Publications by authors named "Istvan Bikit"

Exploration of possible anomalies in the decay of different radionuclides is an active research area in the fields of astrophysics and nuclear physics. The most significant changes in decay rates can be expected for β, β or electron capture decay nuclides, due to the proposed influence of the solar neutrino flux by some research groups. In this work, the nuclear decay rate of β decay of N22a was investigated during the time interval of ~33 days.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Performing in-situ measurements of gamma radiation originating from soil requires adequate detection efficiency curves, which can be obtained by Monte-Carlo simulations. In simulations, soil density of 1.046 g/cm was used, with the following elemental composition of soil in which gamma radiation was generated: O - 47%, Si -35%, Al - 8%, Fe - 3.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The activity of environmental samples is usually measured by high resolution HPGe gamma spectrometers. In this work a set-up with a 9in.x9in.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There are several occurrences of thermal waters in the south-eastern part of Serbia, which are originating from igneous and metamorphic rocks. These waters are mainly used in balneology, but some of them are used for drinking purposes and in water supply to heat buildings, for greenhouses and to irrigate land. In this region, there is the well-known Niška banja spa, which has elevated levels of radon.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Measurement of activity concentrations of radionuclides in building materials and radon in indoor space is important in the assessment of population exposures, as most individuals spend 80 % of their time indoors. This paper presents the results of activity concentration measurements of: radon emanated from the soil, radionuclides (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in the soil, indoor radon in the city of Novi Sad (the capital city of Vojvodina) using charcoal canisters and indoor radon in the Vojvodina region using alpha-track detectors and the radioactivity of some building materials. Influences of floor level, space under the rooms, boarding, and the heating system on indoor radon accumulation in the Vojvodina province, situated in the northern part of Serbia, are also presented in this paper.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The main aim of this paper was to compare different methods of preparing water samples for tritium analysis by ultra-low-level background liquid scintillation counter, Quantulus 1220. Three methods of sample preparation for low-level tritium measurement have been implemented in the Nuclear Physics Laboratory in Novi Sad: electrolytic enrichment, direct method without electrolytic enrichment and sample Oxidizer 307 method. The examined fresh water samples were rainfall collected during 6 months and water from a stream in the Vinča nuclear research center collected over 3 months.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The results obtained with the monitoring system set up to assess the impact of the Fukushima accident on the environment of Vojvodina (Northern Province of Serbia) are presented and discussed. Aerosol, rain, fresh milk and spinach samples were collected daily in the weeks following the accident. In the aerosol samples, (131)I activity concentrations of several mBq m(-3) were measured, while in rain, milk and spinach samples, (131)I levels had values in a range of (0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Radon is the main source of natural radiation that is received by population. The results of radon activity measurements in water from public drinking fountain, from bottled drinking water and from tap water in the city of Novi Sad, Serbia, are presented in this paper. The measurements were performed by RAD 7 radon detector manufactured by DURRIDGE COMPANY Inc.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

TENORM are found in a wide variety of waste materials, some raw mineral ores and in some consumer products (in trace amounts) where molecules of radionuclides may be bound to specific minerals used in the manufacturing process and can result in increases in radiation exposures to workers and the public. The aim of this paper is to understand this problem and to develop effective ways to protect humans and the environment from harmful exposure to the radiation in TENORM materials in the Vojvodina region. The results of measurement of indoor radon concentration in schools and kindergartens and dose-rate and gamma-spectrometry measurements of the workplace with TENORM materials are presented.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Sediment samples from the Tisza River in Serbia were investigated for possible TENORM pollutants. The radionuclide content of the samples was determined by means of low-level high-resolution gamma-spectroscopy. In addition to the members of the natural radioactive chains of (238)U and (232)Th and the natural (40)K, Chernobyl origin (137)Cs was detected in 26 of the 28 samples tested.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF