Naslov
Determination of radioactivity in the air using rapid methods in the field

Autori
Marović, Gordana ; Prlić, Ivica ; Senčar, Jasminka ; Franić, Zdenko ; Radalj, Željko.

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u zbornicima skupova, cjeloviti rad (in extenso), znanstveni

Izvornik
Proceedings of the 4th International Conference Nuclear Option in Countries with Small and Medium Electricity Grids / Knapp, Vladimir ; Debrecin, Nenad - Zagreb : Hrvatsko nuklearno društvo, 2002

Skup
4th International Conference Nuclear Option in Countries with Small and Medium Electricity Grids

Mjesto i datum
Dubrovnik, Hrvatska, 16.06.2002. - 20.06.2002

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
radiological and nuclear accidents; field measurements; exposure dose rate; total alpha and beta activity

Sažetak
Within the Radiation Protection Unit of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb operates a mobile unit equipped for the field intervention measurements in cases of possible radiological and nuclear accidents. The unit was established for the purpose of emergency preparedness as Krško Nuclear Power Plant started to operate. Regular exercises are carried out twice a year at the selected locations of northwestern Croatia, in order to maintain the high professional level of emergency preparedness. The unit employs the methods of rapid field radioactivity measurements. These involve the measurements of exposure dose rates - digital dosimeter (ALARA ED), total alpha and total beta activities in the air and in situ gamma-spectrometrical measurements. It should be noted that these techniques are sensitive enough to detect the presence of, and even slights increases of the fission radionuclides. Results represent the valuable basis on the status of radioactive contamination in the territory of northwestern Croatia. The paper presents only exposure dose rates and the total alpha and beta activities determined in the air at selected locations over the past few years, obtained in the field measurements during the exercises. According to our results, the total alpha activities ranged from 0.62?0.07 Bqm-3 to 26.9?0.3 Bqm-3 and total beta activities from 0.9?0.1 Bqm-3 to 412?4 Bqm-3. Rapid field methods are presently used for measurement of radionuclides in the atmosphere: they might be of terrestrial or cosmogenic origin. Radionuclides of terrestrial origin include a multitude of short-lived daughters of natural radioactive series. Their activity may enhance the total alpha and beta activities in the air due to atmospheric circumstances (e.g. fog, fallout etc.). During laboratory measurements using standard procedure, daily alpha and beta activities are determined after a period of 120 hours from the end of sampling, which is the time necessary for the decay of short-lived radionuclides. The enhanced presence of short-lived radionuclides results from the momentary status of the atmosphere during the air sampling and directly depends on meteorological situation.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

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