Safecast is a citizen science project, aimed to environmental monitoring. Its main activity is measuring ambient dose rate all over the world. The freely accessible data, currently (January 2020) more than 120 million observations, were used to calculate mean values of dose equivalent rate in various cities where sufficient data is available. The results mainly reflect dose rate from terrestrial radiation, whose variability is controlled by the one of geochemistry, namely the concentrations of uranium, thorium and potassium. Further influence comes from cosmic radiation and in a few cases, from anthropogenic radiation caused by nuclear fallout. Mean dose rate has been calculated for 330 cities and towns worldwide. Results are shown in tables, graphs and as maps.
- MeSH
- Radiation Dosage * MeSH
- Radiation Monitoring * MeSH
- Soil Pollutants, Radioactive analysis MeSH
- Potassium Radioisotopes analysis MeSH
- Thorium analysis MeSH
- Uranium analysis MeSH
- Cities MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Cities MeSH
The main limitation in the high-sensitive HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry has been the detector background, even for detectors placed deep underground. Environmental radionuclides such as 40K and decay products in the 238U and 232Th chains have been identified as the most important radioactive contaminants of construction parts of HPGe gamma-ray spectrometers. Monte Carlo simulations have shown that the massive inner and outer lead shields have been the main contributors to the HPGe-detector background, followed by aluminum cryostat, copper cold finger, detector holder and the lead ring with FET. The Monte Carlo simulated cosmic-ray background gamma-ray spectrum has been by about three orders of magnitude lower than the experimental spectrum measured in the Modane underground laboratory (4800 m w.e.), underlying the importance of using radiopure materials for the construction of ultra-low-level HPGe gamma-ray spectrometers.
- MeSH
- Laboratories MeSH
- Monte Carlo Method MeSH
- Radiation Monitoring * MeSH
- Computer Simulation MeSH
- Radioactive Pollutants analysis MeSH
- Radioisotopes MeSH
- Spectrometry, Gamma * MeSH
- Thorium analysis MeSH
- Uranium analysis MeSH
- Gamma Rays MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- France MeSH
Thorium is natural actinide metal with potential use in nuclear energetics. Contamination by thorium, originated from mining activities or spills, represents environmental risk due to its radioactivity and chemical toxicity. A promising approach for cleaning of contaminated areas is phytoremediation, which need to be based, however, on detail understanding of the thorium effects on plants. In this study we investigated transcriptomic response of tobacco roots exposed to 200μM thorium for one week. Thorium application resulted in up-regulation of 152 and down-regulation of 100 genes (p-value <0.01, fold change ≥2). The stimulated genes were involved in components of jasmonic acid and salicylic acid signaling pathways and various abiotic (e.g. oxidative stress) and biotic stress (e.g. pathogens, wounding) responsive genes. Further, up-regulation of phosphate starvation genes and down-regulation of genes involved in phytic acid biosynthesis indicated that thorium disturbed phosphate uptake or signaling. Also expression of iron responsive genes was influenced. Negative regulation of several aquaporins indicated disturbance of water homeostasis. Genes potentially involved in thorium transport could be zinc-induced facilitator ZIF2, plant cadmium resistance PCR2, and ABC transporter ABCG40. This study provides the first insight at the processes in plants exposed to thorium.
- MeSH
- Cyclopentanes metabolism MeSH
- Down-Regulation MeSH
- Phosphates chemistry MeSH
- Stress, Physiological drug effects MeSH
- Cadmium metabolism MeSH
- Plant Roots metabolism MeSH
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
- Salicylic Acid metabolism MeSH
- Plant Leaves metabolism MeSH
- Oxidative Stress MeSH
- Oxylipins metabolism MeSH
- Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism MeSH
- Gene Expression Regulation, Plant * MeSH
- Gene Expression Profiling MeSH
- Nicotiana drug effects MeSH
- Thorium pharmacology MeSH
- Transcriptome * MeSH
- Up-Regulation MeSH
- Iron chemistry MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The complex radiological study of the basin of sludge from the uranium ore mining and preprocessing was done. Air kerma rates (including its spectral analysis) at the reference height of 1 m above ground over the whole area were measured and radiation fields mapped during two measuring campaigns (years 2009 and 2014). K, U and Th concentrations in sludge and concentrations in depth profiles (including radon concentration and radon exhalation rates) in selected points were determined using gamma spectrometry for in situ as well as laboratory samples measurement. Results were used for the analysis, design evaluation and verification of the efficiency of the remediation measures. Efficiency of the sludge basin covering by the inert material was modelled using MicroShield code.
- MeSH
- Program Evaluation MeSH
- Mining * MeSH
- Radiation Monitoring methods MeSH
- Environmental Monitoring MeSH
- Refuse Disposal methods MeSH
- Radioactive Waste * MeSH
- Radioactive Pollutants analysis MeSH
- Potassium Radioisotopes analysis MeSH
- Radon analysis MeSH
- Environmental Restoration and Remediation * methods MeSH
- Spectrometry, Gamma * MeSH
- Thorium analysis MeSH
- Uranium * analysis MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Comparative Study MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
This paper provides an overview of analytical methods frequently used to identify terrestrial radionuclides in samples. While radioactivity is normally measured through the ionising radiation produced during the spontaneous decay of unstable atoms, selected radionuclides or their chemical elements can be quantified with instrumental techniques based on stimulated emission or counting of atoms. The advantages and disadvantages of these analytical methods are discussed. Particular attention is paid to X-ray fluorescence analysis of materials containing uranium and thorium. It is also possible to determine the area distributions of these chemical elements in samples with the use of scanning X-ray fluorescence systems.
- MeSH
- Mass Spectrometry MeSH
- Electron Probe Microanalysis MeSH
- Neutron Activation Analysis MeSH
- Half-Life MeSH
- Background Radiation * MeSH
- Potassium Radioisotopes analysis MeSH
- Radiometry methods MeSH
- Radioisotopes analysis MeSH
- Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission * instrumentation MeSH
- Thorium analysis MeSH
- Uranium analysis MeSH
- Earth, Planet * MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
The determination of low level activities of natural radionuclides from the uranium and thorium series by gamma-spectrometry faces the problem of proper natural background subtraction. Background fluctuation can cause differences in activity determination. Also the minimum detectable activity (MDA) of natural and artificial radionuclides can be influenced by background fluctuation. In this paper, results of the background fluctuation of shielded HPGe detectors with relative efficiency of 50-150% are presented together with the assessment of its influence on the determination of natural and artificial radionuclides.
- MeSH
- Algorithms * MeSH
- Equipment Failure Analysis MeSH
- Artifacts * MeSH
- Radiation Dosage MeSH
- Equipment Design MeSH
- Background Radiation * MeSH
- Reproducibility of Results MeSH
- Sensitivity and Specificity MeSH
- Spectrometry, Gamma instrumentation methods MeSH
- Thorium analysis MeSH
- Uranium analysis MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
The ability of thorium uptake as well as responses to heavy metal stress were tested in tobacco cultivar La Burley 21. Thorium was accumulated preferentially in the root system. The presence of citric, tartaric and oxalic acids in hydroponic medium increased thorium accumulation in all plant organs. On the other hand, the addition of diamines and polyamines, the important antioxidants in plants, resulted in decrease of thorium accumulation, especially in the root system. Negative correlation was found between putrescine concentration and thorium accumulation. Nevertheless, the most important factor influencing the accumulation of thorium was the absence of phosphate ions in a hydroponic medium that caused more than 10-fold increase of thorium uptake in all plant parts. Accumulation and distribution of thorium was followed in six cultivars and 14 selected transformants. Cultivar La Barley 21 represented an average between the tested genotypes, having a very good distribution ratio between roots, stems and leaves.
- MeSH
- Diamines chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Phosphates chemistry deficiency MeSH
- Genotype MeSH
- Hydroponics MeSH
- Ions chemistry MeSH
- Plant Roots drug effects metabolism MeSH
- Plant Leaves drug effects metabolism MeSH
- Polyamines chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Putrescine chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Plant Stems drug effects metabolism MeSH
- Nicotiana metabolism MeSH
- Thorium chemistry metabolism MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
Concentrations of uranium, thorium and rare earth elements (REE) in 36 species of ectomycorrhizal (26 samples) and saprobic (25 samples) macrofungi from unpolluted sites with differing bedrock geochemistry were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Analytical results are supported by use of certified reference materials (BCR-670, BCR-667, NIST-1575a) and the reliability of the determination of uranium was verified by epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA). It appears that data recently published on these elements are erroneous, in part because of use of an inappropriate analytical method; and in part because of apparent contamination by soil particles resulting in elevated levels of thorium and REE. Macrofungi from unpolluted areas, in general, did not accumulate high levels of the investigated metals. Concentrations of uranium and thorium were generally below 30 and 125 μg kg(-1) (dry weight), respectively. Concentrations of REE in macrofungi did not exceed 360 μg kg(-1) (dry weight) and their distribution more or less followed the trend observed in post-Archean shales and loess.
Kinetics of dissolution of (238)U, (234)U and (230)Th dust deposited on filters from personal alpha dosemeters was studied by means of a 26-d in vitro dissolution test with a serum ultrafiltrate simulant. Dosemeters had been used by miners at the uranium mine 'Dolni Rozinka' at Rozna, Czech Republic. The sampling flow-rate as declared by the producer is 4 l h(-1) and the sampling period is typically 1 month. Studied filters contained 125 +/- 6 mBq (238)U in equilibrium with (234)U and (230)Th; no (232)Th series nuclides were found. Half-time of rapid dissolution of 1.4 d for (238)U and (234)U and slow dissolution half-times of 173 and 116 d were found for (238)U and (234)U, respectively. No detectable dissolution of (230)Th was found.
- MeSH
- Whole-Body Counting MeSH
- Chelation Therapy methods MeSH
- Injections, Intramuscular MeSH
- Rats MeSH
- Radiation Injuries etiology prevention & control MeSH
- Quality Control MeSH
- Thorium administration & dosage pharmacokinetics toxicity MeSH
- Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Rats MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
