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Dattola L, Belvedere A, D’Agostino M, Faggio G, Majolino D, Marguccio S, Messina G, Messina M, Mottese AF, Paladini G, Venuti V, Caridi F. Assessment of the Radioactivity, Metals Content and Mineralogy of Granodiorite from Calabria, Southern Italy: A Case Study. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:3813. [PMID: 39124477 PMCID: PMC11313283 DOI: 10.3390/ma17153813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
In this paper, an assessment of the natural radioactivity level, radon exhalation, metal contamination, and mineralogy of a granodiorite rock sample from Stilo, in the Calabria region, Southern Italy is presented as a case study. This rock was employed as a building material in the area under study. The specific activity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K natural radioisotopes was assessed through high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry. Then, several indices such as the absorbed gamma dose rate (D), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the activity concentration index (ACI) and the alpha index (Iα), were quantified to determine any potential radiological health risk related to radiation exposure from the analyzed rock. Furthermore, E-PERM electret ion chambers and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurements were carried out to properly quantify the radon exhalation rate and any possible metal pollution, respectively. In particular, to further address metal pollution factors, the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) was calculated to properly address the toxicity levels of the ecosystem originating from the detected metals. Finally, with the aim of successfully discriminating the provenance of such naturally occurring radionuclides, a combined approach involving X-ray diffraction (XRD) and µ-Raman spectroscopy was employed for the identification of the main radioisotope-bearing minerals characterizing the investigated granodiorite. The results achieved in this case study can be taken as the basis for further inquiries into background levels of radioactivity and chemical contamination in natural stone employed as building materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Dattola
- Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell’Ambiente della Calabria (ARPACal)—Centro Regionale Geologia e Amianto, Via della Pace, 87050 Castrolibero, Italy;
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Ambiente (DIAm), Università della Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Alberto Belvedere
- Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell’Ambiente della Calabria (ARPACal)—Dipartimento di Reggio Calabria, Via Troncovito SNC, 89135 Reggio Calabria, Italy; (A.B.); (M.D.); (S.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Maurizio D’Agostino
- Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell’Ambiente della Calabria (ARPACal)—Dipartimento di Reggio Calabria, Via Troncovito SNC, 89135 Reggio Calabria, Italy; (A.B.); (M.D.); (S.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Giuliana Faggio
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, delle Infrastrutture e dell’Energia Sostenibile (DIIES), Università “Mediterranea”, Loc. Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy; (G.F.); (G.M.); (A.F.M.)
| | - Domenico Majolino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, V.le F. Stagno D’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (D.M.); (G.P.); (V.V.)
| | - Santina Marguccio
- Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell’Ambiente della Calabria (ARPACal)—Dipartimento di Reggio Calabria, Via Troncovito SNC, 89135 Reggio Calabria, Italy; (A.B.); (M.D.); (S.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Giacomo Messina
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, delle Infrastrutture e dell’Energia Sostenibile (DIIES), Università “Mediterranea”, Loc. Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy; (G.F.); (G.M.); (A.F.M.)
| | - Maurizio Messina
- Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell’Ambiente della Calabria (ARPACal)—Dipartimento di Reggio Calabria, Via Troncovito SNC, 89135 Reggio Calabria, Italy; (A.B.); (M.D.); (S.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Antonio Francesco Mottese
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, delle Infrastrutture e dell’Energia Sostenibile (DIIES), Università “Mediterranea”, Loc. Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy; (G.F.); (G.M.); (A.F.M.)
| | - Giuseppe Paladini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, V.le F. Stagno D’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (D.M.); (G.P.); (V.V.)
| | - Valentina Venuti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, V.le F. Stagno D’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (D.M.); (G.P.); (V.V.)
| | - Francesco Caridi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, V.le F. Stagno D’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (D.M.); (G.P.); (V.V.)
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Gupta A, Shareef M, Twisha M, Bhattacharjee S, Mukherjee G, Nayak SS, Basu S, Dasgupta S, Datta J, Bhattacharyya S, Mukherjee A. True coincidence summing correction for a BEGe detector in close geometry measurements. Appl Radiat Isot 2023; 200:110966. [PMID: 37566947 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.110966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
The true coincidence summing correction factor for a Broad Energy Germanium detector has been calculated at far and close geometry set-up using radioactive γ-ray sources. The correction factors were calculated using both experimental and analytical methods. Geant4 simulation was done to calculate the full-energy peak and total efficiencies of the detector. Standard, as well as fabricated mono-energetic γ-ray sources, were used for the γ-ray efficiency measurements. The simulated efficiencies of mono-energetic γ-ray sources were matched to the experimental γ-ray efficiencies by optimizing the detector parameters. The same parameters were used to obtain the full-energy peak and total efficiencies for γ-rays of current interest. Analytical and experimental correction factors were found to agree well with each other. The coincidence summing effect is found to be significant for source-to-detector distances less than 5 cm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Gupta
- Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - M Shareef
- Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - Munmun Twisha
- Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Saikat Bhattacharjee
- Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Gopal Mukherjee
- Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, 1/AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - Satya Samiran Nayak
- Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, 1/AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - Sansaptak Basu
- Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, 1/AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - S Dasgupta
- Analytical Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, 1/AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - J Datta
- Analytical Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, 1/AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - S Bhattacharyya
- Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, 1/AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - A Mukherjee
- Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India.
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Soliman M, Mindil A, Takamiya K. Utilization of different radionuclides for high-energy extended efficiency calibration of a HPGe for improved determination of calcium and sulfur using k0-INAA. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-023-08859-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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Tran TN, Khushvaktov JH, Kryachko IA, Stegailov VI, Tyutyunnikov SI, Abduvaliev AA. Study of the effect of photon self-absorption on the detection efficiency of HPGe detector in measurements of an activated uranium sample. Appl Radiat Isot 2023; 196:110770. [PMID: 36958081 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.110770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
The photon self-absorption effect of uranium on the full-energy peak (FEP) efficiency calibration of high purity germanium (HPGe) detector was studied as a function of energy using an activated uranium sample has a thickness of 1 mm. The absolute efficiencies of the detector were obtained with the use of gamma standard sources and gamma rays of radionuclides created by irradiating the uranium sample with secondary neutrons. The measurements were carried out with the use of a Planar HPGe detector. MCNP simulation code was used to verify the experimental results. The comparison of the empirical results with the simulation results showed a good agreement. To interpret the efficiencies, the reaction rates were calculated using two methods: (1) - the use of the efficiency curve from the standard sources combined with the self-absorption correction of the uranium material and (2) - the use of the efficiency curve obtained from gamma rays in the sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- T N Tran
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Moscow Region, 141980, Russia; Institute of Physics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
| | - J H Khushvaktov
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Moscow Region, 141980, Russia
| | - I A Kryachko
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Moscow Region, 141980, Russia
| | - V I Stegailov
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Moscow Region, 141980, Russia
| | - S I Tyutyunnikov
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Moscow Region, 141980, Russia
| | - A A Abduvaliev
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Moscow Region, 141980, Russia
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Mezerreg N, Azbouche A, Haddad M. Study of coincidence summing effect using Monte Carlo simulation to improve large samples measurement for environmental applications. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 232:106573. [PMID: 33751985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A new measurement model composed of High Purity Germanium detector HPGe including Lead Shield with a mixed source of Am-241, Cd-109, …in a soil matrix packed in a cylindrical container was developed by Monte Carlo N-Particles code MCNP5. The Monte Carlo models being largely used for efficiencies calculations in routine environmental radioactivity measurements of high volume soil samples. In order to validate the simulation, a multi-radionuclides soil matrix source in a cylindrical container is prepared. Comparing the simulated results to the experimental ones, allows us to correct coincidence summing in the soil standard and study its effect in activity measurements where a good agreement is found between corrected activities and results found by another geometry and show how uncorrected efficiency curves lead to erroneous activity calculation. Finally, the developed model is applied to study the distribution of natural and artificial radioactivity in a forest site in Bainem, northern of Algeria, these results are invested for radiological impact and soil erosion studies in the study Area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nesrine Mezerreg
- Laboratory SNIRM, Faculty of Physics, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32, El Alia, Bab Ezzouar, 16111, Algiers, Algeria.
| | - Ahmed Azbouche
- Nuclear Research Center of Algiers (CRNA), 02 Bd Frantz Fanon, BP 399, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Mériem Haddad
- Laboratory SNIRM, Faculty of Physics, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32, El Alia, Bab Ezzouar, 16111, Algiers, Algeria
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Coincidence summing corrections factors calculated for volume 152Eu sources in γ-ray spectromtery using Monte Carlo techniques. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-020-07099-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Experimental validation of corrections factors for γ–γ and γ–X coincidence summing of 133Ba, 152Eu, and 125Sb in volume sources. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06938-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
AbstractTrue coincidence summing correction factors for 133Ba, 152Eu and 125Sb were determined experimentally for a small volume source and compared with correction factors obtained with three softwares (EFFTRAN-X, GESPECOR and VGSL). The radionuclides investigated have a relatively challenging decay scheme and their spectra are known to suffer from losses due to summation (γ–γ, γ–X and X–X) when measured at close distances on a HPGe detector sensitive to low energy photons. This study shows that the softwares were in good agreement with each other and the experimental data and the calculated activity was consistent with the activity in the volume source.
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Monte Carlo simulation of an HPGe detector for detection of 239Pu in waste assay system. Appl Radiat Isot 2019; 152:127-134. [PMID: 31299449 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
This paper discusses the modeling of HPGe detector used in waste assay system using Monte Carlo code FLUKA to determine its detection limits. The modeled detector is validated using experimental point sources efficiencies in the energy range 60 keV-2000 keV. The numerical estimation of efficiency values for 239Pu present inside a 230 L cotton filled waste drum at various locations along the axis of the detector is discussed. Estimation of the minimum detectable activity (MDA) for 239Pu at these locations in the presence of 1 MBq of 137Cs/60Co again along the axis of the detector is examined. The efficiency of 239Pu decreases from 6.1 × 10-10 to 7.5 × 10-11 cps/Bq as the location of 239Pu moves away from the detector. MDA of 239Pu increases as the position of 239Pu and 137Cs/60Co in the waste drum shifts away from the detector while it decreases as the location of 137Cs/60CO moves away from 239Pu along measurement axis. It is observed that for all locations of 137Cs/60Co with 239Pu located up to 200 mm from the edge of the drum, the detection limit is within 140.3 mg (allowed limit).
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Novković D, Đurašević M, Kandić A, Vukanac I, Šešlak B, Milošević Z. Coincidence summing corrections for point and volume 152 Eu sources. Appl Radiat Isot 2016; 107:138-144. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Revised: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Ramebäck H, Jonsson S, Allard S, Ekberg C, Vidmar T. A laboratory exercise on systematic effects in gamma ray spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-014-3525-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Determining HPGe total detection efficiency using γ–γ coincidence. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-012-2186-z] [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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