D. Mrđa

Methods of radon measurement

Several important international scientific organizations have designated radon as a carcinogenic and serious health problem. As a chemically inert gas, it is easily released from soil, building materials, and water, to emanate to the atmosphere. Since 1992, Laboratory for Nuclear Physics of the Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences in Novi Sad has been involved in measurements of radon concentration in air, using several different techniques. Last year, systematic radon measurements in drinking waters began, too. The work presented here gives a survey and discussion of the results of the both series of measurements.

Improvement of measuring methods and instrumentation concerning 222Rn determination in drinking waters – RAD7 and LSC technique comparison

A procedure for the determination of (222)Rn in environmental water samples using liquid scintillation counting (LSC) was applied and optimized. A minimum detectable activity of 0.029Bql(-1) in a 20ml glass vial (10ml water sample mixed with 10ml of liquid scintillation cocktail) has been achieved during 300min of measurement time. The procedure was compared with RAD7 radon detector measurements. (226)Ra content in the water was determined by gamma-ray spectroscopy. Applications to drinking waters collected from public drinking fountains in the Vojvodina (Serbia) are presented with annual effective dose for ingestion and inhalation for adults calculated.

Radioactivity in the indoor building environment in Serbia

Measurement of activity concentrations of radionuclides in building materials and radon in indoor space is important in the assessment of population exposures, as most individuals spend 80 % of their time indoors. This paper presents the results of activity concentration measurements of: radon emanated from the soil, radionuclides (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in the soil, indoor radon in the city of Novi Sad (the capital city of Vojvodina) using charcoal canisters and indoor radon in the Vojvodina region using alpha-track detectors and the radioactivity of some building materials. Influences of floor level, space under the rooms, boarding, and the heating system on indoor radon accumulation in the Vojvodina province, situated in the northern part of Serbia, are also presented in this paper. The total effective dose and the activity concentration index are calculated applying the dose criteria recommended by the European Union for building materials.

Radon in thermal waters in south-east part of Serbia.

There are several occurrences of thermal waters in the south-eastern part of Serbia, which are originating from igneous and metamorphic rocks. These waters are mainly used in balneology, but some of them are used for drinking purposes and in water supply to heat buildings, for greenhouses and to irrigate land. In this region, there is the well-known Niška banja spa, which has elevated levels of radon. Water samples were examined from other spas in the south-eastern part of Serbia in order to determine radon activity concentration. A detailed discussion of a possible correlation between determined radon activity concentration and the geology of this area is also given.

Low Level Gamma Spectroscopy Measurements of Radium and Cesium in Lucerne (Medicago Sativa)

Nineteen years after Chernobyl nuclear accident, activity concentration of 137Cs still could be detected in food and soil samples in Central and Eastern Europe. In this paper radiation levels of radium and cesium in Lucerne will be presented. It is a perennial plant with a deep root system and it is widely grown throughout the world as forage for cattle. The samples of Lucerne were taken from twelve different locations in Vojvodina in the summer period July–September 2004. The samples were specially dried on the air and after that ground, powdered and mineralized by method of dry burning on the temperature of 450°C. Gamma spectrometry measurements of the ash were performed by means of actively shielded germanium detector with maximal background reduction. For cesium 137Cs 10 mBq/kg order of magnitude detection limits were achieved.

RADIOLOGICAL IMPACTS ASSESSMENT FOR WORKERS IN CERAMIC INDUSTRY IN SERBIA

Studies have been carried out to determine the natural radioactivity in some materials used in ceramic industry (zircon, zirkosil, Zircobit MO/S, zircon silicate, zirklonil frit, hematite, bentonite, wollastonite, raw kaolin, kaolinized granite, sileks ball, feldspar, pigment, white base serigraphic, engobe) and their associated radiation hazard. The external hazard index, Hex, values, radium equivalent activity, Raeq, total absorbed dose rates, D and annual effective dose, De were derived for all measured materials and compared with the recommended values to assess the external radiation hazards to workers who worked in ceramic industries in Serbia.