• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.158-165
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• 2017

Background: Nuclear facilities in South Korea have generally adopted pressurized ion chambers to measure ambient gamma ray exposure rates for monitoring the impact of radiation on the surrounding environment. The rates assessed with pressurized ion chambers do not distinguish between natural and man-made radiation, so a further step is needed to identify the cause of abnormal variation. In contrast, using NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors to detect gamma energy rates can allow an immediate assessment of the cause of variation through an analysis of the energy spectra. Against this backdrop, this study was conducted to propose a more effective way to monitor ambient gamma exposure rates. Materials and Methods: The following methods were used to analyze gamma energy spectra measured from January to November 2016 with NaI detectors installed at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) dormitory and Hanbat University. 1) Correlations of the variation of rates measured at the two locations were determined. 2) The dates, intervals, duration, and weather conditions were identified when rates increased by $5nSv{\cdot}h^{-1}$ or more. 3) Differences in the NaI spectra on normal days and days where rates spiked by $5nSv{\cdot}h^{-1}$ or more were studied. 4) An algorithm was derived for automatically calculating the net variation of the rates. Results and Discussion: The rates measured at KAERI and Hanbat University, located 12 kilometers apart, did not show a strong correlation (coefficient of determination = 0.577). Time gaps between spikes in the rates and rainfall were factors that affected the correlation. The weather conditions on days where rates went up by $5nSv{\cdot}h^{-1}$ or more featured rainfall, snowfall, or overcast, as well as an increase in peaks of the gamma rays emitted from the radon decay products of $^{214}Pb$ and $^{214}Bi$ in the spectrum. This study assumed that $^{214}Pb$ and $^{214}Bi$ exist at a radioactive equilibrium, since both have relatively short half-lives of under 30 minutes. Provided that this assumption is true and that the gamma peaks of the 352 keV and 1,764 keV gamma rays emitted from the radionuclides have proportional count rates, no man-made radiation should be present between the two energy levels. This study proved that this assumption was true by demonstrating a linear correlation between the count rates of these two gamma peaks. In conclusion, if the count rates of these two peaks detected in the gamma energy spectrum at a certain time maintain the ratio measured at a normal time, such variation can be confirmed to be caused by natural radiation. Conclusion: This study confirmed that both $^{214}Pb$ and $^{214}Bi$ have relatively short half-lives of under 30 minutes, thereby existing in a radioactive equilibrium in the atmosphere. If the gamma peaks of the 352 keV and 1,764 keV gamma rays emitted from these radionuclides have proportional count rates, no man-made radiation should exist between the two energy levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.347-352
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• 2013

In this study, we analyze the cross correlation between Gamma exposure rates and Rainfall, Hours of daylight, Average wind speed using cross-correlation coefficient ${\rho}_{DCCA}$ and DCCA cross-correlation coefficient(DCCA ${\rho}$) method. Our data are measured simultaneous in Gangneung regional. First, we find the ${\rho}_{DCCA}$ between Gamma exposure rates and Rainfall is Day(3~7days) 0.57~0.48, Month(30days) 0.39, Season(90days) 0.34, Year(360days) 0.26, between Gamma exposure rates and Hours of daylight is Day -0.20~-0.23, Month -0.22, Season -0.17, Year -0.13, between Gamma exposure rates and Average wind speed is Day -0.10~-0.12, Month -0.11, Season -0.05, Year -0.05. Second, our finding is cross- correlation between Gamma exposure rates and Rainfall, is no cross-correlation between Gamma exposure rates and Hours of daylight, Average wind speed.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 1994

This study concerns about the measurement and the investigation of environmental radiation characteristics which the components and the distribution of exposure rates by terrestrial y-rays in Taegu area. $4^{'}{\phi}{\times}4^{'}$ NaI(T1) scintillation detector with a multichannel analyzer was used in the measurement of y-rays as a part of in-situ spectrometry at twenty eight different locations in this area. The conversion into the exposure rate from the measured ${\gamma}-ray$ spectrum has been carried out leading to a net exposure rate and component ones by $^{40}K,\;^{238}U$ series and $^{232}Th$ series products which are known by the major parts in the terrestrial ${\gamma}-rays$ generally. As a result, the average exposure rate by the terrestrial ${\gamma}-rays$ in Taegu area is $9.4{\mu}R/h$ and the distribution of individual exposure rates shows more or less differences between these locations even after the consideration of diurnal and yearly variations which are always involved in these measurements. The component parts of exposure rates are distributed $^{40}K\;2.9{\sim}4.6{\mu}R/h,\;^{238}U$ series $1.2{\sim}3,\;1{\mu}R/h,\;^{232}Th$ series $2.5{\sim}5.0{\mu}R/h$ over the measured locations.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.197-201
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• 2006

Daily and seasonal variations of the ambient gamma ray exposure rates were measured by using a pressurized ion chamber from January 2003 to December 2005 in the CheongJu Regional Radiation Monitoring Post and the patterns of the distributions were studied. The annual average of the daily variation of the exposure rate was $\sim0.17{\mu}R/h$. The exposure rate was found to be maximum during 8:00 am to 9:00 am and minimum during 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm. For the annual data, the exposure rate was the minimum during the month of February. The exposure rate increased from February to mid-October (except during the period from May to July with no change) and decreased from October to February. The seasonal variation was found to be about $1{\mu}R/h$. Most of the measured values (96%) of the exposure rates fell under the normal distribution with a deviation of less than 4.8% and the remaining 4% had large fluctuations caused mainly by the rainfalls.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2013

In this work, we investigate the statistical properties of gamma exposure rates using well-known analysis methods, such as Autocorrelation Function Analysis(ACF), Rescaled Range Analysis(R/S Analysis), and Detrended Fluctuation Analysis(DFA). Especially, DFA is an important method to reliably detect long-range correlations in non-stationary time series. Our data are measured by Gangneung regional radiation monitoring station over the period of 1998 to 2011. First, we find a crossover indicating two different governing regimes in fluctuations of gamma exposure rates. Within a year, they show a strong long-ranged memory while this property vanishes over the range of time period longer than one year. Second, our finding is very securely supported by a variety of analysis tools. Those tools yield many relevant exponents which satisfies the well known relation between them.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.291-309
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• 1973

Exposure rates due to leakage gamma-rays from operating reactors TRIGA Mark II and III were measured in a horizontal plane by means of scintillation spectrometry using a 3"$\times$3" cylindrical Nal(T1) detector associated with a 400 channel pulse height analyzer under varied conditions of reactor operation. In determining exposure rate due to the leakage gamma-rays at each point of measurement, Moriuchi's spectrum-exposure rate conversion theory was applied instead of using conventional responce matrix method which necessitates very complicated procedures to convert a spectrum into exposure rate. The results show that a basic pattern of "typical" spectrum of the reactor leakage gamma-rays is neither affected by thermal output of the reactor, nor influenced by overall attenuation in radiation intensity. It was indicated that he attenuation of the leakage gamma-rays in air in terms of exposure rate as a whole follows an exponential law, and the total exposure rate due to the leakage gamma-rays at a certain point is nearly proportional to thermal output of the reactor. The complexity in spectrum measured for a movable core reactor, TRIGA Mark III, was analyzed through spectrum resolution, and proper judgement of the leakage gamma-rays in a complex spectrum was discussed.ctrum was discussed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 1981

For determination of mutation frequency induced by chronic irradiation of low dose gamma rays, Tradescarrfia clone 4430 was exposed to Co-60 ${\gamma}$ rays with different exposure rates from 3.6mR/day to 182R/day in or out of the Gamma Field at Kumkok Experiment Farm of KAERI. Somatic mutations based on pink mutant events of the stamen hair cells were clearly observed by the treatment. The pink mutant events were increased proportionally with increasing exposure rates of gamma ray except for relatively high dose rates of 105 R/day and 182 R/day, indicating saturation effect of mutation. The somatic pink mutations could be fairly detectable even in the low dose rate of 3.6mR/day. Therefore, this stamen hair system of Tradescantia clone 4430 seemed to be an reasonable test system for detecting mutability of low level irradiation. These results imply that artificial mutation induction in the fruit and ornamental trees could be expected in the ${\gamma}$-field.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 1972

In oder to investigate the effects of cobalt-60 gamma ray irradiation on the body gains of rabbits aging approximately 50-day-old rabbits were subjected to single whole-body gamma irradiation externally. The results obtained were as follows: 1. There were significant differences of the body gains between control and treated groups except the 100 rads gamma-rays exposure group. 2. There were no differences in body gains between male and female rabbits. 3. Generally, the relation between gamma irradiated doses and the growth rates of rabbits were inversly proportional. 4. The $LD_{50}$ of the rabbits was 600 rads in case of single external whole-body gamma irradiation.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.7 no.2_3
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• pp.135-139
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• 2013

Recently, chronic gamma radiation exposure on biological effects in middle dose-rates have become a serious concern. We investigated the biological effects of middle dose chronic exposure to gamma ray. Fifty male 6-week-old specific free Balb/c mice were randomly divided into five groups (four groups irradiated and one non-irradiated control group). Gamma radiation exposed in Gamma phytotron on Advanced Radiation Technology Institute (Jeongeup, Korea). Irradiation was carried out for 1 or 2 weeks using gamma rays at dose rates of 45 and $50mGy\;h^{-1}$ with total doses 7.56 Gy ($45mGy\;h^{-1}$, 1 week), 8.4 Gy ($50mGy\;h^{-1}$, 1 week), 15.12 Gy ($45mGy\;h^{-1}$, 2 weeks) and 16.8 Gy ($50mGy\;h^{-1}$, 2 weeks). After irradiation, immediately we sacrificed and counted body and organ weights. Moreover we counted spleen cell numbers. Compared with control non-irradiated group, all irradiated groups of body and spleen weights showed significant decreased. However, no significant alteration was observed between same irradiated period groups. In spleen cell numbers, reduced compared to the control group. However, significant alteration was observed between same irradiated period groups ($45mGy\;h^{-1}$, $50mGy\;h^{-1}$). These results demonstrated biological effects according to the radiation dose rate and irradiated period.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2001

In order to find the exposure conversion coefficients for 3"X3" NaI spectrum, we measured the exposure rates with the pressurized ion chamber at 29 different areas in the range of $4{\sim}23{\mu}R\;h^{-1}$, and also measured the gamma spectra with 3"X3" and 4"X4" NaI detectors, simultaneously. The exposure conversion coefficient of the total energy method was determined using the linear relation between the measured exposure rate and the gamma spectrum energy. In order to find the exposure conversion coefficients of the energy band method, we applied the exposure conversion coefficients recommended by NCRP to the 4"X4" NaI spectra, and calculated the exposure rates due to $^{40}K,\;^{238}U$, and $^{232}Th$ series respectively. Using the linearly proportional relation between the obtained $^{232}Th$ series exposure rate and peak area of 2614 keV that represents the $^{232}Th$ series, we obtained the exposure conversion coefficients for $^{232}Th$ series. We also determined the conversion coefficients for $^{238}U$ series and $^{40}K$ using a similar method.