On a risk of inhalation exposure during visits in Chernobyl exclusion zone

In recent years Chernobyl exclusion zone has become a very popular tourist destination. Many people visiting power plant, Pripyat city or surrounding villages use different types of personal dosimeters to control external exposure, however very small group of tourist have opportunity to control internal contamination of respiratory tract using dedicated, high sensitive whole body counters. In this study 11 anti-dust masks collected from CEZ visitors and filters from one military MP-5 mask were analyzed using alpha, beta and gamma spectrometry to determine doses from actinides and fission products which can be inhaled without proper protective equipment. Results showed, that average effective dose from inhalation of contaminated aerosol in case of single-day trip (avoided due to use of mask) was 1.3 μSv per person, which is much smaller than potential effective dose after exploration of highly contaminated areas like Jupiter complex, where combined dose from all measured nuclides collected on MP-5 mask filter was 1.4 mSv

Measurements of natural radioactivity in the salt cavern of the Polkowice-Sieroszowice copper mine

Due to their low radioactivity background, underground physics laboratories offer a unique possibility for investigating extremely rare phenomena like proton decay, dark matter signals or neutrino physics/astrophysics related issues. The knowledge of the natural radioactivity background is essential for the success of an underground physics experiment. The following measurements of the natural radioactivity background, in the foreseen location of an underground physics laboratory in the salt layer, in the Polkowice–Sieroszowice copper mine are presented: concentration of natural radio-isotopes from in situ obtained gamma-ray spectra and from alpha spectroscopy of rock samples, radon concentration in the air and the dose determination

Lead shielding efficiency from the gamma background measurements in the salt cavern of the Polkowice–Sieroszowice copper mine

The studies of lead shielding efficiency from the gamma background measurements were performed in the salt cavern of the copper mine - a site considered for an underground laboratory. Within the energy range of 50–2700 keV, the measured gamma-ray count rates normalized to the mass of the high-purity detectors germanium crystal are 5.93 and 6.32 s−1kg−1 for the used low-background and portable spectrometers, respectively. The gamma-ray flux of 0.124 (2) cm−2s−1 connected with the natural radioisotopes was observed by the portable HPGe, including 0.026 (1) cm−2s−1 contribution of radon decay products, whereas the photon flux at the spectrum continuum was 0.18 (5) cm−2s−1

137Cs and 40K in Cortinarius caperatus mushrooms (1996–2016) in Poland - Bioconcentration and estimated intake: 137Cs in Cortinarius spp. from the Northern Hemisphere from 1974 to 2016

Cortinarius caperatus grows in the northern regions of Europe, North America and Asia and is widely collected by mushroom foragers across Europe. This study shows that in the last three decades since the Chernobyl nuclear accident, C. caperatus collected across much of Northern Poland exhibited high activity concentrations of radiocaesium (137Cs) - a long-lived radionuclide. The mushroom appears to efficiently bioconcentrate 137Cs from contaminated soil substrata followed by sequestration into its morphological parts such as the cap and stipe which are used as food. The gradual leaching of 137Cs into the lower strata of surface soils in exposed areas are likely to facilitate higher bioavailability to the mycelia of this species which penetrate to relatively greater depths and may account for the continuing high activity levels noticed in Polish samples (e.g. activity within caps in some locations was still at 11,000 Bq kg−1 dw in 2008 relative to a peak of 18,000 in 2002). The associated dietary intake levels of 137Cs have often exceeded the tolerance limits set by the European Union (370 and 600 Bq kg−1 ww for children and adults respectively) during the years 1996–2010. Human dietary exposure to 137Cs is influenced by the method of food preparation and may be mitigated by blanching followed by disposal of the water, rather than direct consumption after stir-frying or stewing. It may be prudent to provide precautionary advice and monitor activity levels, as this mushroom continues to be foraged by casual as well as experienced mushroom hunters