Measurement of <Superscript>228</Superscript>Ra in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea using the radon emanation method

²²⁸Ra levels in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea were determined using the emanation method. The seawater radium was concentrated using an Mn-fiber and the ²²⁴Ra ingrowth was measured after about half a year when the initial ²²⁴Ra in the sample would have decayed. The ²²⁴Ra activity in the sample was evaluated using the decay dynamics relationship between parent ²²⁸Ra and daughter ²²⁸Th. The concentration and distribution feature of ²²⁸Ra in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea were studied and the ²²⁸Ra concentrations in the surface seawater of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea were in the range 0.09–15.0 Bq/m³ with an average of 6.84 Bq/m³ during the summer cruise, and in the range 0.09–16.9 Bq/m³ with an average of 6.37 Bq/m³ during the winter cruise. The ²²⁸Ra distribution in the northern Yellow Sea was different from the southern Yellow Sea and East China Sea. The highest ²²⁸Ra activity of surface water was located in the middle of the northern Yellow Sea, but for the southern Yellow Sea and East China Sea, it decreased with increasing distance from China continent.     

Radioactivity in coffee

This research was dedicated to the study of the background levels of ²¹⁰Po and natural gamma emitters as ⁴⁰K, ²¹⁴Pb, ²¹⁴Bi, ²²⁸Ac, ²¹²Pb and ²¹²Bi in coffee powder and in coffee beverage; also the artificial ¹³⁷Cs was determined. In the coffee powder the mean ²¹⁰Po activity resulted 7.25 ± 2.25 × 10^?2 Bq kg^?1. ⁴⁰K showed a mean activity of 907.4 ± 115.6 Bq kg^?1. The mean activity concentration of ²¹⁴Pb and ²¹⁴Bi, indicators of ²²⁶Ra, given as mean value of the two radionuclides, resulted 10.61 ± 4.02 Bq kg^?1. ²²⁸Ac, ²²⁸Ra indicator, showed a mean activity concentration of 13.73 ± 3.20 Bq kg^?1. The mean activity concentration of ²¹²Pb, ²²⁴Ra indicator, was 8.28 ± 2.88 Bq kg^?1. ²⁰⁸Tl, ²²⁴Ra indicator, presented a mean activity concentration of 11.03 ± 4.34 Bq kg^?1. In all samples, the artifical ¹³⁷Cs resulted below the detection limit (2.0 Bq kg^?1). The arithmetical mean value of percentage of ²¹⁰Po extraction in coffee beverage resulted 20.5 ± 6.9. The percentage of transfer of gamma emitters,⁴⁰K, ²¹⁴Pb, ²¹⁴Bi, ²²⁸Ac, ²¹²Pb, ²⁰⁸Tl resulted of 80.0, 33.5, 24.7, 30.0, 35.1 and 53.5 % for ⁴⁰K, ²¹⁴Pb, ²¹⁴Bi, ²²⁸Ac, ²¹²Pb and ²⁰⁸Tl respectively.     

A 228Ra-212Pb tandem generator for potential application in biomedical studies

A new tandem generator system (cation-exchange generator column coupled to anion-exchange), based on the ²²⁸Ra as starting radionuclide, for ²¹²Pb/²¹²Bi production in the solutions suitable to direct application in biomedical investigations has been developed. Optimum conditions have been found for retention of Ra, Th and Ac parent radionuclides on the cation-exchange column and repeated elution of Pb with subsequent concentration on anion-exchange column using HBr and mixed HBr/CH₃OH solutions. It was shown that Pb/Bi could be eluted from anion — exchange column with a small volume of EDTA, DTPA, NaCl solutions or heated H₂O. The advantages of the tandem generator system for production of short-lived Pb/Bi radionuclides and their application for biomedical studies are discussed.     

Estimation of growth rate of hokutolite from Tamagawa hot-spring,Akita, Japan

The concentrations of radium isotopes and the progenies (²²⁶Ra; ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁸Th) in three hokutolite samples from Tamagawa hot-spring were measured. These isotopes were analyzed by a well-type HPGe γ-ray spectrometer for the 351, 911 and 583 keV γ-ray from ²¹⁴Pb, ²²⁸Ac and ²⁰⁸Tl, respectively, each being in radioactive equilibrium with precursors. Concentration of ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra were observed to be in the range of 52–85 and 7.1–85 Bq/g, respectively. The activity ratios of ²²⁸Ra/²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Th/²²⁶Ra provided the estimation of the growth rate (0.09–0.15 mm/y). Estimated ²²⁸Ra/²²⁶Ra activity ratios in hot-spring water from surface of three hokutolite were concordant.     

Development of a 212Pb and 212Bi generator for homolog studies of flerovium and moscovium

A simple generator using AG 50Wx8 cation exchange resin has been developed for continual elution of ²¹²Pb and ²¹²Bi from the parent radionuclide ²²⁸Th, derived from ²³²U. Using 0.4 M HCl as an eluent will elute ²¹²Bi while ²¹²Pb is eluted with 2 M HCl. The generator has shown good reproducibility of elution bands. A generator set-up in 2013 has been in continual use over 4 years demonstrating that this generator system has a long and stable lifetime. The generator system presented here has served as a long-term method for attaining no-carrier-added ²¹²Pb and ²¹²Bi radionuclides for homolog studies of flerovium and moscovium.

     

Marine radioactivity concentration in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Peninsular Malaysia: 226Ra, 228Ra and 228Ra/226Ra

The present occurrence of ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra in marine sediment core and fish from the Exclusive Economic Zone in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia were studied. Sediment core and biota in respectively was collected using multicorer device and purchased from local fishermen at identified stations during the cruise expedition conducted in 2008. The purpose of this study was to determine and to make available an inventory of activity concentration levels and activity ratio for these radionuclides in this region. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra in sediment core and edible part of fish were ranged between 15.9–46.5 and 27.7–87.1 Bq/kg dry wt and; 0.80–2.13 and <0.95–3.57 Bq/kg fresh wt, respectively. Meanwhile, the activity ratios of ²²⁸Ra/²²⁶Ra in sediment core and fish were varied with the range between 1.63–2.09 and 0.45–2.38, respectively. Refer to those ranges the activity concentrations of radium isotopes were comparable with other region. Thus, it can be concluded that the occurrence of radium isotopes mainly supplied from terrestrial sources and the factors of assimilation efficiency and transfer coefficient of radium may probably effect to the variation activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra and its activity ratio in edible part of pelagic and demersal fish obtained in this study.     

Vertical inventories and fluxes of <Superscript>210</Superscript>Pb, <Superscript>228</Superscript>Ra and <Superscript>226</Superscript>Ra at southern South China Sea and Malacca Straits

Inventories and fluxes of ²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra were determined in sediment cores collected at nine stations covering of the southern South China Sea and Malacca Straits with the thickness of water column between 42 and 83 m depth. The inventories of ²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra were calculated range from 0.15–2.55 Bq cm⁻², 0.05–0.40 Bq cm⁻² and 6.83–83.63 Bq cm⁻², meanwhile the fluxes ranged from 0.005–0.079 Bq cm⁻² yr⁻¹, 0.009–0.048 Bq cm⁻² yr⁻¹ and 0.003–0.037 Bq cm⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively. The results show that the highest inventories and fluxes for ²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra were found at station WC 01 and EC 05. Because there are additional sources of ²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra, where water transport will brings more dissolved isotopes, influence of the transportation and deposition of suspended particles, fast rate of regeneration and greater production of those radionuclides and others.     

Assessment of 226Ra and 228Ra activity concentration in west coast of India

An investigation on the distribution of ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra activity concentration in coastal surface sea water from Okha in Gujarat to Ratnagiri in Maharashtra state along the west coast of India was carried out. In-situ pre-concentration technique was used to measure radium isotopes by passing 1,000 L of seawater through MnO₂ impregnated polypropylene filter cartridges at all the locations. ²²⁶Ra was estimated using gamma ray peak of its daughter radionuclides ²¹⁴Bi and ²¹⁴Pb. ²²⁸Ra was estimated from its daughter ²²⁸Ac. In the coastal waters, ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra activity concentration were observed to be in the range of 1.5–2.9 and 2.5–8.6 Bq m^?3 with a mean of 2.2 and 4.9 Bq m^?3 respectively. The activity of ²²⁸Ra was observed to be more than ²²⁶Ra in all the locations. The variation in spatial distribution of the radium isotopes activity concentration and its ratio with respect to location is discussed in the paper. The radioactive database obtained represents reference values for coastal environment of India.     

Activity concentrations of 226Ra, 228Ra, 222Rn and their health impact in the groundwater of Jordan

The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra and ²²²Rn were measured in 87 groundwater samples to estimate the activity concentrations of these radionuclides and health impact due to intake of these radionuclides in groundwater of Jordan. The mean activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra and ²²²Rn in groundwater were found to be 0.293?±?0.005 Bq L^?1, 0.508?±?0.009 Bq L^?1 and 58.829?±?8.824 Bq L^?1, respectively. They give a mean annual effective dose of 0.481 mSv with mean lifetime risk of 24.599?×?10^?4, exceeding the admissible limit of 10^?4. Most of the received annual effective dose (59.15% of the total) is attributed to ²²⁸Ra.

     

Message to the participants of the conference

The activity of²³²Th and its daughters in Th-based gas sockets is required for health risk assessment. By absolute measurement of the²²⁸Ac- and²¹²Pb/²⁰⁸Tl-activities, the total activity of the sockets can be assessed. It is governed by²²⁸Ra and²²⁸Th and the product age.     

Thorium determination in a liver autopsy sample via direct γ-spectrometry and neutron activation analysis

Thorium was determined in a liver autopsy sample from a person treated with Thorotrast ca. 40 y earlier. The decay products²²⁸Ac,²²⁴Ra,²¹²Pb,²¹²Bi, and²⁰⁸Tl from the²³²Th series were identified by direct -spectrometry. Instrumental neutron activation analysis yielded a value of ca 22 g thorium per kg dry liver material. The total radiation dose to the whole liver was estimated in the order of 16 Gy.     

NORM activity concentration in sediment cores from the Peninsular Malaysia East Coast Exclusive Economic Zone

Study for distribution of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) i.e. ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra and ⁴⁰K in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was carried out as part of the national marine environment project. Sixteen marine sediment cores from selected locations within the EEZ were collected for determination of NORM activity concentrations using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometer. From the measurement, the activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra and ⁴⁰K is ranged from 16 ± 4 Bq/kg to 46 ± 6 Bq/kg (total mean 30), 28 ± 7 Bq/kg to 87 ± 11 Bq/kg (total mean 56) and 171 ± 33 Bq/kg to 690 ± 89 Bq/kg (total mean 420), dry wt., respectively. The activity concentrations of radionuclides in most of the core were quite uniform suggesting that there were thorough vertical mixed of sediment throughout the core. The results obtained were also in good agreement with those previous reported from other countries in the region and therefore can be used to enhance present radioactivity database. The calculated external hazard values were ranged from 0.25 to 0.51 with the mean of 0.38 (less than unity) showed little risk of external hazard to the workers handling the sediments and it was likely low level of the mainland natural gamma-radiation in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.     

Pre-concentration of short-lived radionuclides using manganese dioxide precipitation from surface waters

Rapid determination of ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn progeny (²¹⁴Pb, ²¹²Pb, ²¹⁴Bi, ²¹²Bi) is achievable using manganese dioxide (MnO₂) precipitation with analysis by γ-spectrometry. This is of interest to environmental monitoring programmes that utilise gross activity methods to screen for anthropogenic radionuclides. The contribution from these naturally occurring radionuclides (NOR) varies, and is difficult to experimentally measure due to short half-lives (t _½ = 19.9 m–10.64 h) and low environmental activity (<0.1 Bq L^?1). The extraction efficiency of the technique is above 90%, and above 80% for other nuclides (²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ²³⁵U, ²²⁸Ac, ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁴Ra, ²¹⁰Pb, ⁵⁴Mn). Short-lived NOR have been measured at two surface water locations, and indicates elevated ²¹⁴Bi activity of 4.0 ± 1.1 Bq L^?1.     

<Superscript>224</Superscript>Ra and its implications in the East China Sea

The activities of ²²⁴Ra in the East China Sea (ECS) were measured by the Mn-fiber adsorption—emanation method. The horizontal and vertical distributions of ²²⁴Ra in the ECS in summer and winter were studied. The ranges of ²²⁴Ra activities were < lowest limit of detection (LLD)–5.88 Bq/m³ in summer with an average of 0.85 Bq/m³, and < LLD-7.50 Bq/m³ in winter with an average of 0.72 Bq/m³. And the distributions of ²²⁴Ra in the surface water were similar in these two seasons, decreasing rapidly with the increasing distance from the coast. The high ²²⁴Ra area was located within 30–100 km offshore and the lowest activities appeared in the Kuroshio Current. The vertical distributions of ²²⁴Ra showed two different characteristics. The horizontal and vertical eddy diffusion coefficients calculated by the one-dimensional state model of ²²⁴Ra were (7.1–88.9) × 10⁶cm²/s and 2.18–163 cm²/s, respectively. The upwelling rates off Zhejiang Province were calculated from ²²⁴Ra vertical distribution, which varied from 8.4 × 10⁻³cm/s to 13.3 × 10⁻³cm/s in summer and 16.3 × 10⁻³cm/s to 16.8 × 10⁻³cm/s in winter.     

Radium isotopes and <Superscript>222</Superscript>Rn in Austrian drinking waters

The activity concentrations of the Ra isotopes, ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra, as well as of ²²²Rn were measured in Austrian tap waters. Rn was extracted into a mineral oil cocktail not miscible with water and measured by liquid scintillation counting using pulse-shape analysis for α/β-separation. Ra isotopes were co-precipitated with BaSO₄ or concentrated by filtration through an element specific filter. EDTA solution was used to redissolve the precipitate as well as to release the Ra from the filter. After mixing with a cocktail, the EDTA solution was measured by liquid scintillation counting, too. From our results the effective ingestion doses for adults and 3 months old babies were calculated.     

Comparison of analytical methods used to determine <Superscript>235</Superscript>U, <Superscript>238</Superscript>U and <Superscript>210</Superscript>Pb from sediment samples by alpha,beta and gamma spectrometry

An intercomparison of the methodology (alpha, beta and gamma spectrometry) used for ²³⁸U, ²³⁵U and ²¹⁰Pb determination was carried out based on 38 sediment samples. The activity range of the samples varied from 10–700 Bq/kg for ²¹⁰Pb, 1–35 Bq/kg for ²³⁵U and 10–800 Bq/kg for ²³⁸U. Results obtained using the three methods were not statistically different at high activity levels, but agreement between the results decreased at lower sample activity levels. For ²¹⁰Pb, the smallest difference was found between alpha and gamma spectrometry. A good correlation between results from alpha and gamma spectrometry was observed over the whole activity range. In beta spectrometry, the results were slightly higher than those obtained by alpha or gamma spectrometry due to the impurity of ²²⁸Ra. In ²³⁸U analysis, good correspondence was observed between ²³⁸U determined by gamma and alpha spectrometry, particularly at higher ²³⁸U activity concentrations over 100 Bq/kg. In ²³⁵U analysis, attention needs to be paid to interference from ²²⁶Ra and its reduction.     

Gross alpha,gross beta and activity concentration of 226Ra in some fertilizers commonly used in the south of Vietnam and health risk due to radionuclides transferred from fertilizers to food crops

Twelve types of chemical fertilizers commonly used in the south of Vietnam were collected for analysis. It was found that the activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra was in the range from below detectable level (BDL) to 139 Bq kg^?1 while gross alpha and gross beta activities were in the ranges from BDL—691 Bq kg^?1 and BDL—18753 Bq kg^?1 respectively. The correlation was found between gross alpha activity and activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra in most of fertilizers. The radiological hazard due to application of fertilizers is insignificantly under the agricultural conditions.

     

Characterization of marine sediments using analytical techniques

This study deals with the characterization of a marine sediments profile from the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico. Ten sediment samples obtained from a core of 18.3 m of length were analysed. Although there have been numerous marine sediments studies carried out in Mexico, more are needed to better understand the sea floor formation. Crystallographic, morphologic, physical, chemical and gamma ray activity analysis were carried out on the samples. The analysis results showed a decrease in organic matter content as a function of sea depth; this value is related to the specific surface area. Some hazardous materials as Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr and Hg were also identified by PIXE in some samples, probably due to anthropogenic activity. The presence of uranium a naturally occurring element was found in all the samples, suggesting a migration through all materials of strata, radioactive elements such as ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁵U, ²¹²Pb, ²¹⁴Pb, ²²⁸Ac, ²⁰⁸Ti, ²¹⁴Bi, ²²⁸Ac and ⁴⁰K were detected.     

Determination of radium isotopes in mineral and environmental water samples by alpha-spectrometry

Summary A method for the determination of low-level radium isotopes in mineral and environmental water samples by alpha-spectrometry has been developed. Radium-225, which is in equilibrium with its mother ²²⁹Th, was used as a yield tracer. Radium were preconcentrated from water samples by coprecipitation with BaSO₄and iron (III) hydroxide at pH 8-9 using ammonia solution, then isolated from uranium, thorium and iron using a Microthene-TOPO chromatography column at 8M HCl, separated from barium in a cation-exchange resin column using 0.05M 1,2-cyclohexylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid monohydrate at pH 8.5 as an eluant, and finally electrodeposited on a stainless steel disc in a medium of 0.17M (NH₄)₂C₂O₄at pH 2.6 and current density of 400 mA^. cm^-2, and counted bya-spectrometry. Optimum experimental conditions for radium separation, purification and electrodeposition have been studied and discussed in the paper. The lower limits of detection of the method are 0.11 mBq^. l^-1for ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁴Ra, respectively, if 2 l of water are analyzed. The method has been checked with a certified reference material IAEA-Soil-6 supplied by the International Atomic Energy Agency and reliable results were obtained. Eighteen water samples collected in Italy have been analyzed with the method, the mean radiochemical yields for radium were 86.2±6.5%. The obtained radium concentrations were in the range of 0.50-60.8 mBq^. l^-1for ²²⁶Ra, of 0.10-25.7 mBq^. l^-1for ²²⁸Ra, and of￡LLD-7.97 mBq^. l^-1for ²²⁴Ra. The ²²⁸Ra/²²⁶Ra and ²²⁴Ra/²²⁶Ra ratios were in the range of 0.189-4.45 and￡LLD-0.941, respectively.     

Radium-224 in natural waters measured by γ-ray spectrometry

A method based on Ge(Li) γ-ray spectrométry is applied to the determination of ²²⁴Ra (t_{$\text{1}\text{2}$}= 3.64 days) in natural waters. The ²²⁴Ra is first removed from several hundred liters of water by preconcentration onto manganese dioxide-impregnated acrylic fibers. The fibers are leached, radium is coprecipitated with barium sulfate, and the γ-ray activity is counted so that activity ratios among ²²⁴Ra, ²²⁵Ra and ²²⁶Ra can be calculated. Concentrations are determined by using the ²²⁶Ra concentration determined on a small separate sample. Results from samples collected from ground water, estuarine, and continental shelf environments are presented.