Supitcha Chanyotha

Mitigation of the effective dose of radon decay products through the use of an air cleaner in a dwelling in Okinawa, Japan

Field measurements were conducted to assess the effects of an air cleaner on radon mitigation in a dwelling with a high radon concentration in Okinawa, Japan. The measurements included indoor radon concentration, individual radon progeny concentration, equilibrium equivalent concentration of radon (EECRn), unattached fraction, and size distribution of aerosol-attached radon progeny. These measurements were conducted in a 74 m(3) room with/without the use of an air cleaner. The results showed that the mean radon concentration during the measurement was quite high (301 Bq m(-3)). The operation of air cleaner decreased the radon progeny activity concentration, EECRn and equilibrium factor by 33%, 57% and 71%, respectively, whereas the unattached fraction increased by 174%. In addition, the activity concentration of attached radon progeny in the accumulation mode (50-2000 nm) was obviously deceased by 42%, when the air cleaner was operated. According to dosimetric calculations, the operation of air cleaner reduced the effective dose due to radon progeny by about 50%.

Assessing diffusive fluxes and pore water radon activities via a single automated experiment

We present a laboratory system to evaluate radon flux and pore water radon via automated sediment equilibration experiments. The setup includes a measured mass of sediment and water inside a gas-tight reaction flask connected in a closed loop to a radon-in-air analyzer. Diffusive fluxes are determined either from the near-linear slope of the activity versus time over the first several hours or by running the experiment longer to estimate the equilibrium concentration via a curve fitting approach. By combining the equilibrium activity with relevant physical parameters, one can also estimate the pore water concentrations.

Radiological risk assessment of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K in Thailand coastal sediments at selected areas proposed for nuclear power plant sites

This paper reports on the distribution of three natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K in marine sediments along the Gulf of Thailand to establish baseline data for future environmental monitoring. Sediments were collected from five potential sites selected for nuclear and thermal power plants commission as well as heavy industry development. Concentration of uranium and thorium were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) as well as activity of 238U series (226Ra), 232Th series (228Ac) and 40K by γ-spectroscopy. The radiation hazard parameters were calculated based on United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). Variation in concentration of natural radionuclides at different sampling areas could be attributed to organic matter content and sediment particle size. The radiological health hazards to the people living nearby sampling areas and the people who handle the marine sediments are within limits recommended by UNSCEAR.

Comparative dosimetry of radon and thoron

There is a well-known discrepancy between dosimetrically derived dose conversion factor (DCF) and epidemiologically derived DCF for radon. As the latter DCFs, International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends a value of ∼6.4 nSv (Bq h m(-3))(-1) and 7.9 nSv (Bq h m(-3))(-1) for radon decay products (RnDP) in dwellings and workplaces, respectively. On the other hand, the dosimetric calculations based on the ICRP-66 respiratory tract model derived a DCF of 13 nSv (Bq h m(-3))(-1) and 17 nSv (Bq h m(-3))(-1) for RnDP in dwellings and workplaces, respectively, and 83 nSv (Bq h m(-3))(-1) for thoron decay products (TnDP) in dwellings. In addition, the DCFs derived from both approaches and UNSCEAR were applied to comparative dosimetry for two thoron-enhanced areas (cave dwellings in China and dwellings at a spa town in Japan), where the equilibrium equivalent concentration of radon and equilibrium equivalent concentration of thoron have been measured. In the case of the spa town dwellings, the dose from TnDP was larger than the dose from RnDP.

A comparative study of thorium activity in NORM and high background radiation area

Several industrial processes are known to enrich naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). To assess such processes with respect to their radiological relevance, characteristic parameters describing this enrichment will lead to interesting information useful to UNSCEAR. In case of mineral treatment plants, the high temperatures used in smelting and refining processes lead to high concentrations of (238)U and (232)Th. Also due to thermal power combustion, concentration of U and Th in the fly ash increases manifold. NORM samples were collected from a Thailand mineral treatment plant and Philippine coal-fired thermal power plants for investigation. Some studies are initiated from a high background radiation area near Gopalpur of Orissa state in India. These NORM samples were analysed by gamma-ray spectrometry as well as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The radioactivity in case of Orissa soil samples is found to be mainly contributed from thorium. This study attempts to evaluate levels of thorium activity in NORM samples.

Natural radionuclide concentrations in processed materials from thai mineral industries

The naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) distributed in products, by-products and waste produced from Thai mineral industries were investigated. Samples were analysed for radioactivity concentrations of two principal NORM isotopes: (226)Ra and (228)Ra. The enrichment of NORM was found to occur during the treatment process of some minerals. The highest activity of (226)Ra (7 × 10(7) Bq kg(-1)) was in the scale from tantalum processing. The radium concentration in the discarded by-product material from metal ore dressing was also enriched by 3-10 times. Phosphogypsum, a waste produced from the production of phosphate fertilisers, contained 700 times the level of (226)Ra concentration found in phosphate ore. Hence, these residues were also sources of exposure to workers and the public, which needed to be controlled.

Determination of radon in natural gas pipelines

The aim of this study was to develop the methodology for collection and analysis of radon from a natural gas pipeline. Activated charcoal was used as collection media. Two methods were designed for collecting radon gas samples from onshore and offshore production sites. For onshore sites a continuous gas sampling method from the pipeline was developed. In case of offshore sites, a batch sampling method was designed. Gamma spectroscopy was utilized to determine the concentration of radon by analysis of radon daughters on the charcoal.

Baseline data of naturally occurring radionuclides in some native vegetables and fruits in Southern Thailand

The aim of this study was to provide the baseline data information on natural radioactivities in vegetables and fruits produced and consumed locally in the areas of potential nuclear power plant sites in Thailand. Four provinces (Prajuab-Kirikhan, Chumphon, Surat-Thani and Nakhon-Si-thammarat) were selected for collection of native vegetables and fruits samples, together with their corresponding soils. The activities of (226)Ra, (228)Ra, (40)K and (210)Po were determined in all these samples. The obtained results for (226)Ra, (228)Ra, (40)K and (210)Po for all vegetable and fruit samples were in the range of 1-34, 1-108, 32-4392 and 0.2-47 Bq kg(-1), respectively, which were much lower than those obtained for their corresponding soils.

A simple laboratory system for diffusive radon flux measurements

This study designed a simple, custom-made system to estimate the diffusive radon flux from solid materials (e.g., sediments, soils, building materials). Determination of the radon flux is based on the measurement of the radon activity in the air over time inside a closed loop system. For sediments, the system consists of wet sediment and water inside a gas-tight flask connected in a closed loop to a drying system and a radon analyzer (Durridge RAD7). The flux is determined based on an initial slope method in which the slope of radon activities vs. time plot during the first 12 h is evaluated. The slope is then multiplied by the total air volume and divided by the exposed sediment area to obtain the radon flux. The minimal thickness or mass of wet sediment should be about 4 cm or (equivalent to approximately 150 g of wet sediment) to obtain a reliable radon diffusive flux in this study.

Optimizing laboratory-based radon flux measurements for sediments.

Radon flux via diffusion from sediments and other materials may be determined in the laboratory by circulating air through the sample and a radon detector in a closed loop. However, this approach is complicated by the necessity of having to determine the total air volume in the system and accounting for any small air leaks that can arise if using extended measurement periods. We designed a simple open-loop configuration that includes a measured mass of wet sediment and water inside a gas-tight reaction flask connected to a drying system and a radon-in-air analyzer. Ambient air flows through two charcoal columns before entering the reaction vessel to eliminate incoming radon. After traveling through the reaction flask, the air passes the drier and the radon analyzer and is then vented. After some time, the radon activity will reach a steady state depending upon the airflow rate. With this approach, the radon flux via diffusion is simply the product of the steady-state radon activity (Bq/m(3)) multiplied by the airflow rate (mL/min). We demonstrated that this setup could produce good results for materials that produce relatively high radon fluxes. We also show that a modified closed system approach, including radon removal of the incoming air by charcoal filtration in a bypass, can produce very good results including samples with very low emission rates.