Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Three-dimensional printing and casting materials were analyzed by prompt gamma-ray activation analysis (PGAA) to determine their suitability as human tissue surrogates for the fabrication of phantoms for medical imaging and radiation dosimetry applications. Measured elemental compositions and densities of five surrogate materials simulating soft tissue and bone were used to determine radiological properties (x-ray mass attenuation coefficient and electron stopping power). When compared with radiological properties of International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) materials, it was determined that urethane rubber and PLA plastic yielded the best match for soft tissue, while silicone rubber and urethane resin best simulated the properties of bone...

Rapid detection and quantification of gross alpha/beta-emitting radionuclides by liquid scintillation counting (LSC) is vital in guiding response to a nuclear or radiological incidents. Liquid scintillation counters use signal pulse shape to discriminate alpha and beta events in samples but require precise optimization to minimize the spillover, or misclassification, of those events. In this study, samples at varying activity levels were analyzed by LSC to determine the effect of activity level, emitter type, and sample matrix on spillover...

UNLABELLED: The isolation and purification of protactinium from uranium materials is essential for 231 Pa-235 U radiochronometry, but separating Pa from uranium-niobium alloys, a common material in the nuclear fuel cycle, is challenging due to the chemical similarity of Pa and Nb. Here we present three resin chromatography separation techniques for isolating Pa from U and Nb which were independently developed by three different laboratories through ad hoc adaptations of standard operating procedures...

The need to generate objective evidence and reliable information for decision makers to improve environmental policies for a better air quality, led us to evaluate the atmospheric aerosol components in the urban area of Carabayllo, by monitoring PM2.5 and PM10 to determine mass concentration and analyzing PM10 using k 0 -INAA and ICP-MS for metals quantification, ion chromatography for anions and the NIOSH method to determine organic and elemental carbon. The results obtained from mass concentration of PM2...

New values of neutron fluxes and spectral parameters f and α were determined experimentally in all irradiation devices of the TRIGA Mark I IPR-R1 nuclear research reactor at Nuclear Technology Development Centre (CDTN), Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Sets of monitors Au, Fe, Zn and Zr were irradiated bare and Cd-covered, according to "Cd-ratio for multi-monitor" method. Values were validated by analysing the certified reference material BCR-320R irradiated in chosen channels. The calculations were made based on irradiation channel values and the average values of the Carousel...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Micro-mapping of terrestrial gamma radiation dose (TGRD) at meter grid spacing in and around four urban homes in Miri City shows rates ranging from 70 to 150 nGy/h. Tiled surfaces (floors and walls) vary between properties and have a clear and significant influence on TGRD which is highest in kitchens, washrooms and toilets. Application of a single indoor value for annual effective dose (AED) may lead to underestimations of up to 30%. The AED is unlikely to exceed 0.8 mSv in homes of this type in Miri, which is within recommended guidelines...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The measurement of uranium (U) isotope ratios in urine provides valuable information about the source of U exposure in humans and can be vitally important in a radiological emergency. This method provides rapid and accurate results for 235 U/238 U at 235 U concentrations as low as 0.42 ng/L, which is equivalent to ~200 ng/L of total U for a depleted U (DU) at a 235 U/238 U ratio of ~0.002. The results are within 6% of Certified Reference Materials target values and agree with Department of Defense Armed Forces Institute of Pathology inter-laboratory comparison target values with a bias range of -6...

Dietary supplements and agricultural byproducts were characterized by neutron activation analysis. The nutritional potential of supplements was evaluated according to alternative and commercial categories, using analysis of variance and cluster analysis, and recommended dietary intake for children. The results indicated statistically significant differences between both categories for the elements Cs, K, Na, and Rb. For the nutritional elements Ca, Co, Fe, K, Na, and Zn, the categories were similar in cluster analysis...

The main objective of the present publication was to assess the reduction of internal radioactive contamination with 99m Tc among medical personnel of nuclear medicine facilities using generally available respiratory tract protection systems. During the current research project, four respiratory tract protection systems were tested by estimation of 99m Tc activity levels in blood samples collected from medical personnel. Medical staff were equipped with a disposable surgical mask, a half mask with gas absorbers, a half mask with aerosol absorbers and a half mask with gas absorbers with added Petryanov filter...

Natural radioactivity concentrations in recent alluvial soils from swampy areas and Tertiary rocks from Jaintiapur were measured using gamma-ray spectrometer equipped with HPGe detector. The average radioactivity concentration of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K were 47 ± 6, 64 ± 5 and 762 ± 40 Bqkg-1 in soils, whereas, 25 ± 2, 37 ± 4 and 884 ± 41 Bqkg-1 in rock samples, respectively. Average radioactivity concentrations of studied soil and rock samples exceeded the world average except 226 Ra for rocks...

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has proven to be an excellent analytical technique with high sensitivity for detecting low levels of long-lived radionuclides, such as thorium. However, the high-sensitivity technique increases the memory effect of thorium. This study developed a rapid, high-throughput, simple method for measuring thorium in urine using quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS). Replacing the commonly used hazardous hydrofluoric acid with a rinse solution of 0...

To effectively kill microorganisms on scrap facemasks (FMs) surface and provide new material for extracting uranium (U(VI)) from seawater, scrap FMs was treated by N2 capacitance coupled (CCP) plasma and modified with polyamidoxime (PAO). The obtained PAO/FMs was well characterized and applied as an adsorbent in the extraction of U(VI) from seawater. The effects of environmental conditions on the adsorption capability of PAO/FMs for U(VI) were briefly studied. Results showed that plasma technique can synchronously kill microorganisms and induce acrylonitrile (AN) polymerization on FMs surface...

The aim of this study was the development and analytically validation of a radioimmunoassay system for the measurement of the serum ferritin concentration as one of the laboratory biomarkers for infection by Covid-19. The main components of the system were prepared in our laboratories. The first component ferritin was extracted and purified from human spleen with high purity. The second component was the 125I-labelled ferritin tracer, prepared using Chloramine-T method. Furthermore anti-ferritin antibodies and ferritin standards were provided...

A rapid analytical method for quantifying 90 Sr in infant formula prior to secular equilibrium is presented. The approach is dependent on the use of two separations of 90 Sr from 90 Y, with the first providing an 90 Y ingrowth start point and the second providing an 90 Y ingrowth end point. Data were obtained at activity concentrations of approximately 6 Bq/kg and 160 Bq/kg, the latter of which is representative of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Derived Intervention Levels (DIL). Experiments were designed to collect data from ingrowth periods ranging from 16 h to 2 weeks...

As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's post-radiological/nuclear incident response mission, we developed rapid bioassay analytical methods to assess possible human exposure to radionuclides and internal contamination. Liquid scintillation counting (LSC) is a valuable analytical tool for the rapid detection and quantification of gross alpha/beta-emitting radionuclides in urine samples. A key characteristic of this type of bioassay method is its detection sensitivity for the priority threat radionuclides...

This study focuses on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on annual effective doses and excess lifetime cancer risk values due to ionizing radiation and radon which has been reported UNSCEAR 2000. The random data collection questionnaire method was applied to assess the indoor and outdoor occupancy factor for three age groups during the epidemic in Turkey. The results indicated age group C (Age > 65 y) has more influence from pandemic indoor and outdoor occupancy factor. As compared to before pandemic data in study area and global average exposure to natural radioactive sources...

Radioactive strontium is a nuclear fission decay product found in industrial products and nuclear waste and is released during nuclear accidents. Current urine radiostrontium separation methods often are based on the use of Sr resin columns or cartridges (Eichrom Technologies). Most of these analytical methods use stable Sr as a tracer, with subsequent Sr recovery. The gravimetric recovery method requires 120 times more stable Sr than does the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method described here...