spectrometry techniques. The measurements of radium and radon activity concentration were performed with the use of a liquid scintillation counter. The determination of uranium isotopes was carried out with the use of alpha spectrometry. All samples show uranium concentration above Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA), with the highest total uranium (234U þ 238U) activity concentration equal to 130 mBq/l. For radium isotopes, all samples except one showed the activity concentration below MDA. Radon activity concentration was within the range from 1 to 13 Bq/l, hence these waters can be classified as low-radon waters

Radioactivity in waters of Mt. Etna (Italy)

Radioactivity in underground waters from Mt. Etna was investigated on the basis of 13 samples. The samples were collected from springs, wells and galleries around the volcano. Water from nine out of thirteen intakes is used for consumption. Activity concentration of uranium isotopes 234,238U, radium isotopes 226,228Ra and radon 222Rn were determined with the use different nuclear spectrometry techniques. The measurements of radium and radon activity concentration were performed with the use of a liquid scintillation counter. The determination of uranium isotopes was carried out with the use of alpha spectrometry. All samples show uranium concentration above Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA), with the highest total uranium (234U þ 238U) activity concentration equal to 130 mBq/l. For radium isotopes, all samples except one showed the activity concentration below MDA. Radon activity concentration was within the range from 1 to 13 Bq/l, hence these waters can be classified as low-radon waters.Published384-3894.5. Studi sul degassamento naturale e sui gas petroliferiJCR Journalreserve