Journal of environmental radioactivity最新文献

{"title":"A new methodology for the evaluation of radon diffusion coefficients in anti-radon membranes","authors":"Manuela Portaro ,&nbsp;Ilaria Rocchetti ,&nbsp;Gianfranco Galli ,&nbsp;Paola Tuccimei ,&nbsp;Michele Soligo ,&nbsp;Cristina Longoni ,&nbsp;Dino Vasquez","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107708","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107708","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Indoor radon is classified as a carcinogen because it can lead to lung cancer. Some radon preventive strategies are related to building protection with radon barrier materials whose capacity to stop the gas depends on the diffusion coefficient, which can be calculated using different techniques. In this article, we propose a new experimental device, called TESTMAT, to measure the radon diffusion coefficient, using a weak radon source, to prevent radiation protection oversight. The device is small and made from PVC. The sample of the tested material is placed between the source and the receiver containers, as indicated by ISO/TS 11665-13 standard. Since a non-stationary radon diffusion occurs in the system, we developed a specific software, ENDORSE, to model radon activity concentrations in the receiver chamber and the diffusion through the material by applying the explicit finite difference method. The software utilizes Montecarlo simulation to determine the error associated with the diffusion coefficient. Different tests were performed to calibrate the system and assess the value and the evolution of background radon during the two-week measurement. When working with low-activity radon sources, this parameter cannot be neglected, particularly with the best performing membranes. An adequate sample holder was selected to guarantee a good airtightness, with a leakage constant of only 7 % of the radon decay constant. The minimum detection limits were calculated based on the material thickness and the source intensity. The system was finally tested with three commercially available waterproofing membranes and results compared with expected values, based on literature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 107708"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143886644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A protocol for the radiological assessment for agricultural use of land in Ukraine abandoned after the Chornobyl accident","authors":"J.T. Smith ,&nbsp;S.E. Levchuk ,&nbsp;D.A. Bugai ,&nbsp;N.A. Beresford ,&nbsp;M.D. Wood ,&nbsp;Khomutinin Yu ,&nbsp;G.V. Laptev ,&nbsp;V.A. Kashparov","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107698","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107698","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a need in Ukraine for re-evaluation of the status of lands outside the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone which were abandoned in the years after the accident. Since the 1991 criteria for zoning were put in place, there has been no re-classification of abandoned lands even though radionuclide contamination density and, for radiocaesium isotopes, mobility have both declined. This study describes the development of a protocol for assessment of abandoned lands in Ukraine based on a 100 ha experimental plot. A simple method of quantification of ¹³⁷Cs contamination density was developed using external dose measurement whilst other relevant radionuclides (⁹⁰Sr; ²⁴¹Am and Pu isotopes) were quantified using selected soil samples. Modelling of uptake of radionuclides in eight key crops shows that the study field could be re-used for agriculture according to Ukrainian regulatory limits. Monte Carlo modelling of potential dose to farm workers showed that dose was dominated by external exposure and that doses were significantly below 1 mSv y⁻¹. Based on statistical analysis of soil-plant concentrations ratios, criteria were derived for assessment of suitability of agricultural land for production. The criteria are applicable to areas of soddy-podzolic sandy and sandy loam soils (Podzoluvisol) typical in these regions of Northern Ukraine. They are not applicable to high organic matter soils (Histosols) where soil-plant concentration ratios are likely to be much higher for radiocaesium.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"286 ","pages":"Article 107698"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143906650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“Fusion of Horizons”: Part III. Rethinking radon Risk: Scientific advances and regulatory implications (since 1990s)","authors":"Robert Bobkier ,&nbsp;Konstantin Kovler ,&nbsp;Andrey Tsapalov ,&nbsp;Ewa Katarzyna Czech","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107707","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107707","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the global evolution of scientific understanding regarding radon exposure and its health implications, focusing on the transition from early occupational exposure limits and epidemiological risk assessments to molecular-level attributions of radon-induced diseases. Since the early 1990s, advancements in genetic and molecular research have provided growing evidence suggesting that radon exposure may leave a distinct oncological signature, potentially allowing for more precise differentiation between radon-induced lung cancers and those caused by other factors. While this field continues to evolve, its implications extend beyond epidemiological risk assessment to include legal, medical, and regulatory frameworks. Beyond lung cancer, contemporary research has explored links between radon exposure and a range of other oncological and non-oncological diseases, including leukemia, kidney cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and chronic respiratory conditions. The study further explores the ethical and legal consequences of these findings, particularly in the context of risk governance, compensation claims, and occupational health regulations. The paper also examines the hybrid nature of radon as both naturally occurring and anthropogenically intensified hazard, complicating risk perception and public policy responses. Additionally, the phenomenon of “contaminated communities,” is discussed, wherein prolonged radon exposure disrupts social structures and contributes to psychological distress, economic losses, and legal disputes. By analyzing radon exposure through the lens of toxic disaster theory, this study outlines the sequential stages of public and regulatory responses, from initial scientific uncertainty to regulatory intervention and societal adaptation. The findings highlight a broader challenge in environmental health governance: how scientific advancements are integrated into public health policies amid economic and political constraints. Ultimately, the study underscores the need for continuous scientific inquiry and proactive policymaking to address the full spectrum of health risks associated with radon exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"286 ","pages":"Article 107707"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatially resolved isotope analysis of a Chernobyl corium fragment extracted from environmental soil","authors":"Wolfgang Schulz,&nbsp;Martin Weiss,&nbsp;Manuel Raiwa,&nbsp;Clemens Walther,&nbsp;Laura Leifermann","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107699","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107699","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Micrometer sized particles accounted for a considerable fraction of the radioactivity released into the environment during the Chernobyl accident. In addition, there is a special kind of particles, so called shelter-derived fuel containing material (FCM), that formed as a consequence of the cooling of the reactor melt, and was so far only found inside the reactor building. For the first time, a FCM particle was located in and extracted from soil of a former agricultural field 5 km south-southeast of the former nuclear power plant. Using a combination of energy scanning electron microcopy and dispersive x-ray analysis and Secondary Neutral Mass Spectrometry we found that the particle is comprised of a silicon matrix containing evenly distributed amounts of U, Pu and Am. Embedded in that chemically stable matrix are small inclusions of reactor U of varying chemical composition. We could show this particle type to be largely unaffected by weathering under environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"286 ","pages":"Article 107699"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143868469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil to plant transfer factor of 137Cs, 40K, and stable Cs in a semi-arid region","authors":"Abdullah Dirican,&nbsp;Hasan Dikmen,&nbsp;Eren Çantay","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107700","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107700","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Radionuclide transport from soil to plants is important for radiological contamination of food and estimation of internal radiation doses from consuming contaminated food. Wheat, clover, purslane and soil samples were collected from agricultural fields in the semi-arid region of Iğdır, Türkiye. The concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K, and stable Cs were measured and soil-to-plant transfer factors were calculated. The concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs (derived from global fallout deposition), ⁴⁰K and stable Cs in soils ranged from 1.9 to 8.4 Bq kg⁻¹, 318–2033 Bq kg⁻¹ and 1.6–18.5 mg kg⁻¹ respectively. The geometric mean concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K and stable Cs in wheat grain were measured as 8.4 Bq kg⁻¹ dry wt., 417 Bq kg⁻¹ dry wt. and 3.6 mg kg⁻¹ dry wt. respectively. Geometric mean value of the soil to stem of cereal (wheat), grass (clover) and leafy vegetable (purslane) transfer factor (F_ν) for ¹³⁷Cs were estimated as 5.7 x 10⁻², 2.8 x 10⁻² and 9.2 x 10⁻² which were higher than values reported in IAEA-TRS 472 except grain of wheat which was approximately equal to that of temperate climate values 1.1 x 10⁻¹. The F_ν values of stable Cs were estimated somewhat lower than that of F_ν of ¹³⁷Cs for wheat grain, wheat stems, clover and purslane.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"286 ","pages":"Article 107700"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143859726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term trends of radiocaesium concentrations in moose (Alces alces) harvested in Sweden","authors":"Robert N. Weimer ,&nbsp;Synnöve Sundell-Bergman ,&nbsp;Lars Sonesten ,&nbsp;Camilla Wikenros ,&nbsp;Klas Rosén","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107696","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107696","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper describes an analysis of data from long-term monitoring (28 years) of ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in muscle tissue from moose (<em>Alces alces</em>) harvested in east-central Sweden. Two data sets on activity concentrations in moose muscle samples from the adjacent municipalities of Heby (n = 3652; y 1986–2012) and Gävle (n = 11,511; y 1986–2008) were used. Geometric means of ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in moose have declined from 700 Bq kg⁻¹ in Heby and 1300 Bq kg⁻¹ in Gävle during 1986–1989 to around 300 Bq kg⁻¹ in Heby (2009–2012) and 700 Bq kg⁻¹ in Gävle (2005–2008). Based on annual geometric mean values of ¹³⁷Cs in the muscle samples, the effective ecological half-life of ¹³⁷Cs was calculated to be 16 years in both Heby and Gävle. The average ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in moose calves were 14 % higher in Heby and 18 % higher in Gävle compared to adults. No sex-specific difference in activity concentration was found. Mean aggregated transfer factors (T_ag) from soil to moose muscle tissue were calculated at 0.016 m² kg⁻¹ (range 0.010–0.036) in the Heby area and 0.023 m² kg⁻¹ (range 0.013–0.035) in the Gävle area. Using GIS software, mean deposition within a 1.7 km radius around each killing spot for moose harvested in Heby was calculated, resulting in individual T_ag values. On an individual level, this resulted in a minimum T_ag of 0.001 m² kg⁻¹ and a maximum T_ag of 0.104 m² kg⁻¹, distinctly reflecting the high variation of ¹³⁷Cs concentrations in moose. The proportion of samples exceeding the national intervention limit of 1500 Bq kg⁻¹ was 5 % in Heby and 25 % in Gävle during the study period.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"286 ","pages":"Article 107696"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143859727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Treatment of low-concentration uranium-containing wastewater utilizing Scenedesmus sp. with an emphasis on response surface methodology","authors":"Maryam Ranjbar Safiabad ,&nbsp;Parisa Mohammadi ,&nbsp;Parisa Tajer-Mohammad-Ghazvini","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107694","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107694","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microalgae possess various mechanisms to mitigate the toxicity of heavy metals. This study focused on the uranium removal potential of <em>Scenedesmus</em> sp. strain MTR 1901 from waters containing low concentrations of uranium contamination. Response surface methodology (RSM) utilizing central composite design through Design Expert software was employed to identify the key parameters and optimize factors such as pH, time, temperature, metal concentration, and biomass concentration in the process. The results revealed that uranium concentration, pH and time are statistically effective in uranium removal process. The removal efficiency improved from 14.36 % to 79.62 % when the pH was enhanced from 4 to 7.97 during the initial times. Additionally, as the uranium concentration increased from 1 mg to 5 mg/l, the removal efficiency declined from 100 % to 32.19 % in alkaline pH conditions. Increasing time from one to 96 h, the removal efficiency was decreased from 76.14 % to 61.24 %. The 1 g of the alga under the optimal condition (C₀ = 1.57 mg/l, pH 3.22, M = 1.31 g/l, T = 12.8 ^°C, Time = 53 h) can remove 1190 μg of uranium with an absorption efficiency of 99.54 %. The findings indicate that strain MTR 1901 is a promising candidate for the phytoremediation of uranium in aquatic environments that are contaminated with low levels of uranium.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"286 ","pages":"Article 107694"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143842831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sorption experiments using stemflow: Reproduction and understanding of radiocesium dynamics on the forest floor during the early stage after the Fukushima nuclear accident","authors":"Takuya Manaka ,&nbsp;Shinta Ohashi ,&nbsp;Wataru Sakashita ,&nbsp;Naohiro Imamura ,&nbsp;Yoshiyuki Inagaki","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107695","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107695","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident on March 11, 2011 released significant amounts of radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs), which contaminated large forested areas in Fukushima, with large spatial heterogeneity. To understand the characteristics of ¹³⁷Cs sorption to outer bark and fresh plant residues on the forest floor, mainly in the Oi horizon, we performed sorption experiments in the laboratory. To simulate actual conditions, we used ¹³⁷Cs-free organic matter samples from Kochi, far from the power plant, and ¹³⁷Cs-containing stemflow samples from Fukushima. ¹³⁷Cs sorption was highest in the outer bark of Japanese cedar (<em>Cryptomeria japonica</em>) (on average 76.1%) and in the Oi horizon (72.8%), followed by fallen leaves of Konara oak (<em>Quercus serrata</em>) (45.5%), fallen branches of Japanese cedar (37.6%), and fallen needles of Japanese cedar (27.4%). We discuss various factors controlling ¹³⁷Cs sorption characteristics, such as organic chemical contents and sample size, and the chemical composition of the stemflow sample. Shortly after the accident, when most of the ¹³⁷Cs in the forest ecosystem was trapped in the O horizon and the forest canopy, the sorption characteristics of the materials would have influenced the horizontal heterogeneity of ¹³⁷Cs in the Oi horizon under the actual conditions on the forest floor.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"286 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143842832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prediction methodology of air absorbed dose rates for Chinese cities with deep learning models","authors":"Chong Guo ,&nbsp;Xiaoyu Li ,&nbsp;Zhihui Yan ,&nbsp;Lekang Chen ,&nbsp;Bing Tang ,&nbsp;Wenjie Zeng","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107685","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107685","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Air absorbed dose rate is a key indicator of environmental radiation exposure. In China, automated environmental radiation monitoring systems have been established in multiple cities to continuously measure air absorbed dose rates. Nevertheless, developing effective preventive strategies based solely on data monitoring remains challenging. To address the issue, this study proposes a prediction framework for urban air absorbed dose rates based on historical data. The framework encompasses model construction, data preprocessing, outcome evaluation and prediction of future data. Specifically, three deep learning models—Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Convolutional Neural Network-Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-LSTM), and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM)—were employed to develop prediction methods for urban air absorbed dose rates. Given the large and complex dataset structure of air absorbed dose rates reports released by the National Nuclear Safety Administration, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was utilized to extract monitoring data, significantly improving data preprocessing efficiency. Missing values were handled using Lagrange interpolation method. The results showed that the Bi-LSTM model performed best in terms of coefficient of determination (R²), mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) when predicting the air absorbed dose rates in a coastal city. When predicting the air absorbed dose rates in an inland city, the R² and RMSE indices of the Bi-LSTM model are more accurate, although the MAE value of the Bi-LSTM model is slightly higher than that of the LSTM model. To summarize, the Bi-LSTM model is more effective in predicting the air absorbed dose rates in Chinese cities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"286 ","pages":"Article 107685"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143838818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Dissolution characteristics of uranium and lead in simulated lung fluid using fly ash samples from coal-fired power plants in the Czech Republic”[J Environ Radioact (256) (2023) 107063]","authors":"Ivan Hupka,&nbsp;Lukáš Kotík","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107693","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107693","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"286 ","pages":"Article 107693"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143906651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}