Aerodynamic diameter and radioactivity distributions of radioactive aerosols from activated metals cutting for nuclear power plant decommissioning

Chae, Nakkyu; Lee, Min-Ho; Choi, Sungyeol; Park, Byung Gi; Song, Jong-Soon

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.02.093

Cited by 35 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 78 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Radioactive aerosols arise from various sources such as nuclear accidents, natural decay processes, and the decommissioning of nuclear reactors 1–3 . Highly radioactive micro-particles were released to the surrounding environment in the Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi accidents 1,4 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiation Dosimetry of Inhaled Radioactive Aerosols: CFPD and MCNP Transport Simulations of Radionuclides in the Lung

Talaat

Baldez

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite extensive efforts in studying radioactive aerosols, including the transmission of radionuclides in different chemical matrices throughout the body, the internal organ-specific radiation dose due to inhaled radioactive aerosols has largely relied on experimental deposition data and simplified human phantoms. Computational fluid-particle dynamics (CFPD) has proven to be a reliable tool in characterizing aerosol transport in the upper airways, while Monte Carlo based radiation codes allow accurate simulation of radiation transport. The objective of this study is to numerically assess the radiation dosimetry due to particles decaying in the respiratory tract from environmental radioactive exposures by coupling CFPD with Monte Carlo N-Particle code, version 6 (MCNP6). A physiologically realistic mouth-lung model extending to the bifurcation generation G9 was used to simulate airflow and particle transport within the respiratory tract. Polydisperse aerosols with different distributions were considered, and deposition distribution of the inhaled aerosols on the internal airway walls was quantified. The deposition mapping of radioactive aerosols was then registered to the respiratory tract of an image-based whole-body adult male model (VIP-Man) to simulate radiation transport and energy deposition. computer codes were developed for geometry visualization, spatial normalization, and source card definition in MCNP6. Spatial distributions of internal radiation dosimetry were compared for different radionuclides (131 i, 134,137 cs, 90 Sr-90 Y, 103 Ru and 239,240 Pu) in terms of the radiation fluence, energy deposition density, and dose per decay. Radioactive aerosols arise from various sources such as nuclear accidents, natural decay processes, and the decommissioning of nuclear reactors 1-3. Highly radioactive micro-particles were released to the surrounding environment in the Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi accidents 1,4. The aerosol particles released from accidents and natural decay processes may remain suspended in the air for extended periods, be incorporated into soil particles that can reenter the air, or be inhaled by humans or animals. When aerosol particles are inhaled, a fraction of the inhaled particles deposit in the respiratory tract, while the rest is exhaled out 5-9. The deposition fraction is dependent on many parameters such as the geometry of the respiratory airways, the particle size of the inhaled aerosol, and the breathing condition 10,11. Inhaled radioactive aerosols can expose internal organs to radiation for extended periods and may induce a spectrum of functional and morphological changes, such as genetic mutations and carcinogenesis 12,13. Their severity can be related to the absorbed radiation dose in the different specific tissues, which is further related to the number of radioactive particles inhaled, how long they stay, and the type of radiation they emit. Unlike fat and muscles being the main internal defense to external exposures, there is nothing to protect cells and tissues of sus...

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiation Dosimetry of Inhaled Radioactive Aerosols: CFPD and MCNP Transport Simulations of Radionuclides in the Lung

Talaat

Baldez

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Concern is raised in terms of potential health risks for exposed workers, in particular in mines, during nuclear fuel cycle operations, and dismantling of nuclear facilities (Anderson et al, 2016;Samson et al, 2016). These activities can result in particle resuspension or direct emission of aerosols (Peillon et al, 2017;Chae et al, 2019) in the air in workplace areas.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of an Inhalation Chamber and Metrology Assessment to Study Tungsten Aerosol Neurotoxic Effects

Macé

Ibanez

Gélain

et al. 2021

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In order to study the impact of exposure to tungsten aerosol on brain toxicity, we designed a strategy to control the generation of tungsten aerosol with mass concentrations within the magnitude of the average occupational exposure limit value (5 to 10 mg.m-3).Due to such extreme density of tungsten particles, the challenge was to perform relevant measurements of aerosol characteristics needed for upper airways and lung deposition calculations. We mixed tungsten bead powder of coarse diameter with the powder of interest in well-defined mass proportions. We used a cyclone at the exit of a RBG 1000 generator (PALAS) to remove the coarse particles from the aerosol of interest. Measurements of aerosols produced in the inhalation chamber were carried out using several instruments paired with sample lines arranged symmetrically: a low pressure impactor DLPI-30 lpm Dekati® with a basic sampling on filter holder; a DLPI with an APS (Aerodynamic Particle Sizer) 3321 TSI® ; an EEPS (Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer) 3090 TSI® with an APS. The DLPI and the filter holder always provided very close measurements in terms of mass concentrations. The mass median aerodynamic diameter (Da) was 1.77 and 1.89 µm as determined by the DLPI and the APS with the Stokes correction, respectively. The count median diameter in electrical mobility determined by EEPS was 0.17 µm. The results obtained show very good agreement between the measurements carried out with the DLPI, APS and EEPS. The methodology developed for the analysis of the EEPS results confirms that the measurements of the electrical mobility diameter made with this instrument is within a range of aerodynamic sizes never explored and for which the instrument was not initially designed. CFD simulations of the airflows and aerosol dispersion in the chamber allowed to ensure that the aerosol inhaled by the animals is homogeneous and representative.

show abstract

“…Previous work indicated that manual dismantling emitted atmospheric particulate-bound heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn), into the environment [10][11][12]14]. It was reported that size distribution of particles obtained from thermal cutting of metals was associated with cutting parameters such as cutting materials, cutting methods, cutting conditions [15,16]. Many studies revealed that open burning of insulated copper wire and electronic waste released small particles, PAHs and heavy metals into the atmosphere [17][18][19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Size Distributions of Inhalable Particulate Matter and Particle-bound Heavy Metals and Their Potential Occupational Health Risk Related to Informal E-waste Recycling in Thailand

Keawhanu

Sukonthamut

Suriyawong

et al. 2022

Curr. Appl. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Concentrations and size distributions of atmospheric particulates and particulate-bound heavy metals in different inhalable fractions were studied in working areas during manual dismantling, thermal cutting and cable sheath burning activities. The particulate samples were collected on quartz fiber filters using an eight-stage cascade impactor with flow rate of 28.3 l min-1. Mass concentrations of the particles were measured in each size fraction. Heavy metals bound on the particles were extracted with acid digestion and then analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Risk assessment of worker exposure to the particles was determined. The results indicated that the concentrations of ultrafine (dae < 0.43 μm), fine (0.43 < dae < 2.1 μm) and coarse (2.1 < dae < 10 μm) particles were in the ranges of 14.49-62.04, 57.51-120.26 and 153.26–646.99 μg m−3 during manual dismantling, 363.41-1,011.95, 2,105.40-4,899.11 and 1,698.54-7,075.61 μg m−3 during thermal cutting and 364.73-1,694.72, 1,953.33-4,431.41 and 1,385.97-6,126.13 μg m−3 during cable sheath burning, respectively. The concentrations of PM2.1 and PM10 released from these activities did not exceed the OSHA PEL threshold limits. Heavy metals adsorbed on the particles (Fe, Cr, Zn, Cu, Pb, Mn) detected during manual dismantling did not exceed the TWA standard. Concentrations of Cr and Pb during cable sheath burning highly exceeded the standards whereas Pb concentrations during thermal cutting slightly exceeded the standard. The heavy metals released from these recycling activities were more enriched on coarse mode than fine mode. Inhalation exposure to Cr, Pb and Mn posed a potential health risk to the workers.

show abstract

Aerodynamic diameter and radioactivity distributions of radioactive aerosols from activated metals cutting for nuclear power plant decommissioning

Cited by 35 publications

References 78 publications

Radiation Dosimetry of Inhaled Radioactive Aerosols: CFPD and MCNP Transport Simulations of Radionuclides in the Lung

Radiation Dosimetry of Inhaled Radioactive Aerosols: CFPD and MCNP Transport Simulations of Radionuclides in the Lung

Design of an Inhalation Chamber and Metrology Assessment to Study Tungsten Aerosol Neurotoxic Effects

Size Distributions of Inhalable Particulate Matter and Particle-bound Heavy Metals and Their Potential Occupational Health Risk Related to Informal E-waste Recycling in Thailand

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About