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Showing 8 results for Uranium
A.t. Al-Kinani, A.s. Al-Saidi, S. Al-Anni,
Volume 3, Issue 3 (12-2005)
Abstract
ABSTRACT Background : The application of DU emanation for first time contaminated certain areas in the south west region of Iraq after the second Gulf war (1991). These contaminated areas were discovered in 1994. Radioactive contamination was detected using the nuclear enterprise PCM5/1 in soil samples collected from two regions near by grazing lands. This study was done for assessment of DU contaminated soil in the regions under study. Materials and Methods : Portable detector was used for radiation measurement of the contaminated area. Samples from each region were selected and taken to Baghdad kept in plastic bags for gamma ray spectroscopy measurement. Gamma-ray spectroscopy system consists of high purity germanium (HPGE) detector surrounded by appropriate shield. The measurement of detector efficiency using (GDR) computer programs, supplied by Canberra Company was used to analyze gamma-ray spectrum. The activity of 234 Th, 235 U, 238Pa and other natural isotopes were measured. Results: The measurement by gamma –ray spectrometry system showed that six samples were heavily contaminated with DU, because the presence of 243Pa and 235U peak and the percentage ratio between 235 U/238U were less than 0.005, when both international mathematical methods, namely IAEA and Kosovo, were used. Because of existence of radiation equilibrium between 234Th and 234Pa, the measurements should be accurate. Conclusion: The result showed that six of the samples were heavily contaminated with DU and there is a good agreement between the two methods. Because of the accuracy and ease of the Kosovo method, it is recommended for future investigations.
H. Garshasbi, J. Karimi Diba, M.h. Jahanbakhshian, S.k. Asghari, G.h. Heravi,
Volume 3, Issue 3 (12-2005)
Abstract
ABSTRACT Background : Natural uranium exists in earth crust and seawater. The concentration of uranium might increase by human manipulation or geological changes. The aim of this study was to verify susceptibility of laser flourimetry method to determine the uranium concentration in Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf water. Materials and Methods : Laser flourimetric method was used to determine the uranium concentration in several samples prepared from Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf water. Biological and chemical substances were eliminated in samples for better evaluation of the method. Results: As the concentration of natural uranium in samples increases, the response of instrument (uranium analyzer) increases accordingly. The standard deviation also increased slightly and gradually. Conclusion: Results indicate that the laser flourimetry method show a reliable and accurate response with uranium concentration up to 100 μg/L in samples after removal of biological and organic substances.
Dr. A. T. Al–kinani,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (12-2006)
Abstract
Background: Depleted Uranium (DU) is uranium with low content of U 235 produced as a result of uranium enrichment. DU has high density (19.05 g /cm3), which is 2.54 more than Iron, so it’s high penetrating power makes it preferable as emanations with high penetration power. It was used in second Gulf ware in 1991 for first time. The radioactivity of soil, plants, fruit, meat, milk and water is measured using gamma ray spectroscopy.
Material and Method: One hundred samples of soil, plants and tomato fruit were selected from the tomato farms near Basra city south of Iraq and 6 control samples from other farms not contaminated with depleted uranium (DU). Also samples of meats, milk and water were collected in January 2003. Radioactivity of these samples was measured using Gamma-ray spectrograph system with high purity Germanium detector with resolution of 2.2 keV at the energy of 1332.3 keV of Co-60. The system is connected to PC Pentium 111 with PCA program. Results: The measurements show that radiation equilibrium between 234Th and 226R existed with the range between (0.86-1.16) in uncontaminated soil samples. For contaminated soil samples radiation equilibrium between 234Th and Pa-234m existed with the range between (0.928- 0.956). The mathematical equations of Kosovo team were used. Results show that the soils of two farms were contaminated with (DU). The radioactivity of 226R for plants ranging from 5.97 to 7.26 and for tomato fruits samples between 9.16 to 12.4Bq/kg. Comparing these values with the control radioactivity which range between 6.25 to 7.34 for fruits and 13.3 to 13.9 Bq/kg for plants indicate that these samples were not contaminated with DU. Conclusion: The soil samples of two farms were contaminated with DU but the fruit of these farms was not contaminated with DU may be due to its high molecular weight and not being water soluble. The radioactivity of 226Ra for different kinds of meat and milk for animal grazing near destroyed tanks contaminated with DU, ranges between (0.02-1.1) and (0.01-.0.2) Bq/kg respectively. These values indicated that meat and milk are uncontaminated with DU. The water samples collected from wells in the same region are below the detection limit of the system. All these results indicated that the food chain was not contaminated with DU at the time of measurements.
S. Ben Byju, A. Sunil, M.j. Reeba, E.p. Christa, V.k. Vaidyan, R. Prasad, Dr. P.j. Jojo,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (6-2012)
Abstract
Background: The South-west coast of India is
known to have very high levels of natural background
radiation due to the monazite beach sand. Uranium is
the heaviest trace element found in all terrestrial
substances at varying levels with chemical and radio
toxicities. It supports several short-lived radioisotopes
in its decay series including radium. Uranium in
drinking water is important in terms of the ingestion
dose. Materials and Methods: The present study
reports the results of uranium analysis of 346
drinking water samples from the three costal districts
of Kerala using fission track registration technique.
Results: Results obtained show that uranium
concentrations vary from 0.31 μg/l to 4.92 μg/l
equivalent to the specific activity of 3.9 Bq/m3 and
62 Bq/m3, respectively. Conclusion: The estimated
daily intake of uranium through drinking water is
lower than the recommended limits. The distribution
of uranium in water bodies shows a heterogeneous
nature of distribution. Iran. J. Radiat. Res., 2012 10(1):
31-36
P.k. Meher, P. Sharma, A. Kumar, Y.p. Gautam, Dr. K.p. Mishra,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (1-2015)
Abstract
Background: Uranium poses both chemical and radiological hazard to the living system. Drinking water from river is one of the major sources of uranium intake. Dissolution of minerals, washout from rain water, rock-water interaction, agricultural run off, and industrial disposals are some of the sources of uranium in river water system. Present study was aimed to determine the uranium in the water Alaknanda and Ganges rivers and its post-monsoon spatial distribution from Nandprayag to Haridwar. Materials and Methods: River water samples were collected during the post monsoon period in pre-washed polypropylene bottles from the designated locations at both of the rivers. Samples were filtered and analyzed by fluorimetric technique. Results: The measurements showed the concentration of uranium in water of Alaknanda river varied from 3.05 µg/l to 2.53 µg/l along the downstream sampled locations with a mean value of 2.75 µg/l, whereas in water of Ganges river the concentration varied in the range 1.70 µg/l to 2.00 µg/l with a mean value of 1.86 µg/l. Conclusion: The average concentration of uranium was found significantly higher (2.75 µg/l) in water of Alaknanda river than in Ganges river the average values (1.86 µg/l) of. However, both the values were far lower than the permissible limits at the sampled locations. The values obtained in present studies were notably higher than that reported elsewhere which seems partly attributable to post monsoon contributing factors.
Dr. S. Labidi, S. Gharbi,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (7-2018)
Abstract
Background: Total α- and β- as well as radium isotopes (226Ra, 228Ra) and uranium isotopes (234U, 238U) activity concentrations were determined in six most popular Tunisian bottled mineral waters samples. Materials and Methods: Total alpha/beta activity was measured by background gas-flow proportional counting system, and the activity concentrations of uranium were studied by radiochemical separation procedures followed by alpha spectrometry and that of radium isotopes by gamma-ray spectrometry. Materials and Methods: The total-a activity ranged from 48 to 94 mBq L−1 and the total-b activity between 45 and 430 mBq L−1. The activity concentrations of 238U, 234U, 226Ra and 228Ra in water samples varied in range 3.3 - 22.5 mBq.L−1, 4.0 - 34.2 mBq L−1, 2.0 - 67.0 mBq L−1 and 2.0 - 30.2 mBq L−1, respectively. These values are comparable with those reported for many other countries in the world for different types of water. The 234U/238U activity ratio were found to be higher than 1 in all cases. Results: Based on the activity concentration results obtained in this study, the estimated annual ingestion dose rates for three different age groups (< 1 year, 7-12 years, and > 17 years) due to the ingestion of radium and uranium isotopes through drinking water are lower than the limit of intake prescribed by WHO. The annual doses exceed the recommended value of 0.1 mSv y-1 in one case for age group < 1 year. Conclusion: According Based on the activity concentration results obtained in this study, the estimated annual ingestion dose rates for three different age groups (< 1 year, 7-12 years, and > 17 years) due to the ingestion of radium and uranium isotopes through drinking water are lower than the limit of intake prescribed by WHO. The annual doses exceed the recommended value of 0.1 mSv y-1 in one case for age group < 1 year.
Dr. A.a. Al-Hamzawi, N.a. Kareem,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (1-2022)
Abstract
Background: This study focuses on the uranium concentration (UC), radium content (RC) and radon exhalation rates (RER) in selected food crops consumed in Babil governorate, in the centre of Iraq. Materials and Methods: Neutron activation technique and sealed cup with CR-39 alpha track detector were used respectively to investigate the natural radioactivity of selected food crops collected from Babil governorate, Iraq. Results: In the current study, the highest UC was found to be 0.0346 ppm in the turnip crop, whereas the lowest value of UC (0.0142 ppm) was found in grape crop. The highest RC was found to be 0.651 Bq/kg in turnip, while the lowest RC (0.169 Bq/kg) was found in the fig crop. The values of RER ranged from 0.016 Bq/m2.h found in the fig to 0.065 Bq/m2.h found in the turnip. Conclusion: The levels of UC in food crops were lower than 1.7 ppm, the recommended limits of UNSCEAR. A strong direct correlation was found between the UC and RC in selected food crops.
H. Mohamed, A.m. Pauzi, N. Ahmad, N.a Karim, M.n.u.i. Wazir, C.n.a.c. Zaiul Bahri, Ph.d., M.i. Idris,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (10-2023)
Abstract
Background: Through combustion, a coal-fired power plant produces by-products, such as fly ash and bottom ash, which contain significant concentrations of radionuclides that cause environmental contamination, leading to health problems. Materials and Methods: This study investigated the specific activity and radiological impacts of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) in the coal, fly ash, and bottom ash at a coal-fired power plant. Samples were collected from a coal-fired power plant in Malaysia. Results: Gamma spectrometry was used to determine the specific concentrations of NORMs, namely 40K, 232Th, 238U, in each sample. The radioactivity ranges for 238U, 232Th, and 40K in the soil were 22.7–150.7 Bq/kg, 20.7–153.6 Bq/kg, and 68.6–1594.4 Bq/kg, respectively. The coal, fly, and bottom ash samples contained 67.54–189.18 Bq/kg of 238U, 50.2–134.57 Bq/kg of 232Th, and 327.54–1114.40 Bq/kg of 40K. The radium equivalent activities (Raeq) in the samples were 164.55, 467.42, and 429.09 Bq/kg, respectively. Meanwhile, the absorbed dose rate (ADR) in the air ranged from 76.04 to 217.44 nGy/h. Internal and external hazards ranged from 0.44 to 1.26 and 0.63 to 1.77, respectively. The annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) value fluctuated between 521.28 and 1,496.99 μSv. Conclusion: The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) oscillated from 1.30×10–3 to 3.75×10–3 indoors and 0.32×10–3 to 0.95×10–3 outdoors.
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