• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.677-688
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study was to predict occurrence of earthquakes in Korea by measuring the concentration of radon radioactivity in the air and in the underground water. Two monitoring systems of radon concentration detection in the air were installed in Seoul, East Coast area, whereas of radon concentration in the underground water in Kyungju area during December, 1999 to June, 2001. The distribution of radon concentration in the air in Seoul is as follows Winter(10.10 $\pm$ 2.81 Bq/㎥), autumn(8.41 $\pm$ 1.35 Bq/㎥), summer(5.83 $\pm$ 0.05 Bq/㎥) and spring (5.34 $\pm$ 0.44 Bq/㎥), whereas the distribution of radon in the air in the East Coast area showed some difference as follows : autumn (14.08 $\pm$ 5.75 Bq/㎥), Summer (12.04 $\pm$ 0.53 Bq/㎥), Winter (12.02 $\pm$ 1.40 Bq/㎥) and spring (8.93 $\pm$ 0.91 Bq/㎥). In the meanwhile, the distribution of radon in the water is as follows : spring (123.59 $\pm$ 16.36count/10min), Winter (93.95 $\pm$ 79.69counter/10min), autumn (68.96 $\pm$ 37.53counter/10min) and spring (34.45 $\pm$ 9.69counter/10min). The daily range of the density of radon concentration in Seoul and East Coast area was between 5.51 Bq/㎥ - 9.44 Bq/㎥, 7.15 Bq/㎥ - 15.27 Bq/㎥, respectively. Correlation of the distributions of radon concentrations in the air and in underground water with earthquake showed considerable variations of radon concentration before the occurrence of the earthquake. The results suggested that radon radioactivity seemed to be helpful for the prediction of the occurrence of earthquake.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
• /
• 2003.11a
• /
• pp.491-496
• /
• 2003

In Korea, the dose limits to the public were reduced according to ICRP-60 recommendations. The secondary quantities, Effluent Concentration Limits (ECLs) were derived and enacted to Korean Atomic Laws based on ICRP-60 recommendations. The Korea atomic laws require assurance that radioactive materials within gaseous effluents do not exceed dose limits and ECLs. This simply means that any effluent that would possibly contain radioactivity must be monitored. There are various methods to monitor the radioactivity of effluent monitor to satisfy the dose limits and the ECLs for gaseous effluents. The many factors (safety margin) should be considered in determining of the setpoint of effluent monitor, following these limits. In this study, we studied the determination method of alarm setpoint for gaseous effluent Radiation Monitoring Systems using dose factors considered the main pathway of radionuclides to compare the preceding determination method of alarm setpoint for gaseous effluent RMSs using dose assessment program considered all the practicable pathways of radionuclides.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.31-36
• /
• 2020

To ensure food safety of berries from radioactive contamination, radioactivity monitoring was conducted with a total 258 samples of the berries and processed berry products distributed in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, from 2016 to 2018. The concentration of artificial radionuclides, ¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs, was analyzed using gamma-ray spectrometry. ¹³¹I and ¹³⁴Cs were not detected above the MDA (Minimum Detectable Activity) value from any of the samples. However, the range of radioactivity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs was 0.69-808.90 Bq/kg in 39 cases of berries. ¹³⁷Cs was detected at 0.70-3.29 Bq/kg from 6 cases of domestic berries, which were manufactured from imported raw materials. Among 33 cases of imported berries, ¹³⁷Cs was detected at 0.69-808.90 Bq/kg. The concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs in 1 case of blueberry powder product (808.90 Bq/kg) and 2 cases of lingonberry powder products (103.93, 188.46 Bq/kg) exceed domestic maximum radioactivity limits, and these were detected in the berries from Poland. These results suggest that monitoring system for imported berries and processed berry products should be continuously intensified to secure food safety.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 1997.10a
• /
• pp.1371-1374
• /
• 1997

We had developed the on-line environmental monitoring system which has installed around Kori Nuclear Power Plants and will be taken the place of the existing system. The system consists of a main computer and 11 sets of radiation monitoring post equipments. Nal(Tl) scintillation detectro was adopted in addition to ion-chamber detector and implemented with DCU(Dose Conversion Unit) and SCA(Single Channel Analyzer). Compared with the existing system, it has revised feature in the radiation measurements which are detection of artificial radioactivity and 2-ways of the radiatiion detectors. The field test trsults show that the developed radiation detecting equipments can measure environmental radiation withn 5.0% of the theoretical value.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.1626-1632
• /
• 2019

Monitoring of environmental radioactivity is essential for ensuring the radiological safety of residents who live near nuclear power plants. Ulsan, South Korea, is surrounded by 16 nuclear power plants, the highest density in the country. In addition, the city contains facilities for conducting radiological nondestructive testing and using radioisotopes for medical purposes. It makes the confirmation of radiological safety particularly necessary. In this study, sampling points were selected based on regional characteristics, and surface water samples were pretreated and analyzed for gross beta and gamma radiation levels. In addition, the distribution of the city's gamma dose rate was determined using a mobile monitoring system and distribution visualization program. The results showed that there is no effect on the gross beta and gamma nuclides of artificial radionuclides, and the gamma dose rate of the entire region did not exceed the environmental radiation level in South Korea overall, confirming the radiological safety of the city.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.543-558
• /
• 2023

Currently, Japan is undertaking a nationwide project to measure and map radioactive contamination around Fukushima, as part of the efforts to restore normalcy following the nuclear accident. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) manages the Fukushima Environmental Safety Center, located approximately 20 km north of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Minamisōma City, Fukushima Prefecture. In collaboration with the JAEA, this study involved conducting comparison experiments and analyses with radiation detectors in high radiation environments, a challenging task in Korean environments. Environmental radiation surveys were conducted using three types of detectors: CZT, NaI(Tl), and LaBr₃(Ce), across two contaminated areas. Dose rate values were converted using dose rate conversion factors for each detector type, and dose rate maps were subsequently created and compared. The detectors yielded similar results, demonstrating their feasibility and reliability in high radiation environments. The findings of this study are expected to be a crucial reference for enhancing the verification and supplementation of procedures and methods in future radiation measurements and mobile surveys in high-radiation environments, using these three types of radiation instruments.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.10 no.E
• /
• pp.299-302
• /
• 1994

At a nuclear power plant, environmental radioactivity monitoring is routine work for the radiation safety management For the environmental monitoring of tritium($^3$H) activity in water sampled liquid scintillation counting( LSC) method is applied to measure low- energy beta activity from tritium in the samples. The $^3$H activity is measured using the BECKMAN 5801 system at the KRISS( Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science) for evaluating the lower limits of detection( LLD) of $^3$H measurement and the measuring capability of low-level $^3$H activity at four nuclear Power Plant sites. The LSC systems used for low-level $^3$H activity measurements at the nuclear Power Plants are confirmed to satisfy throughout an intercomparison study under the experimental arrangements by the KRISS.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.488-494
• /
• 2018

To ensure food-safety of mushrooms from radioactive contamination, edible mushroom samples distributed in Gyeonggi province in Korea were collected according to species and country of origin. A total of 284 mushrooms, belonging to 10 species (Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii, Agaricus bisporus, Flammulina velutipes, Phellinus linteus, Inonotus Obliquus (Chaga), Auricularia auricula-judae, Ganoderma lucidum and Tricholoma matsutake) were subjected to radioactivity testing. The concentration of artificial radionuclides, 131I, 134Cs, and 137Cs, was analyzed using gamma-ray spectrometry. 131I and 134Cs were not detected more than MDA value from all samples. Among 204 domestic mushrooms, however, 137Cs were detected in 0.21~2.58 Bq/kg from six cases (3 Lentinula edodes, 1 Ganoderma lucidum and 2 Tricholoma matsutake), whereas 137Cs were detected in 0.21~53.79 Bq/kg from 38 cases (22 Inonotus Obliquus(Chaga), 14 Phellinus linteus, 1 Lentinula edodes and 1 Tricholoma matsutake) among 80 imported mushrooms. In addition, average concentration of 137Cs in 10 Chaga mushroom-processed products was more than twice as much as dried Chaga mushroom, and maximum concentration was 123.79 Bq/kg. Results suggest that radioactivity monitoring system for imported mushrooms and mushroom-processed products should be continuously intensified to secure food-safety in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.183-187
• /
• 2004

Radioactivity in foodstuffs was surveyed for reference in amending regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs. Most domestic and imported (?) foodstuffs were sampled, some domestic items collected around nuclear power plants to compare site-specific contamination. The collected samples were dried and ashed. Radioactivity in foodstuffs was measured using HPGe gamma spectrometer, Cs-137 activity ranged from 0.025-0.053, 0.045-0.500, 0.062-0.105, 0.025-1.151, 0.021-0.145 and 0.046-0.155 Bq/kg-fresh in cereals, pulses, mot vegetables (potato), ginsengs, meat, and marine products, respectively, with imported dried ginseng showing the highest radioactivity, Results reveal radioactivity in foodstuffs collected in 2002 is far below the maximum permitted levels of 370 Bq/kg. No significant differences were observed in radioactivity among sampling sites and between domestic and imported foodstuffs.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.133-140
• /
• 2016

Backgrounds: The accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), March 2011, caused serious radioactive contamination over wide area in east Japan. Therefore, it is important to know the effect of the accident and the status of NPP. Materials and Methods: This paper provides a review on the status of radiation dose and radioactive contamination caused by the accident on the basis of publicized information. Results and Discussion: Monitoring of radiation dose and exposure dose of residents has been conducted extensively by the governments and various organizations. The effective dose of general residents due to the accident proved to be less than a mSv both for external and internal dose. The equivalent committed dose of thyroid was evaluated to be a few mSv in mean value and less than 50 mSv even for children. Monitoring of radioactivity concentration has been carried out on food ingredients, milk and tap water, and actual meal. These studies indicated the percentage of foods above the regulation standard was over 10% in 2011 but decreasing steadily with time. The internal dose due to foods proved to be tens of ${\mu}Sv$ and much less than that due to natural $^{40}K$ even in the Fukushima area and decreasing steadily, although high level concentration is still observed in wild plants, wild mushrooms, animals and some kind of fishes. Conclusion: According to extensive studies, not only the effect of the accident but also the pathway and countermeasures against radioactive contamination have been revealed, and they are applied very effectively for restoration of environment and reconstruction of the area.