Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “RADIOACTIVITY”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,729 records · Page 96Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Radioactive waste disposal in seas adjacent to the territory of the Russian Federation.

The former USSR illegally dumped into the ocean liquid and solid radioactive wastes (RW) originating from nuclear-powered vessels and ships. The Russian President created a special Commission to analyse both the scale and consequences of this activity. According to documentary data and expert estimates at the Commission's disposal, the maximum activity of RW that entered the seas adjacent to Russian territory could have been as much as 2,500 kCi at the time of disposal. The greatest radio-ecological hazard comes from reactors from nuclear submarines and core plates of the nuclear icebreaker 'Lenin', which had spent nuclear fuel in place and which were dumped in shallow water in the Kara Sea near Novaya Zemlya. Editor's note: This article extracts material from a Commission which published a report produced in Russia in 1993. Numerous sources in many Ministries and other government agencies, noted in the text, formed the basis for the final draft. The authors of the draft report were A. Yablokov, V. Karasev, V. Rumyantsev, M. Kokeev, O. Petrov, V. Lystsov, A. Yemelyanenkov and P. Rubtsov. After approving the draft report, the Commission submitted the report to the President of the Russian Federation in February 1993. By Presidential decision, this report (after several technical corrections) was open to the public: it is known variously as 'the Yablokov Commission report, or more simply the 'Yablokov Report', the 'White Book' or 'Yablokov White Paper'. During April-May 1993, 500 copies were distributed among governmental agencies inside Russia, and abroad through a net of Russian Embassies. This article was later sent to Dr Mike Champ as part of the ongoing collections of papers on the Arctic published in this journal (edited by Champ et al.: 1997 'Contaminants in the Arctic', Marine Pollution Bulletin 35, pp. 203-385 and in Marine Pollution Bulletin 2000, vol. 40, pp. 801-868, and continued with the present collection).

Accidents↗
PubMed2003

Generation and stability of bentonite colloids at the bentonite/granite interface of a deep geological radioactive waste repository.

The possible mechanisms of colloid generation at the near field/far field interface of a radioactive repository have been investigated by means of novel column experiments simulating the granite/bentonite boundary, both in dynamic and in quasi-static water flow conditions. It has been shown that solid particles and colloids can be detached from the bulk and mobilised by the water flow. The higher the flow rate, the higher the concentration of particles found in the water, according to an erosion process. However, the gel formation and the intrinsic tactoid structure of the clay play an important role in the submicron particle generation even in the compacted clay and in a confined system. In fact, once a bentonite gel is formed, in the regions where the clay is contacted with water, clay colloids can be formed even in quasi-static flow conditions. The potential relevance of these colloids in radionuclide transport has been studied by evaluating their stability in different chemical environments. The coagulation kinetics of natural bentonite colloids was experimentally studied as a function of the ionic strength and pH, by means of time-resolved light scattering techniques. It has been shown that these colloids are very stable in low saline (approximately 1 x 10(-3) M) and alkaline (pH > or = 8) waters.

Aluminum Silicates↗
PubMed2001

Radioactivity in tobacco leaves.

The radioactivity in tobacco leaves collected from 15 different regions of Greece before cigarette production was studied in order to find any association between the uptake of the naturally occurring radionuclides and the isotopes of cesium of Chernobyl origin. The activities of the isotopes of radium, 226Ra and 228Ra, in the tobacco leaves reflected their origin from the soil by root uptake rather than from fertilizers used in the tobacco cultivation. Lead-210 originated from the air and was deposited onto the tobacco leaves and trapped by the trichomes. Potassium-40 in the tobacco leaves was due to root uptake either from soil or from fertilizer. The isotopes of cesium, 137Cs and 134Cs, in the tobacco leaves were due to root uptake and not due to deposition onto the leaf foliage as they still remained in soil four years after the Chernobyl reactor accident but were absent from the atmosphere in rain washout (precipitation) and gravitational settling.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗
PubMed1990

Environmental radiation and radioactive releases.

Today the most important anthropogenic radiation comes from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons carried out 20-30 years ago, authorized discharges to the sea from nuclear reprocessing plants, and from the Chernobyl accident in 1986. In the past decade the International Union of Radioecologists (IUR) has contributed to improved international co-operation among radioecologists from all parts of the world through its creation of a number of working groups for specific radioecological problems. More than 30 years of radioecological studies have probably made the radioactive contamination of our environment the best-understood of all present pollution problems. This review indicates the doses to man received from the important anthropogenic sources, as well as those from natural background radiation. It appears that in a global perspective the latter is by far the most important contributor.

Background Radiation↗
PubMed1996

Technical basis for EPA's proposed regulation on the cleanup of sites contaminated with radioactivity.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a regulation for the protection of the public from radioactive contamination at sites that are to be cleaned up and released for public use. The rule will apply to sites under the control of Federal agencies, and will impose limits on radiation doses to individuals living or working on a site following cleanup; it will thereby provide site owners and managers with uniform, consistent cleanup criteria for planning and carrying out remediation. This paper presents an overview of EPA's approach to assessing some of the beneficial and adverse effects associated with various possible values for the annual dose limit. In particular, it discusses the method developed to determine how the choice of cleanup criterion affects (1) the time-integrated potential numbers of non-fatal and fatal radiogenic cancers averted among future populations, (2) the occurrence of radiogenic cancers among remediation workers and the public caused by the cleanup process itself, and (3) the volumes of contaminated soil that may require remediation. The analytic methods described here were used to provide input data and assumptions for the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) that supports the proposed regulation; the RIA also considered non-radiological benefits and costs (i.e., public health, economic, and ecological) of the standards.

Radiation Injuries↗
PubMed1997

Radiation doses to critical groups since the early 1950s due to discharges of liquid radioactive waste from Sellafield.

First, some of the early work is reviewed on exposure pathways in connection with proposed and early liquid radioactive waste discharges from Sellafield. The main historical features of these discharges, affected by relevant plant operations, are then briefly described. The important radiological exposure pathways resulting from the discharges and people's consumption and occupancy habits are considered. To place the changing scenario onto a consistent basis using present-day methodology, a reconstruction of exposures has been carried out using environmental monitoring data and models. The three major pathways are examined of Porphyra/laverbread consumption in South Wales, fish and shellfish consumption near Sellafield, and external exposure over local and more distant sediments. The results show that over the period 1952 to about 1970 the laverbread pathway was probably critical, taking a cautious approach. Effective dose rates fluctuated at around 1 mSv y(-1) from about 1956 to 1971. From about 1970 to 1985, the fish and shellfish pathway was likely to have been critical, with effective dose rates peaking at about 2 mSv y(-1) in 1975-1976. External exposure was likely to have been of lesser importance than the other two pathways until about 1985, when with the retention of previously-released radiocesium on sediments it has become dominant. This phenomenon applies particularly further afield where radiocesium concentrations have been slower to decline; in the Ribble estuary, houseboat dwellers have been the critical group from about 1985. Effective doses have been at about 0.3 mSv y(-1) and declining; they are due to the effects of radiocesium discharges in earlier years. Dose rates have remained within contemporary ICRP dose limits.

Actinoid Series Elements↗
PubMed1999

A biosphere modeling methodology for dose assessments of the potential Yucca Mountain deep geological high level radioactive waste repository.

Recent developments in performance standards for proposed high level radioactive waste disposal at Yucca Mountain suggest that health risk or dose rate limits will likely be part of future standards. Approaches to the development of biosphere modeling and dose assessments for Yucca Mountain have been relatively lacking in previous performance assessments due to the absence of such a requirement. This paper describes a practical methodology used to develop a biosphere model appropriate for calculating doses from use of well water by hypothetical individuals due to discharges of contaminated groundwater into a deep well. The biosphere model methodology, developed in parallel with the BIOMOVS II international study, allows a transparent recording of the decisions at each step, from the specification of the biosphere assessment context through to model development and analysis of results. A list of features, events, and processes relevant to Yucca Mountain was recorded and an interaction matrix developed to help identify relationships between them. Special consideration was given to critical/potential exposure group issues and approaches. The conceptual model of the biosphere system was then developed, based on the interaction matrix, to show how radionuclides migrate and accumulate in the biosphere media and result in potential exposure pathways. A mathematical dose assessment model was specified using the flexible AMBER software application, which allows users to construct their own compartment models. The starting point for the biosphere calculations was a unit flux of each radionuclide from the groundwater in the geosphere into the drinking water in the well. For each of the 26 radionuclides considered, the most significant exposure pathways for hypothetical individuals were identified. For 14 of the radionuclides, the primary exposure pathways were identified as consumption of various crops and animal products following assumed agricultural use of the contaminated water derived from the deep well. Inhalation of dust (11 radionuclides) and external irradiation (1 radionuclide) were also identified as significant exposure modes. Contribution to the total flux to dose conversion factor from the drinking water pathway for each radionuclide was also assessed and for most radionuclides was found to be less than 10% of the total flux to dose conversion factor summed across all pathways. Some of the uncertainties related to the results were considered. The biosphere modeling results have been applied within an EPRI Total Systems Performance Assessment of Yucca Mountain. Conclusions and recommendations for future performance assessments are provided.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed2006

Significance of 14C and 228Ra in terms of the proposed Yucca Mountain high-level radioactive waste repository.

C and Ra are two of the radionuclides that have either been identified as being potentially significant in terms of releases from the proposed Yucca Mountain high-level radioactive waste repository, or are specifically cited for consideration and evaluation in the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The purpose of this study was to estimate the concentrations and associated doses for these two radionuclides, if released under conditions of a scenario assumed to apply to a repository containing some of the features of the one proposed at Yucca Mountain, NV, and to compare these estimates to the regulatory limits for that facility. For C, the postulated condition was that an annual fractional release of 10 of its total remaining inventory occurs beginning at 10,000 y after repository closure. For Ra, the same fractional release rate was assumed, but in this case it was presumed to occur when the Ra inventory was projected to reach a maximum at more than 10 y after repository closure. The estimated concentrations and doses were, in turn, compared to the concentration limit, specified in the Ground Water Protection Standards (GWPSs) in the case of Ra, or derived, in the case of C, on the basis of the regulatory dose rate limit. Due to the small inventory of C in the waste, and its short half-life relative to the performance period evaluated, its estimated concentration in the ground water would be slightly more than 4% of the derived GWPS. Due to the relatively small initial inventory of Th, the precursor of Ra, and the correspondingly small quantities of higher atomic number actinides that could, through decay, produce additional quantities of Th, its estimated concentration in the ground water would be less than 3% of the GWPS, leaving the remaining portion of the limit for potential contributions from Ra. At the same time, however, it must be recognized that, in this case, the regulations require that any contributions of naturally occurring Ra and Ra already present in the ground water must be included in the determination of compliance. If this is done, the total concentration of Ra, combined with the naturally occurring concentration of Ra, would be about 10.5% of the limit. In a similar manner, the committed doses due to the annual consumption of each of these two radionuclides in ground water and food, produced in the local biosphere, were evaluated in terms of the Individual Protection Standard (IPS). Based on these analyses, the estimated effective dose for C, using the coefficients in Federal Guidance Report (FGR) No. 13, was 4.15 muSv y, less than 3% of the IPS. For Ra, the comparable estimate at the time of maximum inventory, excluding in this case the contributions from naturally occurring Ra and Ra, was 7.39 muSv y, representing about 5% of the IPS. Based on the value assumed for the fractional release rate (10 y), it was concluded that neither C nor Ra will be significant in terms of either the applicable GWPS or the IPS. While it was recognized that, due to the time spans involved, these analyses were primarily an academic exercise, it is believed that the perspectives and accompanying insights are useful.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗
PubMed2007

Assessment of current exposure of the population living in the Techa River basin from radioactive releases of the Mayak facility.

Current doses arising from external and internal pathways have been estimated for the residents of two villages, Muslumovo and Brodokalmak, alongside the Techa River, which was contaminated by radioactive releases from the Mayak production facility. The dose estimates are based on numerous environmental measurements supplemented by further human whole body measurements and studies on occupational and dietary habits of Slavic and Turkish ethnic groups. Estimated doses arise mainly from use of the contaminated floodplains alongside the Techa River. The current average annual effective dose attributable to Cs and Sr in the environment, under conditions where restrictions on some river-related activities are in place, may exceed the Russian national action level of 1 mSv only in the hypothetical critical group of herdsmen in Muslumovo. The dose to this critical group in Brodokalmak is assessed to be 3 times less than that in Muslumovo and 2 fold below the action level. The external and internal exposures give comparable contributions to the total dose in both settlements and population groups: 47% and 53% in Muslumovo and 40% and 60% in Brodokalmak, respectively. About one quarter to one half of the internal dose in adults arises from the intake of Sr. In order to avoid substantial increases in the dose received by Muslumovo residents, it is expedient to prolong the current policy of restriction of some river-related population activities in this village.

Body Burden↗
PubMed1964

RADIOACTIVITY IN THE ATMOSPHERIC EFFLUENTS OF POWER PLANTS THAT USE FOSSIL FUELS.

Analysis of the fly ash produced by combustion of pulverized Appalachian coal has shown that a 1000-megawatt coal-burning power plant will discharge into the atmosphere from about 28 millicuries to nearly 1 curie per year of radium-226 and radium-228. An oil-burning plant of similar size will discharge about 0.5 millicurie of radium per year. Comparison of these data with data on the release of fission products from nuclear-powered generating stations shows that when the physical and biological properties of the various radionuclides are taken into consideration, the conventional fossil-fueled plants discharge relatively greater quantities of radioactive materials into the atmosphere than nuclearpowered plants of comparable size.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1975

Environmental radioactivity in Greenland in 1974.

Measurements of fall-out radioactivity in Greenland in 1974 are reported. Strontium-90 (and Caesium-137 in most cases) was determined in samples of precipitation, sea water, vegetation, animals, and drinking water. Estimates are given of the mean contents of 90Sr and 137Cs in the human diet in Greenland in 1974. Three Greenlanders were measured by wholebody counting.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Current radiation status of the ecosystem of the Lake Bolshoi Igish situated along the axial part of the East-Urals radioactive trace].

Data on the current radioecological status of lake Bolshoi Igish in the Middle Ural are presented in the paper. The lake is situated on the central axis of the East-Urals radioactive trace which was formed as a result of the 1957 nuclear accident at the Mayak Production Association. The distribution of 90Sr and 137Cs in the major components of the water basin is shown. Seasonal dynamics of the specific activity of radionuclides in water and in bottom deposits has been investigated. The current community of the higher water plant species has been studied. The paper discusses the concentration of 90Sr and 137Cs in the macrophyts of lake Bolshoi Igish depending on their species.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Health protection after the Chernobyl accident. The relation of costs and reduction of radioactive dosage level].

This article describes the nutritional measures introduced to protect health after the Chernobyl accident, and the associated costs. The total value of the reindeer meat, mutton, lamb and goat meat saved as a result of such measures in 1987 amounted to approx. NOK 250 million. The measures cost approx. NOK 60 million. The resulting reduction in the radiation dose level to which the population was exposed was 450 manSv. In 1988, mutton/lamb and goat meat valued at approx. NOK 310 million was saved from condemnation by similar measures, which cost approx. NOK 50 million. The resulting dose level reduction was approx. 200 manSv. The relationship (cost/benefit ratio) between the overall cost of the measures taken to reduce radioactivity levels in food and the dose level reduction achieved was acceptable.

Accidents↗
PubMed1977

Environmental radioactivity in Greenland in 1976.

Measurements of fall-out radioactivity in Greenland in 1976 are reported. Strontium-90 (and Caesium-137 in most cases) was determined in samples of precipitation, sea water, vegetation, animals, and drinking water. Estimates are given of the mean contents of 90Sr and 137Cs in the human diet in Greenland in 1976.

Animals↗
PubMed1967

The radioactive contamination of food following nuclear attack.

The relative radiation hazards from early and delayed fallout following a nuclear attack have been reviewed. It is indicated that the hazard to life from whole-body gamma irradiation from early fallout far outweighs the hazard from radioactive contamination of food. Nevertheless, because of the possible effects of iodine-131, the consumption by infants of fresh milk from animals which have ingested contaminated fodder should be avoided if possible during the first few weeks after attack. During the same period, water from covered supplies should be used in preference to that from open reservoirs. It is more important, however, to alleviate hunger and thirst in both man and animal than to prevent the temporary ingestion of food which may be contaminated by fallout.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Radioactive waste monitored around the city hospitals in Brescia. Results of a radiometric survey and model of the radiologic impact on the environment].

The release into environment of liquid radioactive wastes coming from the metabolic therapy department of the Spedali Civili in Brescia was monitored during six months, with a rate of release of about 20 divided by 50 mCi of 131I every 30 divided by 40 days. Samples of 10 liters of liquid, taken from sewers downstream from the release point during a release operation, was percolated on 50 cm3 of ionic exchange resin in order to achieve a suitable counting rate with a Ge(Li) crystal spectrometer, connected to a 2048 channel analyzer. From these measurements a dilution curve along the sewers course was obtained, allowing one to know, for a given radioiodine concentration at the release point, concentration at every point downstream. In this way, by means of a simple linear compartmental model, it is possible to calculate the average individual dose taken by individuals who are living in the region (250.000 inhabitants) in one year of release operations. In our case we considered, as critical pathways to man, cow milk, meat, cereals and fruits: we obtained for thyroid, which in the case of radioiodine is the critical organ, an individual annual dose of 5,41 x 10(-4) mrem, while for total body we obtained 9,49 x 10(-7) mrem.

Environmental Pollution↗
PubMed1978

Environmental radioactivity in Greenland in 1977.

Measurements of fallout radioactivity in Greenland in 1977 are reported. Strontium-90 (and Cesium-137 in most cases) was determined in samples of precipitation, sea water, vegetation, animals, and drinking water. Estimates are given of the mean contents of 90Sr and 137Cs in the human diet in Greenland in 1977.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[The radioecology of the grapevine. 2. Effects of the nuclear reactor accident in Chernobyl on the radioactivity in the soil, leaves, grapes and wine].

Natural (tritium, 14C, 40K, 226Ra) and man-made radionuclides (90Sr, 134Cs, 137Cs) were determined in soil (top 30 cm), vine leaves, grapes and wine in eight locations of the most important viticultural regions in the Federal Republic of Germany. The results obtained in 1983-1985 have been published previously. Part II of this study presents results obtained in 1986 and 1987, i.e. after the reactor accident at Chernobyl in the Soviet Union. The mean content of 137Cs before (after) Chernobyl was 4 (9) Bq/kg dry matter in soil, 0.07 (3) Bq/kg fresh matter in leaves, 0.02 (0.4) Bq/kg in grapes, and 0.008 (0.9) Bq/L in wine. As compared with 1986, distinctly lower levels were found in leaves, grapes and wine in 1987. In 1986 the content of 134Cs was about half that of 137Cs. Owing to its shorter half-life, 134Cs was below the detection limit in many of the 1987 samples. Transfer factors such as from soil to leaves and from soil to grapes for caesium agreed well in 1983-1985 and 1987, but showed considerable deviations in 1986, due to the ubiquitous contamination of the environment. Results of 90Sr determinations confirmed other reports showing this radionuclide to be a very minor contributor to the total radioactivity released at Chernobyl. No effect of the reactor accident on levels of the other radionuclides was detected.

Accidents↗