Activity standardization of two enriched K solutions for the determination of decay scheme parameters and the half-life.

In this paper we describe experiments on two enriched K solutions to accurately determine decay data. The first solution was measured in 2004/2005 by means of a gamma-ray spectrometer with low background and a liquid scintillation (LS) counter to apply the CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing method. A combination of results yields an emission probability of the 1461 keV gamma-rays of P = 0.

Europe-Wide Atmospheric Radionuclide Dispersion by Unprecedented Wildfires in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, April 2020.

From early April 2020, wildfires raged in the highly contaminated areas around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (CNPP), Ukraine. For about 4 weeks, the fires spread around and into the Chernobyl exclusion zone (CEZ) and came within a few kilometers of both the CNPP and radioactive waste storage facilities. Wildfires occurred on several occasions throughout the month of April.

Airborne concentrations and chemical considerations of radioactive ruthenium from an undeclared major nuclear release in 2017.

In October 2017, most European countries reported unique atmospheric detections of aerosol-bound radioruthenium (Ru). The range of concentrations varied from some tenths of µBq·m to more than 150 mBq·m The widespread detection at such considerable (yet innocuous) levels suggested a considerable release. To compare activity reports of airborne Ru with different sampling periods, concentrations were reconstructed based on the most probable plume presence duration at each location.

Comparison of two methods for the rapid radiochemical analysis of air dust samples in emergency situations.

The reliable determination of airborne radionuclides in air is a key aspect in decision-making for the protection against public exposure in the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency. Nowadays, this needs to be done in real time and at the international level. These needs require the development of fast response protocols and the harmonisation of results.

Metrology for decommissioning nuclear facilities: Partial outcomes of joint research project within the European Metrology Research Program.

Decommissioning of nuclear facilities incurs high costs regarding the accurate characterisation and correct disposal of the decommissioned materials. Therefore, there is a need for the implementation of new and traceable measurement technologies to select the appropriate release or disposal route of radioactive wastes. This paper addresses some of the innovative outcomes of the project "Metrology for Decommissioning Nuclear Facilities" related to mapping of contamination inside nuclear facilities, waste clearance measurement, Raman distributed temperature sensing for long term repository integrity monitoring and validation of radiochemical procedures.