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Evaluation of radon concentration measurements in water using the radon degassing method. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08698-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThis study was the first to determine the effectiveness of radon concentration measurement in water using the degassing method as a screening method based on the liquid scintillation counter method. The degassing method used two radon monitors (AlphaGUARD and RAD7) and two monitor-attached degassing devices (AquaKIT and RAD H2O). These were effective screening methods based on the WHO guideline value of 100 Bq L−1. The screening values confirmed that a combination of the AlphaGUARD and AquaKIT was preferred. The results are useful for radon measurement for exposure control in drinking water and environmental in-situ field measurement.
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Evaluation and analysis of the spatial distribution of radiation risks caused by radon in drinking water of Batman, Türkiye. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08670-x] [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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Przylibski TA, Kaczorowski M, Fijałkowska-Lichwa L, Kasza D, Zdunek R, Wronowski R. Testing of 222Rn application for recognizing tectonic events observed on water-tube tiltmeters in underground Geodynamic Laboratory of Space Research Centre at Książ (the Sudetes, SW Poland). Appl Radiat Isot 2019; 163:108967. [PMID: 32561034 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Research on relationships between variation in 222Rn activity concentration and tectonic events recorded using the instruments of the Geodynamic Laboratory of SRC PAS at Książ (the Sudetes, SW Poland) had been conducted since 2014. The performed analyses of variation have demonstrated the spatial character of changes in 222Rn activity concentration. Their time-course is comparable in all parts of the underground laboratory. This means that gas exchange between the lithosphere and the atmosphere occurs not only through fault zones but also through all surfaces of the underground workings: the floors, the sidewalls and the roofs. Further, some relationships between 222Rn activity concentration and tectonic activity of the orogen have been demonstrated with the use of Pearson's linear correlation coefficient. The comparison between temporal distribution (times series) of radon activity concentration and water-tube tiltmeters (WTs) demonstrated that radon data have regular oscillations which can be approximated using the sine function with a 12 month cycle (seasonal changes) and amplitude in the range of 1000-1500 Bq/m3. To compare the collected radon signal data and tectonic activity, we used linear function as the simplest method of trend assessment. Pearson's correlation coefficient r cannot be accepted as appropriate for assessing the interdependencies between variables because they do not have a normal distribution, and the relationship between them is not linear. It was noted that each series of data, namely radon activity concentration and tectonic activity determine the series of deviations above and below the trend function. Because of the non-fulfillment of the above assumptions, we used nonparametric equivalents such as Spearman's rank correlation coefficient rs and Kendall's tau. The obtained results showed that the value of the rs coefficient ranges from 0.38 to even 0.43. The best relationship at the level of rs = 0.43 was determined between the radon activity concentration recorded by detector no. 3 and the tectonic activity of the rock mass registered on the WT-2 channel. Similar at the rs level of 0.37-0.38 between detector no. 5 and 4 and the WT-2 channel. A bit higher than rs = 0.39 between detector no. 3 and the WT-2 channel. In each case, these were positive correlations. The obtained Spearman's rs coefficients indicate the correlation between 222Rn activity concentration and tectonic activity of the rock mass. The t-statistic, which analyzes the significance of Spearman's coefficient rs is a descriptive measure of the accuracy of regression matching to empirical data. It takes values in the range of percentage and provides informations about which part of the total variability of the radon activity concentration (Y) observed in the sample has been explained (determined) by regression in relation to tectonic activity of the rock mass (X). In our case, approximately f 40% to more than 50% of the radon activity concentration (Y) was explained by regression in relation to the tectonic activity of the rock mass. We obtained similar results with the use of Kendall's tau coefficient. Precise description of the character of this relationship requires further, more detailed analyses, such as comparing characteristics of the distributions based on trend variation like Monte Carlo simulation, Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines or neural networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadeusz Andrzej Przylibski
- Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb. Wyspianskiego 27, Wroclaw, 50-370, Poland
| | - Marek Kaczorowski
- Space Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Bartycka 18A, Warsaw, 00-716, Poland
| | - Lidia Fijałkowska-Lichwa
- Faculty of Civil Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb. Wyspianskiego 27, Wroclaw, 50-370, Poland
| | - Damian Kasza
- Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb. Wyspianskiego 27, Wroclaw, 50-370, Poland.
| | - Ryszard Zdunek
- Space Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Bartycka 18A, Warsaw, 00-716, Poland
| | - Roman Wronowski
- Space Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Bartycka 18A, Warsaw, 00-716, Poland
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Mazur J, Guguła S, Danyłec K, Kozak K, Grządziel D. Radon in water standard samples for intercomparison experiments. RADIAT MEAS 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2017.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Botha R, Newman RT, Maleka PP. Radon Levels Measured at a Touristic Thermal Spa Resort in Montagu (South Africa) and Associated Effective Doses. HEALTH PHYSICS 2016; 111:281-289. [PMID: 27472753 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000000527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Radon activity concentrations (in water and in air) were measured at 13 selected locations at the Avalon Springs thermal spa resort in Montagu (Western Cape, South Africa) to estimate the associated effective dose received by employees and visitors. A RAD-7 detector (DURRIDGE), based on alpha spectrometry, and electret detectors (E-PERM®Radelec) were used for these radon measurements. The primary source of radon was natural thermal waters from the hot spring, which were pumped to various locations on the resort, and consequently a range of radon in-water analyses were performed. Radon in-water activity concentration as a function of time (short term and long term measurements) and spatial distributions (different bathing pools, etc.) were studied. The mean radon in-water activity concentrations were found to be 205 ± 6 Bq L (source), 112 ± 5 Bq L (outdoor pool) and 79 ± 4 Bq L (indoor pool). Radon in-air activity concentrations were found to range between 33 ± 4 Bq m (at the outside bar) to 523 ± 26 Bq m (building enclosing the hot spring's source). The most significant potential radiation exposure identified is that due to inhalation of air rich in radon and its progeny by the resort employees. The annual occupational effective dose due to the inhalation of radon progeny ranges from 0.16 ± 0.01 mSv to 0.40 ± 0.02 mSv. For the water samples collected, the Ra in-water activity concentrations from samples collected were below the lower detection limit (~0.7 Bq L) of the γ-ray detector system used. No significant radiological health risk can be associated with radon and progeny from the hot spring at the Avalon Springs resort.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Botha
- *Department of Physics, Stellenbosch University, Merensky Building, Merriman Ave, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7601, South Africa; †Department of Nuclear Physics, iThemba LABS NRF, PO Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
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Abstract
The article presents the most important results of radon research in Poland. Large-scale research, launched in this country in the early 1950s, was originally linked to using radon dissolved in groundwater in balneotherapy as well as to uranium ore exploration and mining. This early research focused on the area of the Sudetes and nowadays it is also south-western Poland where most radon research is being conducted. This is chiefly due to the geological structure of the Sudetes and the Fore-Sudetic block, which is propitious to radon accumulation in many environments. Radon research in Poland has been developing dynamically since the 1990s. A lot of research teams and centres have been formed, all of them using a variety of methods and advanced measurement equipment enabling research into radon occurrence in all geospheres and all spheres of human activity. The author presents the contribution of Polish science to broadening human knowledge of the geochemistry of radon, particularly of 222Rn isotope. The article also presents the ranges and mean values of 222Rn activity concentration measured in different environments in Poland including the atmospheric air, the air in buildings and underground hard-coal and copper mines, the cave air, the air in underground tourist sites and abandoned uranium mines, as well as soil air and groundwater.
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Kozak K, Mazur J, Vaupotič J, Grządziel D, Kobal I, Omran KMH. The potential health hazard due to elevated radioactivity in old uranium mines in Dolina Białego, Tatra Mountains, Poland. ISOTOPES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH STUDIES 2013; 49:274-282. [PMID: 23639059 DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2013.771637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Natural radioactivity is one of the essential components of the environment. Unlike the Sudety mountains area in Poland, the Tatra Mountains were not the subject of wide survey as regards the levels of natural radioactivity. Especially, the concentrations of radon (natural radioactive gas) have not been investigated there in terms of their possible negative health impact. Within the frame of bilateral cooperation between the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Kraków, Poland, and the Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the measurements of natural radioactive elements in old uranium mines in the Tatra National Park were performed in June 2010. The investigated sites were located in Dolina Białego (The Valley of the White). One of the mines is situated near the tourist path. The paper presents the results of complex measurements of natural radioactivity in both uranium drifts. The concentration of radon gas inside the mining drifts exceeded 28,000 Bq m(-3). Also, very high gamma dose rates were observed (up to 5600 nSv h(-1)). The maximum concentrations of natural radioactive elements (potassium (40)K, radium (226)Ra, thorium (232)Th) in rock samples amounted to 535, 2137, and 18 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The effective dose rates due to radon and thoron inhalation have been assessed as 0.013 mSv h(-1) (for the lowest concentration) and 0.121 mSv h(-1) (for the highest concentration).
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Kozak
- The Henryk Niewodniczański Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Science, Laboratory of Radiometric Expertise, Kraków, Poland.
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