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Background: In this study, measurement of indoor radon and its progeny levels was carried out in Gas Turbine Power Station in Haryana ( India ), where natural gas is used as fuel. For comparison, the results of a study carried out in thermal power plant in Haryana are also presented. Radon being a ubiquitous air pollutant has global impact and its monitoring in the environment at work places is essential from health and hygiene point of view.

Materials and Methods: LR-115, Type- II (Kodak Pathe, France), plastic track detectors commonly known as solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) were used to measure the radon concentration over long integrated times. Alpha particles emitted from radon cause radiation damage tracks, which were subsequently revealed by chemical etching in NaOH. These alpha tracks registered were counted by optical microscope at suitable magnification and converted into radon concentration.

Results: The radon levels measured at various locations were moderate to high and thus unsafe from health point of view. The potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC), radon levels (EEC), annual exposure, annual effective dose in the Gas Turbine Power Plant varied from 4.14 mWL to 26.7 mWL, 38.3 Bq m^-3 to 247.6 Bq m^-3, 0.17 WLM to 1.10 WLM and 0.66 mSv to 4.25 mSv respectively.

Conclusion: In gas turbine power plant, the radon levels were found to be lower as compared with thermal power plant. In thermal power plant a lot of coal is being burnt which contains radionuclides. Coal fired plants release more radioactive waste which is hazardous into the air than gas power plants of equivalent capacity. Iran . J. Radiat. Res., 2003 1(3): 133 - 137

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Background: Radon, an invisible, odorless, heaviest (nine times heavier than air) and radioactive gas is an aberration (the only gas in the long decay chain of heavy metal elements). It is ubiquitously present in dwellings and in the environment. Humans receive the greatest radiation dose in their homes. That's where they spend most time - typically 70%, more for small children. Recent worldwide surveys reveal that an average person receives each year more radiation from radon than from all other natural or man-made sources combined. Over the years, the radiation exposure accumulated at home may exceed the exposure of uranium miners and lead to lung disorders. Therefore it is fundamental and justified to make a quantitative assessment of the radon in dwellings and the environment of work place. In this study, measurement of radon and its progeny levels was carried out in the environment of an oil refinery. Besides, radon and its progeny levels were also measured in the dwellings situated on the refinery premises and the dwellings in the city for comparison.

Materials and Methods: LR-115, Type- II (Kodak Pathe, France), plastic track detectors commonly known as solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) were used to measure the radon concentration over long integrated times. Alpha particles emitted from radon cause radiation damage tracks, which were subsequently revealed by chemical etching in NaOH. These alpha tracks registered were counted by optical microscope at suitable magnification and converted into radon concentration.

Results: The geometric means (GM) of potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC), Equilibrium Equivalent Concentration of radon (EEC value), annual exposure and annual effective dose in the environment of refinery premises was 10.09 mWL, 93.43 Bq m^-3, 0.41 WLM and 1.61 mSv, in refinery dwellings 12.21 mWL, 112.96 Bq m^-3, 0.50 WLM and 1.94 mSv and in city dwellings 8.24 mWL, 76.23 Bq m^-3, 0.34 WLM and 1.31 mSv respectively.

Conclusion: The dose levels in the refinery premises were found to be marginally below the ICRP recommendations. The radon and its progeny levels were higher in the dwellings of refinery township as compared to the city dwellings. While studying seasonal variation, it was found that the measured values of radon and its progeny levels were higher in winter (November to February) than in summer (May to August). This study showed that the presence of fossil fuels like natural gas, LPG etc. in the environment had resulted into higher levels of radon and its progeny in the refinery dwellings. Iran . J. Radiat. Res., 2004 1(4): 181-186

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ABSTRACT

Background:

and soils with which it comes in contact. There is dual exposure from radon in water i.e. due to

inhalation of the radon released from the water into the ambient air and through ingestion when

water is used for drinking. As radon contaminated water adversely affects the health, it is

therefore fundamental from health and hygiene point of view to measure radium concentration

and radon exhalation rates in water.

Dissolved radon is contained in natural water due to primordial uranium in rocks

Materials and Methods

radium concentration and radon exhalation rate in water samples collected from various thermal

springs. The alpha tracks registered were counted by optical microscope at suitable magnification

and converted into radium concentration and subsequently radon exhalation rates were measured.

: LR-115, Type- II plastic track detectors were used to measure the

Results:

m

varied from 5.65 Bq l

exhalation rates varied from 2.37 mBq kg

± 0.36 mBq kg

The radon concentration emanated from water samples (air borne) varied from 84 Bq-3 to 827 Bq m-3 with an average of 429 ± 12.72 Bqm-3 and the dissolved radon concentration-1 to 55.66 Bq l-1 with an average of 28.88± 0.85 Bq l-1. The radon mass-1 hr-1 to 23.39 mBq kg-1 hr-1 with an average of 12.14-1 hr-1 and surface exhalation rates from 52.34 mBq m-2 hr-1 to 515.29 mBq m-2 hr-1

with an average of 267.36 ± 7.93 from different thermal spring water samples.

concentration varied from 0.30 Bq l

 The radium-1 to 2.93 Bq l-1 with an average of 1.52 ± 0.045 Bq l-1.

Conclusion:

drinking, is safe as far as radium concentration is concerned with the exception of a few isolated

thermal spring sources.

Results indicate that the thermal spring water, which is also being used forIran. J. Radiat. Res., 2005 2 (4): 197-204

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ABSTRACT
Background: The radiological impact of the use of phosphate fertilizers in soil is due to the internal irradiation of the lung by the alpha particles, short lived radon-thoron progeny and the external irradiation of the body by gamma rays emitted from radionuclides in situ. This paper describes the results of gamma spectrometric measurements of the concentration of the natural radionuclides namely 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples collected from the fields where a variety of phosphate fertilizers are being used by the farmers to enhance the crop yield. Materials and Methods: The experimental work utilizes actual measurements of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using gamma spectrometry and radon concentration and exhalation rates measurements using solid state nuclear track (LR-115, Type- II plastic) detectors to asses a first order exposure risk for the persons working in the fields where lot of fertilizers are being used to enhance crop yield in terms of occupational exposure. Results: The concentration of Radium, Thorium and Potassium in the mixed soil sample from crop fields is 16.2±0.22, 68.1±1.44 and 875.0±9.68 Bq/kg, where as in barren soil sample is 9.1±0.13, 59.4±1.45 and 668.4±8.01 Bq/kg respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq) in the mixed soil sample from crop fields is 225.9 Bq/kg, where as in barren soil sample is 193.1 Bq/kg. The values of absorbed dose and annual effective dose (indoors and outdoors) are found to vary from 90.87 nGyh-1 to 119.71nGyh-1, 0.45mSv/y to 0.59mSv/y and 0.11mSv/y to 0.15mSv/y respectively in soil sample from crop fields, whereas the value of absorbed dose and annual effective dose (indoors and outdoors) is 92.29 nGyh-1, 0.45mSv/y, 0.11 respectively in soil sample collected from barren land. The radon concentration and exhalation rates have also been reported. Conclusion: The activity concentration, exhalation rate and absorbed dose were found to increase substantially with the use of phosphate fertilizers and it varies from sample to sample. The radium equivalent activities in all the soil samples were found to be lower than the limit (370 Bq/kg) set in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report and the dose equivalent is within the safe limit of 1mSv/y.

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Background: With the introduction of computed tomography in diagnostic radiology a new and fundamentally different imaging modality has become available. Meanwhile, it is clear that the absorbed doses by the patients during CT were relatively high in comparison with those of other diagnostic radiology techniques. The aim of this survey was to determine the average absorbed dose in Yazd province by CT examinations, and to survey the potential risks per year by these examinations. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in CT centers of Yazd during 2005-2006. The examination frequencies from 3 CT scanners were collected from all types of examinations. Effective dose were determined by CT Dose program (ImPACT CT patient dosimetry calculator). To use of this software, CTDIair, mAs and the thickness and number of slices in each type of CT examinations should have been measured. CTDIair was measured by pencil diode detector. Results: It was estimated that the annual collective dose and caput dose were about 32.48 Person-Sv and 0.038 mSv, respectively for the Yazd population, which is lower than that reported for other countries. The numbers of examinations per 1000 people of Yazd was 18 which were equal to many other countries such as UK and New Zealand. The mean effective dose of each CT examinations was also lower than that of other countries. Conclusion: Using the ICRP risk factors, radiation dose from CT could be induced to about 1 fatal cancer per year in Yazd. Therefore choosing CT imaging must be completely justified.

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Background: Natural Radioactivity, though natural requires concentration monitoring, especially for the health/ environmental checks of the populace. Materials and Methods: The activity concentrations of 40K, 238U and 232Th in the waters from wells with depths ranging between 141.0 - 214.0 feet were randomly sampled and determined from 20 locations in Ago-Iwoye town in South Western, Nigeria. Results: The activity concentrations obtained were in the ranges of (9.9-50.9)Bq/kg with mean value of (25.1± 10.7) Bq/kg for 40K, (BDL-15.0) Bq/kg with mean value of (1.2 ± 3.2) Bq/kg for 238U and (BDL-6.2) Bq/kg with mean value of (1.6 ± 1.7) Bq/kg for 232Th. Conclusion: According to the results obtained for the activity concentrations from 20 well water samples in Ago Iwoye, Southwestern, Nigeria it was observed that the v40K, 238U and 232Th values were still within the tolerance level indicating minimal radiological health burden on the human populace and the environment. Iran. J. Radiat. Res., 2010 7 (4): 207-210

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Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of thoron and thermal treatment for aging-related diseases in humans. Materials and Methods: All subjects inhaled thoron with a high concentration (about 4900 Bq/m3) for 2 weeks. Blood pressures were measured and blood samples were collected after each treatment 1, 2 and 3 weeks after the first treatment. Results: The α-atrial natriuretic peptide level of the rheumatoid arthritis group was increased and the blood pressure was significantly decreased. Superoxide dismutase activity of rheumatoid arthritis group was significantly increased by treatment. In addition, thoron and thermal treatment significantly enhanced the concanavalin A-induced mitogen response and increased the level of CD4-positive cells it decreased the level of CD8-positive cells. The results suggest that thoron and thermal treatment activates antioxidative function. Furthermore, these findings suggest that thoron and thermal treatment prevents diabetic ketoacidosis and contributes to the prevention of aging-related diseases. Conclusion: Thoron and thermal therapy may be part of the mechanism for the alleviation of diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis. Iran. J. Radiat. Res., 2012 9(4): 221-229

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Although there are substantial experimental, epidemiological and clinical evidences that high doses of ionizing radiation cause cancer and other detrimental biological effects, the health effects of human exposure to chronic low dose radiation exposures are still poorly known. People in some areas around the world live in dwellings with radiation and radon levels as much as more than 200 times the global average. Inhabited areas with high levels of natural radiation are found in different areas around the world including Yangjiang, China Kerala, India Guarapari, Brazil and Ramsar, Iran. Ramsar in northern Iran is among the world’s well-known areas with highest levels of natural radiation. Annual exposure levels in areas with elevated levels of natural radiation in Ramsar are up to 260 mGy y^-1 and average exposure rates are about 10 mGy y^-1 for a population of about 2000 residents. Due to the local geology, which includes high levels of radium in rocks, soils, and groundwater, Ramsar residents are also exposed to high levels of alpha activity in the form of ingested radium and radium decay progeny as well as very high radon levels in their dwellings. Based on the findings obtained by studies on the health effect of high levels of natural radiation in Ramsar, as well as other high background radiation areas, no consistent detrimental effect has been detected so far. Further research is needed to clarify if the regulatory authorities should set limiting regulations to protect the inhabitants against such extraordinary elevated levels of natural radiation. Iran. J. Radiat. Res., 2012 10 (3‐4): 111‐116

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Background: The health effect of rapidly increasing everyday exposure of humans to radiofrequency radiation is a major global concern. Mobile phone jammers prevent the mobile phones from receiving signals from base stations by interfering with authorized mobile carriers’ services. In spite of the fact that mobile jammer use is illegal, they are occasionally used in offices, shrines, conference rooms and cinemas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological effects of short term exposure of human sperm to radiofrequency radiation emitted from a commercial mobile phone jammer. Materials and Methods: Fresh semen samples were obtained by masturbation from 50 healthy donors who had referred with their wives to Infertility Treatment Center at the Mother and Child Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Female problem was diagnosed as the reason for infertility in these couples. The semen sample of each participant was divided into 4 aliquots. The first aliquot was subjected to swim-up and exposed to jammer radiation. The second aliquot was not subjected to swim-up but was exposed to jammer radiation. The third and fourth aliquots were not exposed to jammer radiation but only the 3^rd aliquot was subjected to swim-up.  Results: Semen samples exposed to radiofrequency radiation showed a significant decrease in sperm motility and increase in DNA fragmentation. Conclusion: Electromagnetic radiation in radiofrequency range emitted from mobile phone jammers may lead to decreased motility and increased DNA fragmentation in human semen. It can be concluded that mobile phone jamming might exert adverse reproductive health effects.

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