Development of the occupational exposure during the production and application of radiopharmaceuticals in Germany.

An increasing number of radiopharmaceuticals and proteins are available for diagnosing and treating various diseases. The demand for existing and newly developed pharmaceutical radionuclides and proteins is steadily increasing. The radiation exposure levels of workers in the radiopharmaceutical industry and nuclear medicine field are closely monitored, specifically their effective dose and equivalent dose, leading to the question, of whether the dawn of radiopharmaceuticals affects the occupational exposure level.

Should the ISO slab phantom be used for calibrations in terms of the new ICRU 95 operational quantity personal dose?

The applicability of the ISO slab phantom as calibration phantom for the new ICRU report 95 quantity personal dose should be legitimated by simulations and measurements of backscatter factors on the ISO slab phantom and, comparatively, on a human-like Alderson Rando phantom. An ionization chamber was used to determine backscatter factors for standardized X-ray spectra in the energy range of 16-250 keV and for gamma radiation of 137Cs (662 keV) and 60Co (1250 keV). For the validation of measurement results on the ISO slab, the results were compared with those obtained by means of Monte Carlo simulations using MCNP 6.

Radionuclide metrology methods and analysis of the Joint Danube Survey 4 sediment samples.

This low-level radionuclide metrology research work was carried out within the Joint Danube Survey 4 (JDS4), coordinated in 2018-2020 by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). The gamma-emitting radionuclides of the sediment samples were analysed by low-level gamma-ray spectrometry. The activity concentration of Sr was determined by liquid scintillation counting (LSC) after isolating the radio-strontium using a new radiochemical separation method.

Examination of applicability of the ISO slab phantom as calibration phantom for the new ICRU 95 operational quantity personal dose.

In this article, the proposal of the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements/International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRU/ICRP), that the ISO slab phantom should continue to be used as a calibration phantom for the new ICRU Report 95 operational quantity personal dose should be legitimised by simulation and performance of experiments to determine backscatter factors on the ISO slab phantom and, in comparison, on an anthropomorphic Alderson Rando phantom. The scope of this work was restricted to the photon energy range of radiation qualities commonly used in x-ray diagnostics. For this purpose, a shadow-free diagnostic (SFD) ionisation chamber was used to measure backscatter factors for X radiation in the energy range of 24 keV to 118 keV.

The Metrological Traceability, Performance and Precision of European Radon Calibration Facilities.

An interlaboratory comparison for European radon calibration facilities was conducted to evaluate the establishment of a harmonized quality level for the activity concentration of radon in air and to demonstrate the performance of the facilities when calibrating measurement instruments for radon. Fifteen calibration facilities from 13 different European countries participated. They represented different levels in the metrological hierarchy: national metrology institutes and designated institutes, national authorities for radiation protection and participants from universities.

Comparing calculated and experimental activity and dose values obtained from image-based quantification of Y SPECT/CT Data.

Purpose: Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is a treatment for various kinds of liver tumours by injecting Y bearing microspheres into the liver vessels. To perform meaningful post-treatment dosimetry, quantitative imaging is performed.

Methods: This work uses a Monte-Carlo based reconstruction software with scatter and attenuation correction and collimator modelling that allows the quantification of Y bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT data.

An innovative quick method for tracable measurement of radon 222 in drinking water.

In this work, a quick and simple low-level radionuclide metrology technique for the traceable measurement of Rn-222 activity concentration in drinking water using a 0.56 l ionisation chamber operating in spectrometric pulse mode has been developed, tested, verified and applied to 16 water samples successfully. The impact of essential influencing factors on the result has been investigated, discussed and considered in the uncertainty budget of the measurement method.

Environmental radioactivity study of Austrian and Bavarian forest ecosystems: Long-term behaviour of contamination of soil, vegetation and wild boar and its radioecological coherences.

Cs and K in soil, vegetation and flesh of wild boar samples from Austrian and Bavarian regions were investigated by gamma-ray spectrometry and Sr in bones of wild boar with Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) after radiochemical separation. The soil core profiles revealed that 70-97% of the soil caesium content is still accumulated in the 0-10cm soil depth. From all vegetation samples the mushrooms, particularly the bay boletus showed the highest Cs contamination.

Advancements in NORM metrology - Results and impact of the European joint research project MetroNORM.

The results of the three years European Metrology Research Programme's (EMRP) joint research project 'Metrology for processing materials with high natural radioactivity' (MetroNORM) are presented. In this project, metrologically sound novel instruments and procedures for laboratory and in-situ NORM activity measurements have been developed. Additionally, standard reference materials and sources for traceable calibration and improved decay data of natural radionuclides have been established.

Long-term environmental radioactive contamination of Europe due to the Chernobyl accident - Results of the Joint Danube Survey 2013.

In the course of the Joint Danube Survey 3 (JDS3), coordinated by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), laboratory ships travelled 2375km down the Danube River engaging in sampling, processing and on-board analyses during the summer of 2013. The results of the radiometric analysis of Sr, Cs and natural radionuclides in recent riverbed sediment are presented. The activity concentrations of Sr and Cs in Danube sediments have been found below 100Bq/kg.

Application of an artificial neural network for evaluation of activity concentration exemption limits in NORM industry.

NORM emits many different gamma energies that have to be analysed by an expert. Alternatively, artificial neural networks (ANNs) can be used. These mathematical software tools can generalize "knowledge" gained from training datasets, applying it to new problems.

Study of particular problems appearing in NORM samples and recommendations for best practice gamma-ray spectrometry.

In this paper spectral interference effects for selected gamma-emitting radionuclides of the natural decay series and K in selected NORM samples are studied. Recommendations for the choice of γ-lines and the consideration of possible spectral interferences are provided. Special attention is given to the radon tightness of the sample containers.

Study of parameters relevant for a better prediction of the radon potential.

In 2012 and 2013 measurements of parameters relevant for a better prediction of the radon potential were carried out in Austria at 100 sites. The parameters were the (222)Rn activity concentration in soil gas, the soil's permeability, the ambient equivalent dose rate above the ground and the soil's massic activity by gamma spectrometry. The uncertainties of sampling and measurements are discussed as well as the correlations between these parameters.

Radon soil gas measurements in a geological versatile region as basis to improve the prediction of areas with a high radon potential.

With the aim to predict the radon potential by geological data, radon soil gas measurements were made in a selected region in Styria, Austria. This region is characterised by mean indoor radon potentials of 130-280 Bq m(-3) and a high geological diversity. The distribution of the individual measuring sites was selected on the basis of geological aspects and the distribution of area settlements.

Soil gas radon measurements in a region of the Bohemian Massif: investigations in the framework of an Austrian pilot study.

Soil gas radon measurements are carried out in a pilot study in three municipalities in Upper Austria. The selected municipalities are characterised by a high radon potential. Sixty measuring sites--well distributed over the region and over the different geological areas--were selected.

Re-evaluation of correction factors of a primary standard graphite calorimeter in 60Co gamma ray beams as a basis for the appointment of the BEV absorbed dose rate to water reference value.

The graphite calorimeter of the Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (BEV-Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen) was established in the 1980s as the primary standard for the absorbed dose to water for (60)Co gamma ray beams. To maintain the primary standard at an international level the graphite calorimeter and its corresponding components had to undergo a refurbishment and modernisation process. The correction factors of the graphite calorimeter were re-evaluated with Monte Carlo and experimental methods to obtain improved values.

Simulation of photon energy spectra from Varian 2100C and 2300C/D Linacs: simplified estimates with PENELOPE Monte Carlo models.

Photon energy spectra of Varian Clinac 2100C and 2300C/D treatment heads were calculated with PENELOPE-2006, using simplified Monte Carlo models. These spectra constitute the basis of beam models used for the calculation of correction factors required for the Austrian absorbed dose to water primary standard. To validate the models, simulated depth dose curves in water and calculated radiation quality factors (TPR(20,10)) were compared with ionization chamber measurements.

Soil redistribution model for undisturbed and cultivated sites based on Chernobyl-derived cesium-137 fallout.

Measurements of 137Cs fallout have been used in combination with a range of conversion models for the investigation of soil relocation mechanisms and sediment budgets in many countries for more than 20 yr. The objective of this paper is to develop a conversion model for quantifying soil redistribution, based on Chernobyl-derived 137Cs. The model is applicable on uncultivated as well as on cultivated sites, taking into account temporal changes in the 137Cs depth distribution pattern as well as tillage-induced 137Cs dilution effects.