• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.67-73
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• 2011

Groundwaters were sampled from 730 wells being used for drinking purposes during 2007-2009. These samples were analysed using a gas-flow type GPC (Gas Proportional Counter) according to the USEPA method (900.0). We obtained a gross-alpha counting TDS (total dissolved solid) efficiency curve (Y = 0.0017X2 - 0.3122X + 19.165, X = TDS, Y = efficiency, $R^2$ = 0.9734) using natural uranium standard to get gross ${\alpha}$ value of the samples. The gross alpha values ranged from MDA (minimum detectable activity) to 14.88 pCi/L and 429 samples showed values higher than MDA (< 0.9 pCi/L). Correlations of the uranium values with the total alpha values and the gross-alpha values indicate that uranium values have high impacts on gross-alpha values. Groundwater samples of study areas were classified into four regions according to the rock types; plutonic (granite) rock region (427 areas), metamorphic rock region (181 aeras), sedimentary rock region (70 areas), volcanic rock region (52 areas). Groundwater of Cretaceous granite presented the highest gross-alpha value. Gross alpha in groundwaters showed no relationship with uranium in terms of the geological ages, rocks and minerals.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.4554-4560
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• 2023

Continuous monitoring of radioactive substances over a prolonged duration can yield crucial insights into the levels of radiation exposure through inhalation, both in the vicinity of nuclear facilities and/or general environments. In this study, we evaluated long-term measurements (2012-2022) of gross alpha-beta activities in the air in the vicinity of nuclear facilities and reference site, distribution characteristics of temporal trends and spatial fluctuations, and factors affecting radioactivity levels. The average airborne gross-α (in mBq m^-3) for onsite and off-site were 0.124 and 0.117, respectively, and the average airborne gross-β (in mBq m^-3) measurements were 1.10 and 1.04, respectively. The activity ratio (AR) of gross-α and gross-β were calculated as a ratio of 0.12. The distribution characteristics of gross-α and gross-β activities in this study area are likely influenced by the meteorological factors and variations in airborne PM concentrations rather than the operation of the nuclear facility.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.2_spc
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• pp.227-235
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• 2020

In this study, we discussed the limitations of gross alpha measurements for the characterization of radioactive wastes produced in nuclear facilities through experimental tests and Monte Carlo N-particle transport simulations. The determination of gross alpha is essential for the disposal of radioactive waste produced in nuclear facilities in Korea. The measurements of gross alpha are easy to perform and yield rapid analytical results, but it cannot be used for quantitative analysis. The error of counting efficiency for gross alpha with various masses of the deposit on planchets using KCl and ²⁴¹Am was determined. The relative deviation of the counting efficiency in samples having the same mass was 20%. Uranium was extracted from the soil through acid leaching and extraction chromatography, and the concentration of U determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was compared with the results for gross alpha. The gross alpha was underestimated by 50% compared to the U concentration by ICP-MS. The counting efficiency depended on the energy from the alpha emitters, which differed by up to three times in determination of the counting efficiency depending on the kinds of alpha radionuclides of interest. Therefore, the gross alpha is not compatible with the sum of radioactivity for each alpha emitter and is suitable as a screening method.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 1975

In order to clarify the accumulation of radioactive materials in marine organisms of Korea, the present investigation is carried out with 54 samples of edible seaweeds collected from eight sampling sites along the coast of Korea during September, 1973 and April, 1974. In this paper, ash contents, gross alpha activities and gross beta activities are detected. The ash content is 7.53- 15.95% in the species investigated. Among the algal phyla it is about 13.13% in green algae, 12.77% in brown algae, and 10.77% in red algae on an average. On the other hand, gross alpha activities fluctuate from 180.0 pCi/Kg to 1082.6 pCi /Kg-fresh material experimented, and are 530.72 pCi/Kg on an average. They increase from green to red and brown algae, in turn. The activities in a single species collected at the same season increse from eastern to western and southern coasts of Korea, in turn. Gross beta activities, however, fluctuate from 2.40 nCi/Kg to 22.14 nCi/Kg-fresh material experimented, and 9.03 nCi/Kg on an average. They increase also from green to red nd brown algae, in turn. The gross beta activities are specially higher in Sargassum thunbergii, 22.14 nCi/Kg It is expected that this plant could be an indicator to detect the activities in the marine algae along the coast of Korea.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.104-110
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• 2014

In order to study gross alpha analysis method using LSC, the efficiency tests with uranium standard materials were performed and then compared with the GPC method (US EPA 900.0 method) using 15 groundwater samples. For 15 groundwater samples, the average efficiencies of the GPC and LSC method were 7~11% and 90%, respectively. The average precisions of the GPC and LSC method were 16.16% and 6.00%, respectively. Also, The average standard deviations for 15 samples were 7.38 pCi/L and 2.95 pCi/L, respectively. The determination coefficient of the tested results by two methods was 0.9948. As a result, the LSC method tested in this study was applicable for the screening of the gross alpha and showed the advantages in the gross alpha measurement due to the simple measurement procedures.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.194-203
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• 2021

Background: Surface soil radiation monitoring around nuclear facilities is important to classify and characterize the contaminated areas. A scanning and direct measurement technique can survey the sites rapidly before starting sampling analysis. Materials and Methods: Regarding this, we test and suggest a measurement technique for gross alpha/beta and ⁹⁰Sr activities in surface soil based on a mobile ZnS(Ag)/PVT (polyvinyltoluene) array and a handheld PVT rod, respectively. To detect ⁹⁰Sr selectively in soil mixed with naturally occurring radioactive materials, chosen energy channel counts from the multichannel analyzers were used instead of whole channel counts. Soil samples contaminated with exempt liquid ⁹⁰Sr with 1 Bq·g^-1, 3 Bq·g^-1, and 10 Bq·g^-1 were prepared and hardened by flocculation. Results and Discussion: The mobile ZnS(Ag)/PVT array could discriminate gross alpha, gross beta, and gamma radiation by the different pulse-shaped signal features of each sensor material. If the array is deployed on a vehicle, the scan minimum detectable concentration (MDC) range will be about 0.11-0.17 Bq·g^-1 at 18 km·h^-1 speed, highly sensitive to actual sites. The handheld PVT rod with 12 mm (Φ) × 20 mm (H) size can directly measure ⁹⁰Sr selectively if channels on which energies are from 1,470 and 2,279 keV are gated, minimizing crossdetection of other radionuclides. These methods were verified by measuring soil samples fabricated with homogeneous ⁹⁰Sr concentrations, showing static MDC of 2.16 Bq·g^-1 at a measurement time of 300 seconds. Conclusion: Based on the results, comprehensive procedures using these detectors are suggested to optimize soil sites survey.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.1925-1931
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• 2024

The study conducted in the northwest region of Jordan aimed to assess the levels of natural radioactivity in soil and olive mill pomace (OMP) samples. The researchers used Nal (TI) gamma-ray spectrometry to measure the activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs in the samples. The average activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs in the soil samples were found to be 18.624 ± 5.82, 12.276 ± 5.728, 518.33 ± 212.57, and 0.140 ± 0.09 (Bq, kg^-1), respectively. In the OMP samples, the average activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were 7.272 ± 4.386, 3.454 ± 1.503, and 169.997 ± 81.873 (Bq kg^-1), respectively, and no ¹³⁷Cs was detected. The study also investigated fundamental parameters associated with radon, specifically the radon emanation coefficient (Rn_EC) and radon mass exhalation rate (E_x). The Rn_EC values ranged from 0.621 to 0.78 (Bq kg^-1), with an average value of 0.71 ± 0.06 (Bq kg^-1). The estimated E_x from the soil samples ranged from 65.83 to 124.86 (mBq kg^-1h^-1), with an average value of 99.74 ± 21.73 (mBq kg^-1h^-1). Regarding radiological hazards, the study examined various parameters, including radium equivalent activity, external and internal hazard indices, gamma and alpha indices, absorbed gamma dose rate, and excess lifetime cancer risk. All of these assessed values were found to be below the worldwide recommended limits for radiological safety. Additionally, the study analyzed the concentrations of gross alpha and gross beta radioactivities in soil and OMP samples. The soil samples had an average gross alpha activity of 4.642 ± 1.04 (Bq kg^-1) and an average gross beta activity of 48.13 ± 14.50 (Bq kg^-1). The OMP samples showed an average gross alpha activity of 0.32 ± 0.27 (Bq kg^-1) and an average gross beta activity of 59.19 ± 12.94 (Bq kg^-1). Overall, the obtained results are crucial for evaluating the radiological risks associated with natural radioactivity in the northwest region of Jordan. The findings establish baseline data for comparison and reference for radioactivity levels in the environment.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2007

[ $\alpha$ ]-Terpinene has been known as a repellent against the mosquito Culex pipiens pallens Coquillett based on a human forearm bioassay. $\alpha$-Terpinene showed significantly greater repellency than a commercial formulation, N, N-diethyl-m-methylbenzamide (deet). In this study, skin and eye sensitivity of $\alpha$-terpinene (2%) was examined with bioassays using white New Zealand rabbits. There were somewhat gross and histological changes observed in these treatments. Eye irritancy assays examined gross changes to cornea, iris and conjuctiva, and histological changes to smear of ocular discharge and eye tissue. Treated rabbits were divided into two cohorts, a saline washed cohort (W) or a non-washed cohort (NW). Opacity of cornea and redness, chemosis and discharge of conjuctiva were observed in both cohorts, but disappeared within 4 and 10 days in W and NW, respectively. Main components of ocular discharges were fibrin, epithelial or epitheloid cells, lymphoid cells, erythrocytes and granulocytes. These abnormal cellular components disappeared within 4 days and 10 days in W and NW, respectively. No permanent histological differences were observed between the two cohorts. However, severe irritation was determined as 57.2 of I.I.O.I value on the first day after treatment. These findings indicate a spray-type solution containing 2% $\alpha$-terpinene may serve as an alternative mosquito repellent and further studies need to reduce the eye irritation with formulation changes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.195-196
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• 2019

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.226-230
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• 2012

The gross alpha analysis of nasal smear samples for the radiation emergency and the additional follow-up steps were established. Cotton swab sticks using in local hospitals for nasal smear in Korea were used for the verification. The measurement results of standard samples spiked with certified reference source were well agreed within ${\pm}20%$ compared with reference values. The clearance ratio of smear samples conducted with wet smear condition showed higher value. To eliminate the quenching effect of liquid scintillation samples, dry of smear samples should be followed up before counting samples. Based on the measurement results, medical decision levels and internal dose assessment were established for the victims in the beginning of radiation emergency.