Alicja Boryło

Inhalation of 210Po and 210Pb from cigarette smoking in Poland

The carcinogenic etfect of 210Po and 210Pb with respect to lung cancer is an important problem in many countries with very high cigarette consumption. Poland has one of the highest consumptions of cigarettes in the world. The results of 210Po determination on the 14 most frequently smoked brands of cigarettes which constitute over 70% of the total cigarette consumption in Poland are presented and discussed. Moreover, the polonium content in cigarette smoke was estimated on the basis of its activity in fresh tobaccos, ash, fresh filters and post-smoking filters. The annual effective doses were calculated on the basis of 210Po and 210Pb inhalation with the cigarette smoke. The results of this work indicate that Polish smokers who smoke one pack (20 cigarettes) per day inhale from 20 to 215 mBq of 210Po and 210Pb each. The mean values of the annual effective dose for smokers were estimated to be 35 and 70 microSv from 210Po and 210Pb, respectively. For persons who smoke two packs of cigarettes with higher radionuclide concentrations, the effective dose is much higher (471 microSv yr(-1)) in comparison with the intake in diet. Therefore, cigarettes and the absorption through the respiratory system are the main sources and the principal pathway of 210Po and 210Pb intake of smokers in Poland.

Radionuclides of 210Po, 234U and 238U in drinking bottled mineral water in Poland

A study of the radioactive content of drinking mineral bottled water in Poland was carried out. 210Po,238U and 234U activity concentrations were determined by alpha-spectrometry with low-level-activity silicon detectors. The results revealed that the mean concentration of 210Po,238U and 234U in analyzed water sample were 1.28, 0.80 and 0.80 mBq.dm-3, respectively. The effective doses due to the polonium and uranium emissions were calculated for bottled drinking water.

234U and 238U isotopes in water and sediments of the southern Baltic

The aim of this work was to determine the concentration of 234U and 238U and calculate the values of the 234U/238U activity ratio in waters and sediments from the various regions of the southern Baltic Sea: Gdańsk Deep, Słupsk Narrow and Bornholm Deep. The concentration of uranium in analysed sediments from southern Baltic increase with core depth to what probably is connected with diffusion from sediments to water through interstitial water, where uranium concentration is much higher than in bottom water. The highest concentrations of uranium were observed in sediments of Słupsk Narrow (0.66-7.11 mg kg(-1) d.w.) and Słupsk Bank (0.61-6.93 mg kg(-1) d.w.), the lowest in sediments from Bornholm Deep (0.54-3.77 mg kg(-1) d.w.). The 234U/238U activity ratio results indicated that the sedimentation of terrigenic material and Vistula River transport are the general sources of uranium in the southern Baltic sediments. The value of 234U/238U activity ratio in sediments from reduction areas from southern Baltic (Gdańsk Deep and Bornholm Deep) indicated that reduction process of U(VI) to U(IV) and removing of anthropogenic uranium from seawater to sediments constitutes a small part only in Gdańsk Deep.

Activity Disequilibrium between 234U and 238U Isotopes in Southern Baltic

The aim of the work was to determine the concentration of 234U and 238U and calculate the values of the 234U/238U activity ratio in samples of living organisms, bottom water, surface and interstitial water and also sediments from the various regions of southern Baltic Sea. The knowledge of 234U/238U activity ratio in ecosystem allows getting know about the mechanisms and processes of uranium transport and origin.The activities of the analyzed uranium radionuclides in samples were measured using alpha spectrometry. The results of researches revealed diversified concentrations of uranium in the sediments of the southern Baltic Sea (sea and coastal waters) and increase of uranium with sediment depth, suggesting the diffusion of uranium from sediments to water through interstitial water and diagenesis processes in sediment material. The nuclides of uranium 234U and 238U were radioactive state equilibrium in most of the sediments. The values of the 234U/238U activity ratio oscillate around one. In bottom, surface, interstitial water and living organisms mean values of the 234U/238U activity ratio are between 1.12 and 1.15. Higher uranium concentration was observed in samples of sediments and seawater after flood in 1997 and torrential rainfalls in 2000–2001. River waters are characterized by higher 234U/238U activity ratio. The values of the 234U/238U activity ratio equal 1.27 in sediments and 1.34–1.38 in seawater indicate the influence of fresh waters.

Bioaccumulation and distribution of plutonium in fish from Gdansk Bay

In this paper, the results of 238Pu and 239 + 240Pu determinations in four representative species of Baltic fish collected in Gdansk Bay; flounder, herring, cod and sprat, are presented and discussed. The plutonium isotopes are amongst the more radiotoxic nuclides. In the marine environment, the highest concentrations of plutonium are found in the sediments, but the complex biogeochemical cycle of the element means that it is also found in all other compartments. The activities of the fish samples were measured using alpha spectrometry and the concentrations of plutonium 238Pu and 239 + 240Pu were estimated for particular organs and tissues and the whole body. The 239 + 240Pu concentrations for fish species were: flounder 0.94 mBq kg-1 w.w., herring 2.22 mBq kg-1 w.w., cod 2.35 mBq kg-1 w.w. and sprat 0.33 mBq kg-1 w.w. On the basis of the 238Pu/239 + 240Pu activity ratio in the organs and tissues, the proportion of Chernobyl-derived plutonium in the Baltic Sea was calculated. The lowest values of Chernobyl plutonium were accumulated in flounder stomach, herring skin, cod intestine, the highest in cod gills and skin.

The Radionuclides 234U, 238U and 210Po in Drinking Water in Gdańsk Agglomeration (Poland)

Consumption of natural water (public and bottled) is very important for people from a radiological point of view. Uranium and polonium alpha-emitters belong to the most radiotoxic elements for human. In the paper, a study of the radioactive content of drinking (public) water in Gdańsk agglomeration (Poland) was carried out. 238U, 234U and 210Po activity concentrations were determined by alpha-spectrometry with low-level-activity silicon detectors. The results revealed that the mean concentration of 238U, 234U and 210Po in analyzed water sample were 2.76, 2.86 and 0.48 mBq·dm−3, respectively. Finally, effective does due to uranium and polonium emissions were calculated for drinking water samples for the inhabitants of the agglomeration.

Bioaccumulation of polonium (210Po) and uranium (234U,238U) in plants around phosphogypsum waste heap in Wiślinka (northern Poland)

Abstract In the study the activities of polonium 210Po and uranium 234U, 238U in plants, collected near phosphogypsum waste heap in Wiślinka (northern Poland), were determined by using the alpha spectrometry. The obtained results revealed that the concentrations of 210Po, 234U, and 238U in the analyzed plants were differentiated. In the analyzed flora organisms the highest amounts of polonium and uranium were found in ruderal plant samples as well as willow samples (Salix viminalis) from protection zone of phosphogypsum waste heap. The concentrations of 210Po, 234U and 238U in the analyzed plants were higher in roots than in green parts of plants. The higher concentrations of 210Po and 238U radionuclides were estimated for hydrophyte (common sedge Carex nigra Reichard), the favourite habitat of which is particularly wet meadow and for plants co llected in the vicinity of phosphogypsum waste heap. The major source of polonium and uranium in analyzed plants is root system. The values of 234U/ 238U activity ratio in all analyzed plants are closed to one, what indicated that source of uranium in analyzed plants is phoosphogypsum. The highest uranium and polonium concentrations were characterized for plants, which are covered with tomentose. The comparability polonium and uranium contents were confirmed in edible plants, but higher accumulation was determined in ripe species than immature species of vegetables. The higher polonium and uranium concentrations were noticed in green parts of plant, the lower in roots. Polonium concentration in cultivated plants samples was not species diverse. Therefore, the significant source of polonium and uranium in analyzed plants is wet and dry atmospheric falls gathering the soil and air dust from phosphogypsum waste dump. The maximum 210Po and 238U radionuclides concentrations were found in green parts of red beet (Beta vulgaris esculenta), the minimum in garden radish (Raphanus radicula). Thats interesting too, that both species have hypocotyls tubers, but tuber of red beet is large than garden radish. In our opinion these differences may be connected with turgidity because leaves and root of radish garden were withered.

Determination of uranium isotopes in environmental samples

The determination of isotopes of uranium by alpha spectrometry in different environmental components (sediments, soil, water, plants and phosphogypsum) is presented and discussed in this paper. The alpha spectrometry is a very convenient and good technique for activity concentration of natural uranium isotopes (234U, 235U, 238U) in environmental samples and provides the most accurate determination of isotopic activity ratios between 234U and 238U. The analysis were provided information about possible sources of high concentrations of uranium in the examined sites determined by anthropogenic sources. The calculation of values 234U/238U in all analyzed samples was applied to identifying natural or anthropogenic uranium origin. Activity concentration of uranium isotopes in analyzed environmental samples shows that measurement of uranium levels is of great importance for environmental and safety assessment especially in contaminated areas (phosphogypsum waste heap).

Intake of 210Po, 234U and 238U radionuclides with beer in Poland

Abstract238U, 234U and 210Po activity concentrations were determined in beer in Poland by alpha-spectrometry with low-level activity silicon detectors. The results revealed that the mean concentrations of 238U, 234U and 210Po in the analyzed beer samples were 4.63, 4.11 and 4.94 mBq·dm−3, respectively, the highest in Tyskie (5.71 for 210Po, 5.06 for 234U and 6.11 for 238U) and the lowest in Lech (2.49 for 210Po). The effective radiation dose due to uranium and polonium ingestions by beer was calculated and were compared to the effective radiation dose from drinking water.

Uranium (234U, 235U and 238U) contamination of the environment surrounding phosphogypsum waste heap in Wiślinka (northern Poland)

The aim of this work was to determine the uranium concentration ((234)U, (235)U and (238)U) and values of the activity ratio (234)U/(238)U in soil samples collected near phosphogypsum waste heap in Wiślinka (northern Poland). On the basis of the studies it was found that the values of the (234)U/(238)U activity ratio in the analyzed soils collected in the vicinity of phosphogypsum dump in Wiślinka are in most cases close to one and indicate the phosphogypsum origin of the analyzed nuclides. The obtained results of uranium concentrations are however much lower than in previous years before closing of the phosphogypsum stockpile. After this process and covering the phosphogypsum stockpile in Wiślinka with sewage sludge, phosphogypsum particles are successfully immobilized. In the light of the results the use of phosphate fertilizers seems to be a major problem. Prolonged and heavy rains can cause leaching accumulated uranium isotopes in the phosphogypsum stockpile, which will be washed into the Martwa Wisła and on the fields in the immediate vicinity of this storage.