Soil radon levels measured with SSNTD's and the soil radium content

The source of the radon gas ²²²Rn in the ground air is the soil and the bedrock underneath. The potential radon level in the ground is given by the content of ²²⁶Ra in the ground. The presence of ²²⁶Ra is in turn dependent on the amount of ²³⁸U in the ground, and these two isotopes are not always found to be in equilibrium in a sample of soil or bedrock. Especially if the soil is washed out, the radium content may be reduced. When the soil is the relevant source of the radon gas, it is interesting to look for a possible relation between the radon level and the radium content of the soil.

In this paper we report on measurements of soil radon level carried out with SSNTDs at several European sites. Soil samples were collected at these sites and analysed with gamma spectrometry to determine their radium content. A comparison of the different degree of disequilibrium of radon, defined as the ratio between the actual and the secular equilibrium-with-radium soil radon concentration, found at the different sites and depths is presented. The influence on the result of soil type and climate is briefly discussed.     

铀氧化物中238U含量的定量研究

准确定量铀氧化物样品中238U的含量对于裂变产额测量等工作具有重要意义,其定量方法的研究对于涉及238U的绝对测量的诸多实验都具有参考价值。利用四川大学2.5 MeV质子静电加速器产生的准单能中子对八氧化三铀样品进行中子活化,用高纯锗探测器测量活化产物的β衰变子体239Np的277.6 keV特征γ射线,利用已知的活化截面,算出样品中238U的质量占比为79.1%,不确定度为6.2%。利用电感耦合等离子体质谱法对样品中238U的含量进行了测量,其质量占比为59.2%。此外,基于EA3000元素分析仪、卡尔费休电位滴定仪和TGA-DSC2同步热分析质谱联用仪,测知样品中不含N元素,含水量在2.2%以下。并利用PIXE方法排除了样品中含有Al元素以上杂质,利用EPBS方法测知样品中U/O原子数比为1:3.6,误差约2%,推知样品中238U质量占比为80%,验证了活化法测得的238U含量。最终测得样品中238U的质量占比为79.1%,不确定度6.2%。对照按U3O8分子式折算的84.5%,考虑到水分含量等,此结果合理。The accurate quantification of 238U in uranium oxides is of great importance for measurements of fission yield. The study for the method of 238U quantification has significance to lots of experiments involving absolute measurement of 238U. The reaction (n, γ) in the triuranium octoxide samples was induced by T(p,n)3He quasi-monoenergetic neutrons provided by the 2.5 MeV proton electrostatic accelerator in Sichuan University. The 277.6 keV characteristic γ ray of 239Np that comes from β-decay of the activation product 239U was detected by a HPGe detector. With the known (n, γ) cross section, the mass percentage of 238U in samples was determined to be 79.1%, with the uncertainty of 6.2%. ICP-MS was also used in the quantification of 238U in samples, its result was 59.2%. Meanwhile, the samples were analyzed by other several methods and the results showed that less than 2.2% H₂O, no nitrogen, and no other impurity elements above Al were contained in the samples. EPBS was used to measure the atomic ratio of U and O and it was found that the mass percentage of 238U in samples was about 80%, verifying the result 79.1% of INAA.     

贫化铀/聚乙烯球壳交替系统中铀-238中子俘获率的测量与分析

为校验次临界能源堆的概念设计,建立了贫化铀/聚乙烯球壳交替系统, 采用活化法测量²³⁸U的中子俘获率. 贫化铀片置于系统内与入射D离子束成90^o的方向上活化 ,用HPGe探测器测量²³⁸U俘获中子衰变产生的²³⁹Np 衰变产生的277.6 keV特征γ射线计数,实验修正了贫铀片对277.6 keV γ射线的自吸收, 得到了交替系统中²³⁸U (n, γ)反应率的径向分布,反应率的相对不确定度为3.5%-3.7%, 并计算得到系统上整个贫铀区中²³⁸U的总中子俘获率为2.24 ± 0.09. 用MCNP5程序在常用ENDF库下进行了模拟计算, ²³⁸U (n, γ)反应率分布计算与实验一般在5%以内符合, 总俘获率在1%以内符合.     

北航沙河校区土壤中40 K、238 U、232 Th相对含量的实验测量

环境中天然伽马射线主要来源于40K以及钍系、铀系和锕系.通过探测伽马射线来识别放射性核素并得到它们的相对含量,是核科学与核技术中的一个重要方法.利用高分辨的高纯锗探测器,北航以及国内部分高校已开设了鉴别环境中放射性核素的实验.在此基础上,本文进一步利用特征γ射线与递次衰变规律,对北航沙河校区土壤中的40 K、238 U...     

The influence of fission on the fragmentation of relativistic Pb and U projectiles in peripheral collisions

The projectile fragmentation in peripheral nuclear collisions was studied using ≈ 1 GeV·A of ²⁰⁸Pb and ²³⁸U from the SIS at GSI, impinging on a copper target. Lead and thallium isotopes from the fragmentation of ²⁰⁸Pb as well as uranium and protactinium isotopes from ²³⁸U, were selected by the fragment separator FRS. In contrast to the fragmentation of ²⁰⁸Pb, the cross sections for the production of heavy fragments from ²³⁸U are strongly reduced by fission. The measured isotopic yields may be explained quantitatively by calculations in the framework of the abrasion-ablation model, if fission is allowed to compete with particle evaporation in the deexcitation of the prefragments.     

Experimental and modeling studies of grain size and moisture content effects on radon emanation

Some models have already been developed to explain the effect of moisture content on the radon emanation fraction of soil. For this purpose, “microscopic” soil models, which are easy to deal with mathematically but cannot take grain size into consideration, have been designed. These previous models consist basically of two opposite grain surfaces and pores between the grains. In the present study, in order to study the effect of not only moisture content but also grain size, we present a simple modeling approach based on two “macroscopic” soil models: (1) a single-grain model and (2) a multiple-grain model. The latter model represents a configuration of spherical grains packed in a simple cubic structure. Based on these soil models and general assumptions, the radon emanation fraction was calculated as a function of grain size or moisture content by Monte Carlo simulation. The results for the multiple-grain model show that the radon emanation fraction is markedly increased with grain sizes ranging from 10 to 100 μm and reaches a constant value of 50% when moisture content is 0% and the radium is uniformly distributed on the grain surface. Moreover, a drastic increase is seen at smaller grain sizes with increasing moisture content. From these results, we concluded that the calculation of radon emanation depends greatly on the pore size between a Ra-bearing grain and a neighboring grain. The validity of the model was also evaluated by comparison to experimental data.     

Natural activities of U, Th and K in some Indian building materials

The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K have been determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. The measured activity in the selected building materials ranges from (3.2 to 151.7 Bq/kg), 14 to 63.7 Bq/kg and 24.3 to 121.5 Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K respectively. The activity concentration of ²³⁸U has been determined using fission track technique and the value ranges from 0.11 to 3.85 ppm. The concentrations for these natural radionuclides are compared with the reported data from other countries. Radium-equivalent activities (Ra_eq) are calculated for the measured samples to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the use of these materials in the construction of dwellings. All building materials have shown Ra_eq activities lower than the limit set in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report (370 Bq/kg), equivalent to external gamma dose of 1.5 mSvyr⁻¹. A good correlation has been observed between ²³⁸U and ²²⁶Ra in these materials.     

Emanation power of radon and its concentration in soil and rocks

Experiments were carried out to determine emanation power and radon levels in different kinds of soil and bedrocks. Seven stations were selected in the investigated district, which covers an area of about 2300 km² in the northern and western part of Jordan. Five holes were dug in each station at different depths. Two to three passive dosimeters using plastic detectors (CR-39) were put in each hole. Two weeks later, the dosimeters were collected and chemically etched. Some soil and rock samples from the study area were collected and analyzed for radioactive nuclides using γ-ray spectroscopy. The correspondence between radon levels in the soil gas and its precursor concentrations is not clear. However, the study confirms the exponential increase in radon level with depth. In general, Al-Hisa phosphate limestone showed the highest radon concentration while Amman silicified limestone showed the lowest concentration.     

Exhalation of radon and its carrier gases in SW Taiwan

Gas compositions of mud volcanoes reveal multiple sources for gas exhalation in SW Taiwan. For comparison, two sites, Yan-chao (YC) and Chung-lun (CL), were chosen for measurements of soil Rn concentrations using a portable radon detector. The ²²²Rn concentrations at the YC site were ca. 5200 Bq/m³. However, the average ²²²Rn concentrations at the CL site exhibited higher value of ca. 16,800 Bq/m³. With the reference of the gas flux and compositions from the nearby mud pool, the soil ²²²Rn concentrations are largely controlled by the flux of carrier gases exhaled from deep reservoirs.     

Study of uranium, radium and radon exhalation rate in soil samples from some areas of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India using solid-state nuclear track detectors

LR-115 plastic track detectors have been used for the measurement of radon exhalation rate and radium concentration in soil samples collected from some villages of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India. Uranium concentration has also been determined in these soil samples using fission track technique. Radium concentration in soil samples has been found to vary from 11.54 to 26.71 BqKg⁻¹, whereas uranium concentration varies from 0.75 to 2.06 ppm. The radon exhalation rate in these samples has been found to vary from 15.16 to 35.11 mBqKg⁻¹ h⁻¹ (502.12 to 1162.64 mBqm⁻² h⁻¹).     

Fission of Th and U in the interaction with negative muons

Muon-induced fission of ²³²Th and ²³⁸U was studied, measuring the time correlation between stopping muons, fission events and electrons.

The measured muon lifetimes are τ_μ(²³²Th) = 77.3±0.3 ns and τ_μ(²³⁸U) = 77.1±0.2 ns. After prompt fission the muon was found to be attached predominantly to the heavy fragment with a lifetime for ²³²Th of 132±7 ns and for ²³⁸U of 134±4 ns. The probability for muon conversion was found to be a few percent per fission event.

Indications were found that the muonic shape isomer is populated in ²³⁸U when the nucleus is excited in a radiationless muonic transition.     

Radon contribution to single particle counts of the ARGO-YBJ detector

The ARGO-YBJ experiment is an air shower detector for gamma ray astronomy and cosmic ray studies with an energy threshold of ∼500 GeV. Working in “single particle mode”, i.e. counting the single particles hitting the detector at fixed time intervals, ARGO-YBJ can monitor cosmic ray and gamma ray transients at energies of a few GeV.The single particle counting rate is modulated by the atmospheric pressure and temperature, and is affected by the local radioactivity from soil and air. Among the radioactive elements, radon gas is of particular importance since its concentration in air can vary significantly, according to environmental conditions. In this paper we evaluate the contribution of the radon daughter gamma ray emitters to the single particle counting rate measured by ARGO-YBJ. According to our analysis, the radon gas contribution is roughly 1–2%, producing a counting rate modulation of the same order of magnitude of the atmospheric effects.     

Radon activity and exhalation rates measurements in fly ash from a thermal power plant

Radon exhalation rate from fly ash samples and from the homogeneous mixture of fly ash of different proportions additive in soil and cement samples to study the effect of the addition was measured by cup dosimeter using SSNTDs. Radon activities were found to vary from (1018±38) to ( whereas the radon exhalation rate varied from (366±14) to . A gradual increase has been observed in samples having fly ash as an additive in cement samples whereas a gradual decrease was observed in soil samples after the addition of fly ash. ²³⁸U in fly ash was measured by a low-level NaI (Tl)-based gamma ray spectrometer. The results show enhancement in U concentration in fly ash as compared to coal samples, whereas radon exhalation rate is less in fly ash samples.     

Spatial and temporal variations of radon concentration in soil air

The spatial and temporal variability of the soil gas radon concentration in typical soils is studied. The results obtained will be further used to predict indoor radon levels. To this end, 50 measuring points along geologic sections with known physicogeological parameters of soils were chosen. The soil gas radon concentration was measured with SSNTDs (Type III-b) at a depth of 70 cm from June to October, 2000. The radon exposure time was 72–96 h. The average radon concentration in the soil pore air for an urban area was 11 kBqm⁻³ (1.7–24 kBqm⁻³). Small-scale spatial variations in the concentration were found to lie within a narrower range. The effect of meteorological conditions on the soil gas radon concentration was investigated by performing 8 series of measurements at 5 closely spaced points in September–October, 2000. A significant correlation was found between the soil radon concentration and atmospheric pressure (K=−0.86), ambient temperature (K=0.75), and soil temperature (K=0.75).     

Baseline studies of radon/thoron concentration levels in and around the Lambapur and Peddagattu areas in Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Studies conducted by Atomic Minerals Directorate of Exploration and Research (AMD) of Hyderabad, India had established the presence of higher concentrations of uranium in Lambapur and Peddagattu areas of Nalgonda district, AP, India and it was estimated that it could be a viable source for commercial extraction. The envisaged extraction process involves dispersion of radioactive particulate matter into atmosphere. Environmental radioactive studies in and around proposed mining areas at this point of time will be extremely useful for establishing base line data before a large scale uranium extraction process comes into existence. To this end, Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors were installed to evaluate indoor radon and thoron concentration levels in the dwellings of the area. The geometric means of radon and thoron concentration levels were found to be (7.1±0.2)×10¹ and (6.7±0.3)×10¹ Bq/m³, respectively. Simultaneously, natural background radiation measurements were also made and these levels are found to vary from 770 to 3995 μGy/y in the spatial distribution.     

Comparative measurements between NTD and GEL detectors for radon gas

Because of the interest in an inexpensive radon monitoring technique and the use of new materials and new methods, this work presents comparative measurements between traditional passive radon detector using nuclear track detector (NTD), and a new method based on the diffusion of radon gas in gels, measuring the quantity of the remainder radioactive solids by the analysis of the gamma radiation from the decay of radon daughters. The methodology of the new detectors is introduced. The preliminary results show a measurable response of the gel material detectors to radon gas. The measurements are compared with those using NTDs CR-39 type for calibration purposes. Both the detection systems, the passive close-end cup system with NTDs and the passive close-end cup gel material detector, were exposed at the same time in the radon calibration chamber to different radon exposition levels from 150 to 3000 Bq/m⁻³.     

Macroscopic-microscopic calculations of fission potential surface of uranium isotopes in the three quadratic surfaces parametrization

Five-dimensional (5D) fission potential energy surfaces (PES) for uranium nuclei are investigated based on the macroscopic-microscopic Lublin-Strasbourg drop model in the three-quadratic-surface parametrization, and the heights of static fission barriers are obtained. Asymmetric and symmetric fission paths are presented on the 5D PES of ²³⁶U for different nuclear shapes. The calculated barrier heights, E_A and E_B, are quite consistent with the experimental data for all even-even nuclei of uranium isotopes, from ²³⁰U to ²⁴⁴U.     

Methods of high-sensitive analysis of actinides in liquid radioactive waste

A set of methods has been developed to determine actinides in liquid radioactive waste for solving the problems of radiation, nuclear and ecological safety of nuclear reactors. The main method is based on the radiochemical separation of U, Np–Pu, Am–Cm on ion-exchange and extraction columns. An identification of radionuclides and determination of their content are performed using alpha-spectrometry. The microconcentrations of the sum of the main fissile materials ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu are determined with plastic track detectors. An independent method of ²³⁸U content determination is the neutron activation analysis. ²⁴¹Am content is possible to be determined by gamma-spectrometry. A chemical composition of macrocomponents is determined by the atomic-absorption spectrophotometry method.     

The use of track registration detectors to reconstruct contemporary and historical airborne radon (RN) and radon progeny concentrations for radon-lung cancer epidemiologic study

Epidemiologic studies that investigate the relationship between radon and lung cancer require accurate estimates for the long-term average concentrations of radon progeny in dwellings. Year-to-year and home-to-home variations of radon in domestic environments pose serious difficulties for reconstructing an individual's long-term radon-related exposure. The use of contemporary radon gas concentrations as a surrogate for radon-related dose introduces additional uncertainty in dose assessment. Studies of glass exposed in radon chambers and in a home show that radon progeny deposited on, and implanted in, glass hold promise for reconstructing past radon concentrations in a variety of atmospheres. We developed an inexpensive track registration detector for the Iowa Radon Lung Cancer Study (IRLCS) that simultaneously measures contemporary airborne radon concentrations, surface deposited alpha activity density, and implanted ²¹⁰Po activity density. The implanted activity is used to reconstruct the cumulative radon and radon progeny exposure from the age of the glass and the ratios of the contemporary deposited activiteis to airborne radon gas activity. We placed over 2500 of these detectors in more than 1000 homes and retrieved 97% of them after a one-year exposure period. A preliminary analysis of the 1280 detectors that have undergone quality assurance review shows that the modules are meeting their accuracy and precision goals (10%). There is good correlation (r²0.5) between the total radon exposure estimated from contemporary radon gas measurements and historical average reconstructed from the implanted ²¹⁰Po surface activity. The linear regression slope of the airborne radon exposure to implanted activity is the same as the room model slope based on typical room parameters. This correlation improves (r²0.7) when the deposited surface activity measurements are added to the linear regression. Thus, track-registration detectors can contribute to accurate radon-related dose assessment in epidemiologic studies. Additional work is planned to incorporate the deposited activities in a more sophisticated reconstruction model.     

Correlation between radon exhalation and radium content in granite samples used as construction material in Saudi Arabia

Measurements of radon exhalation for a total of 205 selected samples of construction materials used in Saudi Arabia were carried out using an active radon gas analyzer with an emanation container. It was found that granite samples were the main source of radon exhalation. The radon exhalation rates per unit area from these granite samples varied from below the minimum detection limit up to with an average of 1.5 . The radium contents of 27 granite samples were measured using an HPGe-based γ spectroscopy setup. The ²²⁶Ra content of the granites varied from below the minimum detection limit up to , with an average of . The linear correlation coefficient between exhaled radon and radium content was found to be 0.90.