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Long SQ, Xie YS, Zhang MH, Li YM, Wang S, Wu P, Huang WK, Shan J. The influence of weathering degree on radon exhalation in granite. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08541-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Li P, Sun Q, Geng J, Yan X, Tang L. Radon exhalation from temperature treated loess. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:154925. [PMID: 35367261 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Radon gas is a cancer risk and exists naturally in certain soils, such as loess, which is an important raw earth construction material in arid regions such as northwestern China and southern USA. Accordingly, the radon exhalationed from building materials is of increasing concern; however, there is little research on radon exhalation from loess. In this study, the pore structure and radon exhalation characteristics of heat-treated loess were investigated by nitrogen adsorption tests, swept surface electron microscopy, and radon measurements. The rate of radon exhalation increases linearly with temperature until 400 °C and then decreases exponentially. Changes in the internal pore structure (pore type, surface morphology, and specific surface area) of loess are strongly correlated with the radon exhalation rate. The volume of micropores (<2 nm diameter) is an important influence on radon exhalation ability, which is closely related to the fractal dimension of the micropore structure after heating. The results provide guidance for predicting the radiation risk posed by radon diffusing from loess.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Li
- College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China.
| | - Qiang Sun
- College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China; Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Geological Support for Coal Green Exploitation, 710054, China; Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Exploration and Comprehensive Utilization, Ministry of Land and Resources, China.
| | - Jishi Geng
- College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China.
| | - Xusheng Yan
- College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China.
| | - Liyun Tang
- College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China.
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Radiological Characteristics of Carbonated Portland Cement Mortars Made with GGBFS. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15093395. [PMID: 35591734 PMCID: PMC9100595 DOI: 10.3390/ma15093395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to assess whether the carbonation process can modify the physicochemical characteristics of the natural radionuclides of the three natural radioactive series, together with 40K. Three mortar specimens with different percentages of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), cured under water for 1, 3, 7, 14, or 28 days, were subjected to a natural carbonation process. Activity concentrations for the solid and ground mortars were determined by gamma spectrometry and by radiochemical separation of isotopic uranium. The novelty of this paper relies principally on the study we have carried out, for the first time, of the radiological characteristics of carbonated Portland cement mortars. It was found that the chemical properties of the 3 mortar specimens were not affected by the carbonation process, with particular attention placed on uranium (238U, 235U, and 234U), the activity concentrations of which were equivalent to the 226Ra results and ranged from 5.5 ± 1.6 Bq kg−1 to 21.4 ± 1.2 Bq kg−1 for the 238U. The average activity concentrations for the 3 types of mortars were lower than 20.1 Bq kg−1, 14.5 Bq kg−1, and 120.2 Bq kg−1 for the 226Ra, 232Th (212Pb), and 40K, respectively. Annual effective dose rates were equivalent to the natural background of 0.024 mSv. In addition, it was observed that the variation rate for the 222Rn emanation was due primarily to the Portland cement hydration and not due to the pore size redistribution as a consequence of the carbonation process. This research will provide new insights into the potential radiological risk from carbonated cement-based materials. Moreover, the assessment that is presented in this study will convey valuable information for future research that will explore the activity concentration of building materials containing NORM materials.
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Li P, Sun Q, Hu J, Jia H, Xue L. Effect of the pore structure of granite and gabbro after heat treatment on the radon emission rate. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:36801-36813. [PMID: 35064488 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18152-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The pore structure of rock changes significantly during the heat treatment process, which affects the internal emission rate of radon. This study introduces the results of radon emission rate of rock after high temperature and analyzes the effect of the pore structure in rock mass on radon emission. The results show that there is a good positive correlation between temperature and radon emission in rock mass within a certain temperature range, and the higher the temperature, the higher the radon concentration emission. Two igneous rocks have the rate which is highest after the treatment in 400 °C. The absorption and sealing of radon in the microcapillary are the main occurrences of radon in rock mass. This is reflected in the increase in microcapillary porosity and the decrease in DP, which changes the microstructure of the rock and increases the connectivity of the internal pore channels of the rock, thereby increasing the volume and length of the migration channels for radon. These results are helpful to understand the influencing mechanism of radon emission process in rocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Li
- College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Qiang Sun
- College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Geological Support for Coal Green Exploitation, Xi'an, 710054, China
- Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Exploration and Comprehensive Utilization, Ministry of Land and Resources, Xi'an, China
| | - Jianjun Hu
- College of Water Resource and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China
| | - Hailiang Jia
- College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lei Xue
- Innovation Academy for Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China
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Wang C, Xie D, Yang X, Wang H, Yu CW. Quantification of the effect of temperature difference between concrete and indoor air, and water content in concrete on radon exhalation. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-020-07544-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Singla AK, Kansal S, Mehra R. Dose distribution to individual tissues and organs due to exposure of alpha energies from radon and thoron to local population of Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-021-07604-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Kumar A, Singh P, Agarwal T, Joshi M, Semwal P, Singh K, Pathak PP, Ramola RC. Statistical inferences from measured data on concentrations of naturally occurring radon, thoron, and decay products in Kumaun Himalayan belt. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:40229-40243. [PMID: 32661978 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09920-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Regional averages of radon, thoron, and associated decay product concentration are reported to be higher than their respective global averages in recent studies conducted in Indian Himalayan belt. The present study explores another region in Indian Himalayan belt by conducting measurements of radon, thoron, and decay product's activity concentration in 92 dwellings of Bageshwar district. The year-long measurements were performed in all 3 seasons distinguishing dwellings as per their construction material. The average radon and thoron concentration for the study region was measured as 57 Bq/m3 and 66 Bq/m3, respectively. Analysis of the measured data in terms of seasonal effects and construction material led to well established inferences, i.e., higher concentration for mud houses and for winter season. In addition, the present study focuses on lesser probed statistical inferences. One of them is related to the appropriateness of frequency distribution function for the measured data and other dwells upon the correlation analysis of inter-related factors for high concentration cases. Three distribution functions (Lognormal, Weibull, and Gamma) were found to be following the trend of frequency distribution curve of the measured data. For mud houses in winter season, variations of radon/thoron concentration were attempted to correlate with mass/surface exhalation rate, emanation rate, and source term content. More than 80% of the dwellings of the study region were found to have gas and decay product's concentration levels, higher than the respective global average values. However, these values were mostly within the reference levels for residential environments. Nevertheless, this region requires further studies to pinpoint the causes for elevated levels and suggest simple remedial modifications if required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Kumar
- Department of Physics, Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya Haridwar, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 249406, India.
| | | | - Tarun Agarwal
- Radiological physics and advisory division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai, India
| | - Manish Joshi
- Radiological physics and advisory division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai, India
| | - Poonam Semwal
- Department of Physics, Govt. PG College New Tehri, New Tehri, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Kuldeep Singh
- Department of Physics, Govt. PG College New Tehri, New Tehri, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Parmanad Prakash Pathak
- Department of Physics, Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya Haridwar, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 249406, India
| | - Rakesh Chand Ramola
- Department of Physics, HNBGU Badshahithaul New Tehri, New Tehri, Uttarakhand, India
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Simultaneous measurements of radon, thoron and their progeny for inhalation dose assessment in indoors of Srinagar, J&K, India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-020-07233-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Lee KY, Moon SH, Oh YH, Ha K, Ko KS. Determination of the radon emanation fraction from rocks by simple gamma-ray spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-018-5811-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Janik M, Omori Y, Yonehara H. Influence of humidity on radon and thoron exhalation rates from building materials. Appl Radiat Isot 2015; 95:102-107. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2014.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 09/27/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Yamada N, Uesugi M, Yokoyama A, Nakanishi T. Studies on temporal change in depth profiles of the Rn concentrations in natural water columns. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-014-2955-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Emanation studies of radium containing materials by a simple radon monitoring system. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-013-2468-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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