Teeth and alveolar bones as tracers of metals and radionuclides in inhabitants of a uranium region.

Biodosimetry can define risks in inhabitants of areas with potential contaminants, ensuring environmental protection and living conditions due to toxic and radioactive effects. This study aimed to evaluate metals and radionuclides in dental structures and alveolar bones in residents of a uranium area in Paraíba and Pernambuco, Brazil. Eighty-nine specimens were pulverized, fractionated, and chemically prepared for analysis by EDXRF, FAAS, and ICP-MS.

Radioanalytical models applied to the investigation of caesium signatures in sugar samples.

The presence of anthropogenic radioisotopes in the environment may be due to inappropriate discards, nuclear tests and accidents, which requires and justifies constant monitoring to ensure the safety of nuclear applications. The radiometric analysis is a necessary condition for exporting sugar for world consumption. The investigation of Cs and Cs in a sugar matrix is required to predict radiometric anomalies.

Radiological risk associated with Rn occurrence in groundwater sources of rural communities in the semiarid region of Paraíba, Brazil.

Rural and isolated communities traditionally lack adequate water treatment and distribution systems, and water quality assessment often does not include radioactivity measurement. Here we present, for the first time, the results of Rn measurements and the evaluation of the associated dose in groundwaters of rural communities in a semiarid area in Paraiba State, Brazil. Water samples were analysed using a low-level liquid scintillation spectrometer (LSS).

Determination of the internal dose due to the intake of Ra and Pb in drinking water from deep wells in the Metropolitan Region of Recife-Brazil.

The Metropolitan Region of Recife, the capital of the state of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil, has a high demographic density and developed under a region of marine phosphorus with high concentrations of phosphate that naturally contains uranium ore, producing ionizing radiation from descendants of the radioisotope U where Ra and Pb are of great importance in verifying the probable harmful effects on human health due to environmental radioactivity. The supply of drinking water is the responsibility of the state-owned company COMPESA which uses wells of great depth to complete the supply of drinking water for the entire population. COMPESA and the RAE Group of the Federal University of Pernambuco developed a joint project to assess the concentrations of Ra and Pb and estimate the equivalent and effective doses caused by ingesting these radiation sources.

Anthropogenic accumulation based on chemometrics of the radionuclide K-40 in tropical soils in the northeast Brazil.

The continuous use of fertilizers can increase the radionuclides levels in soils, and their accumulation and concentration are related to their characteristics and the various processes of use and soil occupation. Analyzing data from radiometric and pedological measurements often demands the use of more robust tools for better integration of results. This work presents the results of a study to evaluate the accumulation of K, in an area of the Zona da Mata region in Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil, due to the contribution of natural or artificial sources.

Influx of radioactive gas in norm occurrences in Northeastern Brazil.

Radon and progeny are potentially relevant in radioecological studies, as they contribute more than half of the exposure to environmental radiation. The investigation of Rn in internal environments of municipalities of Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil was carried out using passive dosimetry with α Espec-222, installed in environments selected by the history of natural radiative occurrences. The monitoring time was eight months to consider seasonal influence.

Risk survey for the population of Recife and neighboring cities due to the occurrence of radium in groundwater.

The Metropolitan Region of Recife and its surroundings are heavily exploited to capture water for public supply through tubular wells. However, a survey of the levels of natural radionuclides from these sources had never been carried out, even though part of this region contains a phosphate deposit that has a high concentration of natural uranium. In this context, this research aimed to identify Ra and Ra levels in groundwater in the coastal region of Pernambuco, Brazil.

Evaluation of the action of LPSF/GQ-16 on cytokines and PPAR-γ gene expression after in vitro irradiation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Purpose: Patients submitted to radiotherapy (RT) may present in their healthy tissues surrounding the treated tumor, some typical acute inflammatory reactions induced by ionizing radiation (IR). The manifestation of inflammatory processes is a result of exacerbation of the immune system, as a response to radiation exposure, and this can be a limiting factor for RT protocols. To counteract this, some thiazolidinediones, such as LPSF/GQ-16, may be useful for modulating the patient's radioinduced inflammatory response in normal tissues.

α Espec-222 as a variant to the radon monitoring method using a solid state nuclear track.

Radon is important in indoor radiometry, where radiological impact is relevant. The improvement of low-cost methods makes it possible to maximize the monitored areas. Thus, a simple and robust monitoring device based on SSNTD CR-39 was designed.

Metal contaminants in rice from Cuba analyzed by ICP-MS, ICP-AES and CVAAS.

Mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic are considered hazardous pollutants in the environment, which can result in a risk for human health. This study aimed to determine the contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn by ICP-MS, CVAAS and ICP-AES in paddy and brown rice, grown in different soils of Cuba. The interest to include Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn was because these elements are found in very high levels in agricultural soils.

MONITORING AND CHARACTERISATION OF NEW EVIDENCE OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN ROCK OUTCROPS IN PARAÍBA-BRAZIL.

The radiometric monitoring carried out in the present study allowed the discovery of anomalous granite outcrops in natural radionuclides in the rural area of São Mamede in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. The characterisation study made it possible to determine maximum specific concentrations of approximately 199 kBq kg-1 of 238U, 85 kBq kg-1 of 226Ra, 26 kBq kg-1 of 232Th and 24 kBq kg-1 of 40K. Models for environmental dosimetry were applied, which resulted in obtaining the following quantities: radium equivalent (Raeq), indices of external (Hex), internal (Hin) and representative (Iyr) damage, and the effective outdoor dose (HE).

RADIOACTIVE DISEQUILIBRIUM AND DYNAMIC OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN SOILS IN THE STATE OF PERNAMBUCO-BRAZIL.

Environmental radioactivity studies have been allowed establishing radiometric patterns in several area of the earth's crust. The work was conducted through radiometric analyses of regions with high levels of radionuclides and others with no history of anomalies. The research allowed establishing the radiometric profile of soils in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, using a gamma spectrometry system.

ENVIRONMENTAL IONIZING RADIATION DOSE OUTDOOR IN AN INHABITED AREA WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF URANO-PHOSPHATE IN NORTHEAST OF BRAZIL.

A marine phosphorus region with high concentrations of phosphate, coastwise of Pernambuco, Northeast of Brazil, is densely inhabited. Rock phosphate deposits naturally contain uranium ore that produces ionizing radiation from it and its natural descendants, furthermore, its thorium and potassium concentrations are comparable to those usually found in soils. Radiological monitoring of this environment is important to verify the occurrence of harmful effective doses for the adjacent population.

THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSIMETRY IN THE EVALUATION OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY INDOOR OF HOMES NEAR THE URANIUM DEPOSIT OF PARAÍBA, BRAZIL.

High levels of primordial radionuclides have been reported in soils and rocks of São José de Espinharas, in the state of Paraiba, Brazil. These radionuclides are derived from high concentrations of natural uranium and thorium from a mine in the region. Thus, there is a need for a dosimetric evaluation in the area near the mine and the surrounding cities.

EDXRF as an alternative method for multielement analysis of tropical soils and sediments.

The quality assessment of tropical soils and sediments is still under discussion, with efforts being made on the part of governmental agencies to establish reference values. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) is a potential analytical technique for quantifying diverse chemical elements in geological material without chemical treatment, primarily when it is performed at an appropriate metrological level. In this work, analytical curves were obtained by means of the analysis of geological reference materials (RMs), which allowed for the researchers to draw a comparison among the sources of analytical uncertainty.

Natural radionuclides in electronic waste: an initial approach.

Some radionuclides are present in trace amount in the raw material of electronic devices that suffer obsolescence and are improperly disposed of. Obsolete personal computers become electronic waste and may contain potential environmental contaminants. Furthermore, there may be an additional concern: the ionizing radiation emission.

INVESTIGATION OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY AS A POSSIBLE DRIVER OF CANCER INCIDENCE IN PARAÍBA, NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL.

An increase of health problems has been reported in the city of Triunfo, Paraíba, NE Brazil. This pattern has been attributed to environmental radiation since there are uranium deposits in the neighboring municipalities. The present study aimed to carry a radiometric survey in Triunfo to determine effective dose from external outdoor radiation exposure.

Influence of terrestrial radionuclides on environmental gamma exposure in a uranium deposit in Paraíba, Brazil.

One of the main natural uranium deposits in Brazil is located in the municipality of Espinharas, in the State of Paraíba. This area may present high levels of natural radioactivity due to the presence of these radionuclides. Since this is a populated area, there is need for a radioecological dosimetry assessment to investigate the possible risks to the population.

Characterization of heavy metals in a uranium ore region of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.

The concentrations of As, Zn, Co, Cr, and Ba were determined in soil samples from an anomalous uranium ore region in the countryside of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The main land use system in this region is dairy farming, and there is a need to evaluate the potential risk of milk contamination. Twenty-three soil samples were activated with neutrons and analyzed using a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer system.