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Tchorz-Trzeciakiewicz DE, Kozłowska B, Walencik-Łata A. Seasonal variations of terrestrial gamma dose, natural radionuclides and human health. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 310:136908. [PMID: 36270528 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the research was to study seasonal variations in gamma radiation and the statistical significance of these variations. Moreover, we compared in-situ and laboratory analyses of uranium, thorium, radium and potassium K-40 contents. Exposure to a low level of radiation is a minor (but still is) contributor to overall cancer risk therefore we compared doses generated by gamma radiation with overall cancer risk. The research was performed in SW Poland in two granitoid massifs -Strzelin and Karkonosze. The in-situ measurements were performed seasonally using gamma-ray spectrometer Exploranium with BGO detector and Radiometer RK-100. The laboratory measurements were performed using spectrometer with HPGe detector Canberra-Packard and alpha spectrometry technique. The general trend of seasonal variations of natural radionuclides, terrestrial ambient gamma dose (TGDR) and ambient gamma dose rate (AGDR) was difficult to identify. We noticed slightly increased values of all analysed parameters in warmer seasons, and lower in colder, although there were some exceptions. These exceptions were induced by precipitation and varied soil water content, but variations were mostly not statistically significant. The statistically important deviation from the trend was registered only in equivalent uranium data when the survey was carried out during or just after intensive precipitation. We observed a good positive correlation between in-situ and laboratory results (TGDR in situ/Lab r = 0.696), therefore, we recommend using in-situ measurements in a dense measuring grid before collecting selected soil samples to better evaluate the level of natural radiation in the environment. The average ambient gamma dose in the Karkonosze Massif was 0.52 mSv y-1 whereas in the Strzelin Massif was 0.39 mSv y-1. The overall cancer risk in Karkonoski county is higher than in Strzelin county. A connection between increased gamma radiation and higher overall cancer risk is possible but should be examined during more elaborated research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - B Kozłowska
- University of Silesia in Katowice, August Chełkowski Institute of Physics, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1, 41-500, Chorzów, Poland
| | - A Walencik-Łata
- University of Silesia in Katowice, August Chełkowski Institute of Physics, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1, 41-500, Chorzów, Poland
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Tchorz-Trzeciakiewicz DE, Rysiukiewicz M. Ambient gamma dose rate as an indicator of geogenic radon potential. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 755:142771. [PMID: 33172630 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Radon is the second cause of lung cancer after smoking, therefore is acknowledged as a major indoor air pollutant. Geogenic radon potential indicates regions where for natural reasons elevated indoor radon levels or elevated probability of their occurrence can be expected. The most common procedure for establishing geogenic radon potential includes measurements of soil permeability and soil gas radon concentrations. These measurements are time-consuming and expensive therefore a limited number of measurements is carried out and their results are extrapolated to the specific area. Our research aimed to analyse the usefulness of ambient gamma dose rate survey to assess radon concentration in the environment and therefore geogenic radon potential. The measurements were carried out on two granite massifs with higher (Karkonosze) and lower (Strzelin) radioactive elements contents. Seasonal variations of atmospheric radon concentrations and ambient gamma dose rates were registered with higher values during warmer and lower during colder seasons. The opposite seasonal variations were observed for soil gas radon concentrations. No distinctive seasonal variations were recorded in results of uranium, thorium and potassium contents in soil measured in situ by the gamma-ray spectrometer. The correlation coefficients were calculated on the base of annual average data. The correlations between ambient gamma dose rate and radon concentration in soil and in the atmosphere were 0.83 and 0.62 respectively, which may suggest that ambient gamma dose rate can be a useful parameter to indicate geogenic radon potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Rysiukiewicz
- Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Pl. M. Borna 9, 50-204 Wrocław, Poland
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Semenova Y, Pivina L, Zhunussov Y, Zhanaspayev M, Chirumbolo S, Muzdubayeva Z, Bjørklund G. Radiation-related health hazards to uranium miners. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:34808-34822. [PMID: 32638305 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09590-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Concerns on health effects from uranium (U) mining still represent a major issue of debate. Any typology of active job in U mines is associated with exposure to U and its decay products, such as radon (Rn), thorium (Th), and radium (Ra) and its decay products with alpha-emission and gamma radiation. Health effects in U miners have been investigated in several cohort studies in the USA, Canada, Germany, the Czech Republic, and France. While public opinion is particularly addressed to pay attention to the safety of nuclear facilities, health hazard associated with mining is poorly debated. According to the many findings from cohort studies, the most significant positive dose-response relationship was found between occupational U exposure and lung cancer. Other types of tumors associated with occupational U exposure are leukemia and lymphoid cancers. Furthermore, it was found increased but not statistically significant death risk in U miners due to cancers in the liver, stomach, and kidneys. So far, there has not been found a significant association between U exposure and increased cardiovascular mortality in U miners. This review tries to address the current state of the art of these studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliya Semenova
- Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
- CONEM Kazakhstan Environmental Health and Safety Research Group, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
| | - Lyudmila Pivina
- Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
- CONEM Kazakhstan Environmental Health and Safety Research Group, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
| | | | | | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- CONEM Scientific, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Toften 24, 8610, Mo i Rana, Norway.
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Mirdoraghi M, Einor D, Baghal Asghari F, Esrafili A, Heidari N, Mohammadi AA, Yousefi M. Assess the annual effective dose and contribute to risk of lung cancer caused by internal radon 222 in 22 regions of Tehran, Iran using geographic information system. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2020; 18:211-220. [PMID: 32399233 PMCID: PMC7203366 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-020-00454-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Radon gas is one of the most influential sources of indoor exposure. All its physical properties together make it a significant risk factor for lung cancer in the population. The research aims are outlined as (1) to measure the radon concentration in Tehran city and compare results with the international standards (2) to determine spatial distribution of radon gas concentration using Geographical Information System (GIS) software and (3) to estimate the annual effective dose and potential risk of lung cancer by radon-222 in Tehran city. In this study, 800 Alpha Track detectors were installed in houses in 22 regions of Tehran city and retrieved after 3 months. The measurements were repeated for spring and summer and autumn seasons. The annual effective dose and risk of lung cancer were assessed using standard equations. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20. Result showed the minimum and maximum radon concentration were observed in and Ghalee-kobra (0.13 Bq.m-3) and Charbagh-ponak district (661.11 Bq.m-3) respectively. There was no observed relationship between radon concentration and houses' model, cracking condition and constructionn materials. Expectedly, the storehouses and basements had significantly higher (P = 0.016) radon concentration than occupied rooms. The min and max of the estimated annual effective dose were 0.65 and 2.03 mSv, respectively. Result showed that around 5% of the sampling sites had higher level of radon than the maximum allowed by EPA. A rough estimation of the expected radon-attributed lung cancer incidences yielded approximately 5958 cases in the total population of Tehran every year. In view of the growing trend in cancer incidences, appropriate measures addressing radon should be undertaken in areas of increased exposure to this noble gas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mirdoraghi
- Department of Radiology and Radiotherapy, School of Allied Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Daniel Einor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC USA
| | - Farzaneh Baghal Asghari
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Esrafili
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Neda Heidari
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Mohammadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Mahmood Yousefi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Idavain J, Lang K, Tomasova J, Lang A, Orru H. Cancer Incidence Trends in the Oil Shale Industrial Region in Estonia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E3833. [PMID: 32481656 PMCID: PMC7312168 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17113833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Large oil shale resources are found in Eastern Estonia, where the mineral resource is mined, excavated, and used for electricity generation and shale oil extraction. During industrial activities in the last 100 years, pollutants have been emitted in large amounts, some of which are toxic and carcinogenic. The current study aims to analyse time trends in cancer incidence in the oil shale industry-affected areas and compare them with overall cancer incidence rates and trends in Estonia. We analysed Estonian Cancer Registry data on selected cancer sites that have been previously indicated to have relationships with industrial activities like oil shale extraction. We included lung cancer, kidney cancer, urinary bladder cancer, leukaemia, breast cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A statistically significantly higher lung cancer age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was found during the study period (1992-2015) only in males in the oil shale areas as compared to males in Estonia overall: 133.6 and 95.5 per 100,000, respectively. However, there appeared to be a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the lung cancer ASIR in males in the oil shale areas (overall decrease 28.9%), whereas at the same time, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in non-oil shale areas (13.3%) and in Estonia overall (1.5%). Other cancer sites did not show higher ASIRs in the oil shale industrial areas compared to other areas in Estonia. Possible explanations could be improved environmental quality, socio-economic factors, and other morbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Idavain
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.L.); (H.O.)
- Department of Health Statistics, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Katrin Lang
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.L.); (H.O.)
| | - Jelena Tomasova
- Estonian Health Board, Paldiski mnt 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia;
| | - Aavo Lang
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
| | - Hans Orru
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.L.); (H.O.)
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden
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Bem H, Gasiorowski A, Szajerski P. A fast method for the simultaneous determination of soil radon ( 222Rn) and thoron ( 220Rn) concentrations by liquid scintillation counting. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 709:136127. [PMID: 31884268 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a fast method dedicated to measurements of radon nuclides in the soil gas. The soil gas is sampled by a typical hollow tube probe by 10 min of sucking of about 3 dm3 of gas and passing it directly through a 16 cm3 of water-immiscible liquid scintillator placed in a typical 20 cm3 scintillation vials, where the radon and thoron nuclides are effectively absorbed. Most of the presently used active methods for radon isotopes determination (e.g., RAD7 or AlphaGuard) require the soil gas transfer to the measuring device. The serious limitation of such approach is the necessity to wait until the radon daughter isotopes decay, before counter is ready for the next measurement. In the proposed method, several samples can be simultaneously gathered from the examined areas in the form of the scintillation vials, which are ready for later measurements in the automatic liquid scintillation counters in the lab or directly in situ. For that purpose, the combined mathematical model for the simultaneous radon and thoron determination has been elaborated. The direct in situ measurements of the sample activity between 60 and 240 s after the end of sampling followed by a second activity measurement after 3 h allow for the determination of both 220Rn and 222Rn concentrations in the soil gas. The limit of detection for 222Rn isotope during 10 min counting is 25 Bq·m-3, whereas for a 3 min counting of 220Rn just after sampling was found to be ca. 150 Bq·m-3. The method was successfully verified and applied for the simultaneous radon and thoron concentrations measurements in the soil gas in Central Poland region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henryk Bem
- The President Stanislaw Wojciechowski State University of Applied Sciences in Kalisz, Nowy Swiat 4, 62-800 Kalisz, Poland.
| | - Andrzej Gasiorowski
- Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Wroblewskiego 15, 90-924 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Piotr Szajerski
- Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Wroblewskiego 15, 90-924 Lodz, Poland.
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