Fine structure of the absorbed dose rate monitored in Zagreb, Croatia, in the period 1985–2011

Babić, Dinko; Senčar, Jasminka; Petrinec, Branko; Marović, Gordana; Bituh, Tomislav; Skoko, Božena

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.11.012

Cited by 13 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…By contrast, our analysis demonstrates that this coupling may, in fact, result in a rich structure of a measured signal, provided that the dataset stretches over a long time period and the data are closely separated. Moreover, we also show that it is possible to observe the mentioned fine structure by detecting not only the γ radiation of cosmogenic radionuclides [11][12][13] but also their β activity, which has not been reported so far. We base our analysis of the A(t) and D(t) on comparing the obtained values of τ with published data on solar activity, and we also discuss which cosmogenic radionuclides are the most probable contributors to the observed modulations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…Therefore, one can conclude that the periodic modulations of the A(t) are, at least in considerable part, related to the contribution of cosmogenic radionuclides. Within this context, we also recall our published data on the monitoring of the absorbed dose rate D in Zagreb between 1986 and 2012 [11], where a number of periodicities have also been found. In total, of 55 peaks in the Fourier transforms of the two datasets, 50 can be correlated with the literature data on solar activity in solar cycles (SCs) 21-24.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Altogether, about 14 500 daily data were recorded, of which only some 30 excessively large values shortly after the Chernobyl accident have not been used in our analysis. The experimental procedure for our monitoring of D has been described in [11], and we here just repeat the main points. These measurements were carried out some 20 m from the pumping station mentioned above, using a calibrated Geiger-Müller tube, positioned at approximately 1 m above the ground, as a detector of γ radiation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Periodic behaviour in ground-level environmental radioactivity: fingerprints of solar activity?

Babić¹,

Senčar²

2018

Proc. R. Soc. A.

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Long-term data on ground-level environmental radioactivity are analysed, these referring to daily records of the total β activity in air and absorbed dose rate between 1976 and 2016 in Zagreb, Croatia. A Fourier analysis of these two datasets reveals a periodic behaviour with numerous periods ranging from approximately four months to roughly 21 years. Ninety per cent of the periods agree remarkably well with known periodicities in solar activity throughout solar cycles 21–24, which suggests that the observed modulations were most probably caused by variations in the cosmogenic radionuclide production in the upper atmosphere. Hence, one can extract the fine structure of solar activity from environmental radioactivity monitoring data, which implies that it could be possible to supplement the existing information on the exposure of Earth to cosmic rays by analysing results from radioactivity monitoring stations all over the world. These datasets cover Earth densely due to the existence of a global radioecological network and are complementary to those resulting from dedicated cosmic ray detection experiments. Because of that, such analyses might possibly lead to new findings.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Periodic behaviour in ground-level environmental radioactivity: fingerprints of solar activity?

Babić¹,

Senčar²

2018

Proc. R. Soc. A.

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“…Although the half-life of 131 I is short, it poses a threat because it does not substitute another atom (like Sr substitutes Ca) but directly takes the role of non-radioactive iodine. Moreover, carried by air masses, it can travel long distances before decaying [for instance, its presence was measured in Zagreb, Croatia, after the Fukushima accident (14)]. Both 90 Sr and 137 Cs have long half-lives, and this is the reason why they are of special interest in radioecological studies.…”

Section: Anthropogenic Radionuclides In the Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of physics in radioecology and radiotoxicology

Petrinec

Šoštarić

Babić

2019

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology

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This article gives an overview of physical concepts important for radioecology and radiotoxicology to help bridge a gap between non-physicists in these scientific disciplines and the intricate language of physics. Relying on description and only as much mathematics as necessary, we discuss concepts ranging from fundamental natural forces to applications of physical modelling in phenomenological studies. We first explain why some atomic nuclei are unstable and therefore transmute. Then we address interactions of ionising radiation with matter, which is the foundation of both radioecology and radiotoxicology. We continue with relevant naturally occurring and anthropogenic radionuclides and their properties, abundance in the environment, and toxicity for the humans and biota. Every radioecological or radiotoxicological assessment should take into account combined effects of the biological and physical half-lives of a radionuclide. We also outline the basic principles of physical modelling commonly used to study health effects of exposure to ionising radiation, as it is applicable to every source of radiation but what changes are statistical weighting factors, which depend on the type of radiation and exposed tissue. Typical exposure doses for stochastic and deterministic health effects are discussed, as well as controversies related to the linear no-threshold hypothesis at very low doses.

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“…This is particularly imperative in cases of nuclear accidents such as the one that occurred at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, Japan on 11 March 2011. Even though the city of Zagreb and Fukushima are considerably distant, a related temporary increase of the 137 Cs activity in air was observed (1). Fortunately, it remained well below a value that should cause concern.…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

137Cs in Soil and Fallout Around Zagreb (Croatia) at the Time of the Fukushima Accident

Šoštarić

Petrinec

Babić

2013

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology

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This paper addresses the noticeable increase of 137Cs activity concentrations in soil and fallout in the area surrounding Zagreb (Croatia) that occurred at the time of the 2011 Fukushima accident. This topic is important for public health as 137Cs is highly toxic due to its long half-life of radioactive decay and chemical similarity to potassium. 137Cs concentrations in fallout were much greater than in soil, but remained present longer in the latter. While being detectable in our measurements, 137Cs did not spread through the food chain in amounts exceeding the maximum allowed level of radioactive food contamination. However, more thorough and consistent measurements need to be done in order to establish the precise activity trends of 137Cs in Zagreb soil and fallout.

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Fine structure of the absorbed dose rate monitored in Zagreb, Croatia, in the period 1985–2011

Cited by 13 publications

References 13 publications

Periodic behaviour in ground-level environmental radioactivity: fingerprints of solar activity?

Periodic behaviour in ground-level environmental radioactivity: fingerprints of solar activity?

The role of physics in radioecology and radiotoxicology

137Cs in Soil and Fallout Around Zagreb (Croatia) at the Time of the Fukushima Accident

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