The fate and behaviour of enhanced natural radioactivity with respect to environmental protection

Michalik, B.; Brown, Justin; Krajewski, P.

doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2012.09.001

Cited by 26 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…On the other hand, the potential threat posed by TENORM solid wastes, liquid effluents, or gases cannot be dismissed as below radiological concern or below exempt concentration levels because of the immense volume of TENORM produced annually which would enhance the potential for radiation exposure to humans or biota. The need to consider TENORM waste as an environmental hazard material was pointed out (Michalik et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of elemental and NROM/TENORM hazard potential from non-nuclear industries in North Sinai, Egypt

Elmekawy

Badran

Seddeek

et al. 2015

Environ Monit Assess

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Non-nuclear industries use raw materials containing significant levels of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). The processing of these materials may expose workers engaged in or even people living near such sites to technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) above the natural background. Inductively coupled plasma and gamma ray spectrometry have been used to determine major and trace elements and radionuclide concentrations in various samples, respectively, in order to investigate the environmental impact of coal mining and cement plant in North Sinai, Egypt. Generally, very little attention was directed to the large volumes of waste generated by either type of industrial activities. Different samples were analyzed including various raw materials, coal, charcoal, Portland and white cement, sludge, and wastes. Coal mine and cement plant workers dealing with waste and kaolin, respectively, are subjected to a relatively high annual effective dose. One of the important finding is the enhancement of all measured elements and radionuclides in the sludge found in coal mine. It may pose an environmental threat because of its large volume and its use as combustion material. The mine environment may have constituted Al, Fe, Cr, and V pollution source for the local area. Higher concentration of Al, Fe, Mn, B, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr, V, and TENORM were found in Portland cement and Zn in white cement. Coal has higher concentrations of Al, Fe, B, Co, Cr, and V as well as (226)Ra and (232)Th. The compiled results from the present study and different worldwide investigations demonstrate the obvious unrealistic ranges normally used for (226)Ra and (232)Th activity concentrations in coal and provided ranges for coal, Portland and white cement, gypsum, and limestone.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of elemental and NROM/TENORM hazard potential from non-nuclear industries in North Sinai, Egypt

Elmekawy

Badran

Seddeek

et al. 2015

Environ Monit Assess

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“…Changing in the natural state of NORM causes technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM), or enhanced levels of NORM 8 . The anthropogenic activities such as coal mining, oil and gas extraction, geothermal energy production, water and wastewater treatment, application of phosphate fertilizers, uranium, thorium and copper mining can increase the level of naturally occurring radioactive particles 9 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertical distribution and radiological risk assessment of 137Cs and natural radionuclides in soil samples

Ahmad

Al-Ghouti

AlSadig

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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The aims of this study were to investigate the vertical distributions of natural radionuclides 232 Th, 226 Ra and 40 K as well as anthropogenic radionuclide 137 Cs in soil samples and to analyze the correlation among the radioactivity of these radionuclides and the physiochemical characteristics of soil samples namely pH, grain size, carbonate content and organic matter. Risk assessment of the radiological hazard has also been estimated. Forty-four soil samples were collected from eleven locations in Qatar at four depth levels from 0 to 16 cm. The average concentrations of 232 Th, 226 Ra, 40 K and 137 Cs in the soil depth of 16 cm were 10, 17, 201 and 4 Bq/kg, respectively, which were within the reported world mean. The external absorbed gamma dose rate, the annual effective dose, the mean radium equivalent activity, the external hazard index and the lifetime cancer risk were 22 nGy/h, 0.027 mSv/y, 47 Bq/kg, 0.125 and 0.096 × 10 −3 , respectively. These values were far below the minimum recommended international values. The level of radioactivity concentrations in the soil was affected by the physiochemical characteristics of the soil. The positive correlation with highest R 2 value was found among the radioactivity concentrations of 232 Th and 40 K and the soil clay content. Total organic carbon was also positively correlated for 226 Ra and 137 Cs activity concentrations, whereas, carbonate content was negatively correlated with the radioactivity concentrations of 232 Th and 40 K. As far as soil moisture content is concerned, the positive correlation with highest R 2 value was obtained for 226 Ra activity concentrations.

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“…Due to the ease of migration, this isotope may cause a disturbance of the local radioactive balance. Part of Rn-222 is released from geological structures and undergoes further processes of decay in the atmosphere, causing the creation of other isotopes, including Pb-210 [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Moss Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. as Bioindicator of Radionuclide Contamination in Industrial Areas of Upper Silesia

Kosior

Dołhańczuk-Śródka

Ziembik

2017

Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S

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Abstract:Mosses are good bioaccumulators of radionuclides and from the 60 of the last century, they are used as bioindicators of radioactive contamination in the environment. Concentration of impurities in moss represent the accumulation in mosses during the past 2-3 years. As a result, the moss composition analysis provides information on an average contamination within a few vegetation seasons. During our survey the measurements of radionuclide activity concentrations in P. schreberi transplanted from places relatively clean to heavily contaminated areas of Upper Silesia were carried out. An increase in the radionuclides activity concentrations in P. schreberi transplants may indicate not only deposition of the radionuclides itself, but also an influx of other pollutants. The results showed no relationship between the Pb-210 activity concentration and activity concentrations of Pb-214, Bi-214, also belonging to the uranium-radium decay series. The increased concentration of Pb-210 in P. schreberi may be the result of the radionuclide atmospheric deposition, which appears in the environment as a result of fossil fuels burning. Excess, allogeneic Pb-210 can be used as marker of environmental pollution. In the areas with its higher activity concentration increased pollution can be expected delivered, for example, by local industry. The Project received financial assistance from the funds of the National Science Centre, granted by force of the decision no. UMO-2013/09/B/NZ8/03340 (NCN).

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The fate and behaviour of enhanced natural radioactivity with respect to environmental protection

Cited by 26 publications

References 29 publications

Assessment of elemental and NROM/TENORM hazard potential from non-nuclear industries in North Sinai, Egypt

Assessment of elemental and NROM/TENORM hazard potential from non-nuclear industries in North Sinai, Egypt

Vertical distribution and radiological risk assessment of 137Cs and natural radionuclides in soil samples

The Use of Moss Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. as Bioindicator of Radionuclide Contamination in Industrial Areas of Upper Silesia

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