High concentrations of HgS, MeHg and toxic gas emissions in thermally affected waste dumps from hard coal mining in Poland.

This study aims to provide numerous environmental research approaches to understand the formation of mineral and organic mercury compounds in self-heating coal waste dumps of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB). The results are combined with environmental and health risk assessments. The mineralogy comprised accessory minerals in the fine fraction of thermally affected waste, i.

Natural radioactivity in granites and gneisses of the Opava Mountains (Poland): a comparison between laboratory and in situ measurements.

The natural radioactivities of five characteristic igneous rocks of the eastern foreland of the Opava Mountains (Eastern Sudetes, Poland), obtained in the laboratory and under in situ conditions, are presented. The activity concentrations of Th, U, and K were measured using an HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry system. The ranges of the activity concentrations of Th were 7-71 Bq kg in the laboratory and 6-68 Bq kg for the in situ measurements.

Gamma background measurements in the Boulby Underground Laboratory.

To determine background radiation levels that might influence experiments, we measured in situ gamma-ray emissions at ten locations in the Boulby Underground Laboratory. For gamma radiation in the energy range of 7-2,734 keV, the counts varied from 6.5 to 28 γ s.

Gamma background measurements in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory.

In situ gamma-ray measurements were taken at eight locations in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (Italy). Count rates for gamma radiation within the energy range of 7-2,734 keV varied from 8 to 60 γ s. The arithmetic mean was 49 γ s for measurements taken without a collimator.

Gamma background measurements in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane.

In situ gamma-ray measurements were taken at six locations in the Modane Underground Laboratory. Count rates for gamma radiation within the energy range of 7-2734 keV varied from 15 to 108 γs. The arithmetic mean was 79 γs for measurements taken without a collimator.

Natural radioactivity in rocks of the Modane-Aussois region (SE France).

The activity concentrations of K, Th, and U in the characteristic rocks of the Modane-Aussois region (Western Alps, France) were determined using an HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry system. The activity concentrations of K varied from 18 Bqkg (limestone dolomite) to 392 Bqkg (calcschist), while those of Th varied from 0.7 Bqkg (limestone dolomite) to 18 Bqkg (calcschist).

222Rn and 220Rn concentrations in soil gas of Karkonosze-Izera Block (Sudetes, Poland).

Soil gas 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations were measured at 18 locations in the Karkonosze-Izera Block area in southwestern Poland. Measurements were carried out in surface air and at sampling depths of 10, 40 and 80 cm. Surface air 222Rn concentrations ranged from 4 to 2160 Bq m(-3) and 220Rn ranged from 4 to 228 Bq m(-3).