Terrestrial radionuclides
An example from the U238 family
Ra226
Rn222
Po218
Pb214
Bi214
α
γ
α
α
β
β
γ
γ
Exposure to ionizing radiation
Our body is penetrated each hour
approximately by:
500 000 particles of
cosmic origin
30 000 α- and β-particles from the
radon daughters deposited in the
respiratory tract
Εξωτερική
έκθεση
External exposure
Εσωτερική
έκθεση
Internal
exposure
200 000 000 γ-quanta
from the terrestrial
radionuclides
15 000 000 β-particles from the
K40 in our tissues
Average population doses through various pathways
Estimates for USA, in μSv
3600 – total average
Sources:
2000 – radon inhalation
390 – isotopes in our body
280 – terrestrial radiation
270 – cosmic radiation
10 – cosmogenic isotopes
600 – technogenic exposure
(mainly medical exposure)
Terrestrial radionuclides
U238 Series
U238 Th234 Pa234m U234 Th230 Ra226 Rn222 Po218 Pb214 Bi214 Po214 Pb210 Bi210 Po210
Typical concentrations: 20 – 200 Bq/kg
Th232 Series
Th232 Ra228 Ac228 Th228 Ra224 Rn220 Po216 Pb212 Bi212 Po212
Typical concentrations : 20 – 200 Bq/kg
U235 Series
U235 Th231 Pa231 Ac227 Th227 Ra223 Rn219 Po215 Pb211 Bi211 Tl207
Typical concentrations : 1 – 10 Bq/kg
K40
Typical concentrations : 100 – 1000 Bq/kg
50V, 87Rb, 113Cd, 115In, 123Te, 138La, 142Ce, 144Nd, 147Sm, 152Gd, 174Hf, 176Lu, 187Re, 190Pt, 192Pt, 209Bi.
Typical concentrations : very low, radiologically insignificant.
Concentrations of terrestrial radionuclides - Greece
U238 Series
Reg. averages: 20-60 Bq/kg
Th232 Series
Reg. averages : 20-60 Bq/kg
K40
Reg. averages : 200-800 Bq/kg
Terrestrial radiation - Greece
Regional dose rate averages, nGy h-1
Natural radionuclides in air
U238 Series (Rn222 (radon) and its decay products)
Rn222 Po218 Pb214 Bi214 Po214
Typical concentrations: 30 – 200 Bq/m3 indoors
2 – 5 Bq/m3 outdoors
Th232 Series (Rn220 (thoron) and its decay products)
Rn220 Po216 Pb212 Bi212 Po212
Typical concentrations : typically 10 times lower than those of Rn222
Cosmogenic isotopes
C14, H3, Be7
10Be, 26Al, 36Cl, 80Kr, 32Si, 39Ar,
22Na, 35S, 37Ar, 33P, 32P, 38Mg, 24Na, 38S, 31Si, 18F, 39Cl, 38Cl
Natural radionuclides in marine water
Typical concentrations, Bq/m3
U238 K40 -
33
11000
H3 C14 Rb87 -
0.6
5
1100
Natural radionuclides in food
Typical concentrations, Bq/kg
Products
Banana
Brasil nuts
Carrots
Potatoes
Beer
Beef
Drinking water
Κ40
Ra226
130
210
125
125
15
110
0 - 0.5
0.04
40 - 250
0.02 - 0.07
0.04 - 0.1
0.02
0 - 0.01
Natural radioactivity of food
Total activity concentration, Bq kg-1
Product
Vegetable oil
Milk
Alcoholic drinks
Beer
Drinking water
Brazil nuts
Bananas
Tea
Pastry
Pistachios
Total
activity conc.
180 Bq kg-1
50
45
15
0.7
500
110
15
5
4.5
Natural radionuclides in human body
Typical values, Bq
Radionuclide
Total
activity
U238
Th232
K40
Ra226
C14
H3
Po210
1.1
0.11
4400
1.1
15000
23
37
Average daily
intake
0.023
0.011
100
0.08
280
1
Technologically enhanced natural radioactivity (TENR)
Radiologically important cases
Uranium mining and milling
Enhanced concentrations of U-series nuclides in areas of waste deposition
Lignite power plants
Air and soil pollution with lignite ash of enhanced natural radioactivity
Building materials
Use of lignite ash as cement component, phosphate byproducts, granites
Indoor radon
The oldest case of TENR, a major contributor to the exposure of the population
Radon spas
A questionable practice with TENR aspects
Also: Phosphate fertilizers, well water sources
Nuclear tests in the atmosphere
Number and total power per year
70
60
No / MT
50
40
30
20
10
0
40
45
50
55
60
Ετος
Year
65
70
75
80
Nuclear tests in the atmosphere
Annual and total deposition of Cs137, Bq m-2, Denmark
Ετήσια / συνολική εναπόθεση Cs137, Bq/m2
.
4000
3500
. 3000
Total deposition
2500
. 2000
. 1500
.
.
Annual deposition
1000
500
0
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
Ετος
Year
..................... Nuclear tests ..........................
^ Chernobyl
Nuclear tests in the atmosphere
Evaluation of Cs137 pollution in Europe
Nuclear tests in the atmosphere
Radioactive pollution of food, sample values, Bq/kg
Year
Country
Product
Nuclide
1957
1959
1961
1962
1963
1964-65
1985
UK
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
Finland
Milk powder
Milk
Milk
Fresh milk
Milk
Milk
Milk
137Cs
1957
1962
1885
USA
USA
USA
Milk
Fresh milk
Milk
131I
1962
1963
USA
USA
Fresh milk
Milk
90Sr
1960
1985
ΗΠΑ
Finland
Beef meat
Beef meat
137Cs
1980-85
1984
1985
Finland
Spain
Ireland
Lake fish
Fish
Fish
137Cs
137Cs
42
1–6
8 – 35
1963-67
USA, Utah
Animal foodstuff
137Cs
112
137Cs
137Cs
137Cs
137Cs
137Cs
137Cs
131I
131I
90Sr
137Cs
137Cs
Concentration
32
3
2
7
5.6
5
0.23
37
20
1.3
1.8
1.0
1.2
0.9
Nuslear tests in the atmosphere
Radioactive pollution of food, Cs137, Bq kg-1, USA, 1993
Product
Maximum
Average
Leafy vegetables
Other vegetables
Fruits
Potatoes
Pastry
Milk products
Fish
Eggs
210
38
20
11
23
48
7.6
1
21
3
3
1.4
4.3
5
1.9
0.4
Coffee
Tea
Aromatic species
24
950
580
16
47
29
Nuclear tests in the atmosphere
Monthly intake of Cs137, Bq, USA, 1993
600
Intake of Cs137, Bq/month
500
400
300
200
100
0
Dec-62
Mar-63
Jul-63
Total intake in 1993: 3300 Bq.
Oct-63
Jan-64
May-64
Related dose: 42 μSv
Aug-64
Radioactive pollution of soil
Relation between radioactive deposition and rainfall
Ραδιενεργός
εναπόθεση,
kbq/m2
m-2
kBq
deposition,
Radioactive
1000
Cs137
100
10
Zr95
1
0.1
0
5
10
15
mm
Βροχόπτωση,
Rainfall, mm
20
25
30
Radioactive pollution of food chain - Α
Air - soil pathways of radioactive pollution
Inhalation
Direct pollution
Plants
Air
Soil
Food
Animals
Source
Pollution of – and from water sources
( External radiation )
MAN
Radioactive pollution of food chain - Β
Fresh and marine water pathways of radioactive pollution
Soil pathways to man
Soil
Direct pollution
Washout, irrigation
Rivers
Fish
Plants
Lakes,
Air
Food
Sea
Fish
Pollution
source
MAN
Radioactive pollution of plants
Various paths of pollutants propagation
External pollution, foliar uptake
Evaporation
Air clearance
Radioactive deposition
Washout
Resuspension
Evaporation
Plant metabolism
Base uptake
Organic layer
Root uptake
Propagation and fixation
in soil
Radioactive pollution of animals
Various pathways
Meat
Inhalation
Milk
Food
Chernobyl accident - Greece
Radioactive deposition of Cs137 in Europe
Chernobyl accident - Greece
Radioactive deposition of Cs137 – NTUA and ERL data
Chernobyl accident - Greece
Marine water pollution (surface) with Cs137 – ERL evaluation
Chernobyl accident - Greece
Average 1st year and 50-year doses through various pathways, μSv
Pathway
1st year
50 years
Inhalation
External exposure
Food - water
22
52
420
22
190
500
TOTAL
490
710
The radiologically most important food chain pathways
Grass pollution with Ι131
Grass pollution with Cs137
Pollution of fruits and vegetables
>
>
Sheep and goat milk
Sheep and goat milk and meat
Animal foodstuff pollutio
Cereals pollution
>
>
Meat and milk products, 1986/87
Bread and pastry, 1986/87
Chernobyl accident - Greece
Evaluation of weekly doses. Comparison with dose due to natural radioactivity.
Dose rate,
μSv per week
Chernobyl
Natural radioactivity
Chernobyl accident - Greece
Average weekly doses due to Ι131, μSv
Εβδομαδιαία δόση I131, μSv
100
10
1
0.1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Week
Εβδομάδα
Κατανομή δόσεων
από I131 foods
Contribution
of various
11%
15%
10%
22%
Κρέας
Meat
Milk
Γάλα
Leafy Φυλ.
veg.
Λαχαν.
Other Αλλα
veg.
Λαχαν.
Fruits
Φρούτα
42%
Chernobyl accident - Greece
Μηνιαίες δόσεις λόγω καισίου
Monthly doses from Cs137 and Cs134, μSv
100
10
1
1
3
5
7
9
Μήνας
Month
11
Κατανομή
δόσεων of
από
Cs137 και
Cs134
Contribution
various
foods
15%
Κρέας
Meat
15%
45%
Γάλα
Milk
OtherΑλλα
veg.
Λαχαν.
0%
23%
2%
Fruits
Φρούτα
Pastry
Ζυμαρικά
Chernobyl accident - Greece
Contribution
of different
to the
doseκαι
dueCs134
to Cs137,
Cs134 and I131
Κατανομή
δόσεων foods
από I131,
Cs137
στα τρόφιμα
14%
Κρέας
Meat
35%
17%
Γάλα
Milk
Λαχαν.
Φυλ.
Leafy veg.
Other veg.
Λαχαν.
Αλλα
Fruits
Φρούτα
9%
20%
5%
Pastry
Ζυμαρικά
Countermeasures: intervention levels
Countermeasure
Sheltering
Dose levels, mSv
Low level High level
5
50
Administration
of stable iodine
50
Evaquation
Relocation
Food banning
Food countermeasures
Applied in Greece:
Organ
Average dose,
Greece
Whole body
0.02
500
Thyroid
0.2
50
500
Whole body
0.05
50
500
Whole body
0.05
5
50
Whole body
0.45
Advices* to avoid consumption of sheep milk and leafy vegetables
Control of cheese, cereals and meat and application of the EU limits
Temporary banning of small animals consumption
Temporary banning of specific types of bread