Radioactive particles from a range of past nuclear events: Challenges posed by highly varied structure and composition

Johansen, Mathew P.; Child, David; Collins, Richard N.; Cook, Megan; Davis, Joel; Hotchkis, M.A.C.; Howard, Daryl L.; Howell, Nicholas A.; Ikeda‐Ohno, Atsushi; Young, Emma

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156755

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 53 publications

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“…Release of radioactive particles into the built and natural environment has been widespread 5 , 9 . There was a significant release of uranium oxides, corium (materials formed from nuclear reactor core meltdown), and fission product condensate particles from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor explosion and fire 1 , 10 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detecting radioactive particles in complex environmental samples using real-time autoradiography

Ang,

Bongrand,

Duval

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Radioactive particles often contain very high radioactivity concentrations and are widespread. They pose a potential risk to human health and the environment. Their detection, quantification, and characterization are crucial if we are to understand their impact. Here, we present the use of a real-time autoradiography gaseous detector (using parallel ionization multiplier) to expedite and improve the accuracy of radioactive particle screening in complex environmental samples. First, standard particles were used to assess the detector capabilities (spatial resolution, spectrometry, and artefact contributions), then, we applied the technique to more complex and environmentally relevant samples. The real-time autoradiography technique provides data with a spatial resolution (≲100 µm) suitable for particle analysis in complex samples. Further, it can differentiate between particles predominantly emitting alpha and beta radiation. Here, the technique is applied to radioactive cesium-rich microparticles collected from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear exclusion zone, showing their accurate detection, and demonstrating the viability of real-time autoradiography in environmental scenarios. Indeed, for more complex samples (radioactive particles in a less radioactive heterogeneous background mix of minerals), the technique permits relatively high selectivity for radioactive particle screening (up to 61.2% success rate) with low false positive percentages (~ 1%).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%