The feasibility of using certified reference\ud
materials for the full energy efficiency calibration of p-type\ud
coaxial high-purity germanium detectors for the determination\ud
of radioactivity in environmental samples is discussed.\ud
The main sources of uncertainty are studied and the\ud
contributions to the total uncertainty budget for the most\ud
intense gamma lines are presented. The correction factors\ud
due to self-absorption and true coincidence summing\ud
effects are discussed in detail. The calibration procedure is\ud
validated for natural and artificial radionuclide determination\ud
in different matrices through an internal cross-validation\ud
and through the participation in a world-wide open\ud
proficiency test
Radon exposure in the workplace is one of the main exposures to the population after that in dwellings. These workplaces are generally at the ground and/or first floor, where radon concentration is generally higher than at upper ones. This study deals with the measurements of indoor radon concentration in several workplaces located in different geological conditions. Measurements of indoor radon concentration have been carried out using passive bare detectors based on CR -39 in 50 workplaces, including one site at the Centre of Applied Nuclear Physics, Tirana. According to the principles of the methodology, the radon passive detectors have been located inside the workplaces for three months exposure, allowing the calculation of average values, which represent much better the true values of the radon concentration inside of a closed environment. The exposure time of detectors was performed during period January-April 2014. According to the assessment made by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), radon in the natural environment constitutes about 50% of the human exposure to natural radiation or 1.2 mSv/year. The measurements were used to calculate the effective dose due to the radon contribution (mSv/y). Based on the results of the measurements, the minimum value of the radon concentration found is 53 Bq/m 3 to 400 Bq/m 3 in workplaces, while the reference levels are 300 Bq/m 3 . Around 90% of the radon concentration values are within reference levels. The results of this study represent a variation of radon concentration related to geological composition. More detailed studies are needed in areas with different geology and construction materials for a better spatial distribution of radon concentration, particularly in public places.
This study reports the activity concentration of 210 Po in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Butrinti Lagoon. The concentrations of 210 Po in mussels collected in spring are found to be approximately twice higher than those collected in autumn, respectively 389.5 ± 16.9 and 227.4 ± 5.0 Bq kg -1 (d.w.). Hypothesis on factors affecting 210 Po concentration in mussels are raised based on available studies. The annual effective ingestion dose due to 210 Po intake was found to be comparable to other studies and varying from 74.2 ± 3.4 to 36.5 ± 1.0 lSv y -1 .
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