Optically stimulated luminescence properties of commercially available KCL dietary supplements as retrospective dosimeters.

In the case of an unexpected exposure to radiation in places where there is no access to standard dosimeters, materials that can act as detectors in methods of retrospective dosimetry are looked for. Such materials include, but are not limited to, medicines and dietary supplements that are found in households or in personal bags. This article presents the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimetric properties of dietary supplements, the main ingredient of which is a sensitive phosphor - potassium chloride (KCl).

Assessment of internal radiation exposure to Antarctic biota due to selected natural radionuclides in terrestrial and marine environment.

The present article introduces data on natural radioactivity (K, Th, U) in the Antarctic marine and terrestrial environment. Various biota samples were analysed due to internal exposure to K, Th, U. Activity concentration of K was the highest in both marine and terrestrial samples.

Anthropogenic radionuclides in Antarctic biota - dosimetrical considerations.

The article presents results of the research on artificial radionuclides (Cs, Sr, Am) in the Antarctic environment. Samples of 12 species from the marine environment: Pygoscelis adeliae, Pygoscelis papua, Macronectes giganteus, Pagodroma nivea, Catharacta antarctica, Leptonychotes weddellii, Mirounga leonina, Harpagifer antarcticus, Chaenocephalus aceratus, Nacella concinna, Himantothallus grandifolius, Iridaea cordata (bones, feathers, soft tissues, eggs' shells of birds, bones, skin, fur of mammals, fish, mollusks' soft tissues and shells, algae) and samples of 4 species from the terrestrial environment: Sanionia uncinata, Usnea antarctica, Usnea aurantiaco-atra, Deschampsia antarctica (mosses, lichens, grass) were investigated. Differences in the accumulation of Cs between marine and terrestrial ecosystem were shown, which are mostly due to conservatism of mosses and lichens and active removal of cesium by animal body.

Variations of plutonium isotopic ratios in Antarctic ecosystems.

The aim of the article was to verify the hypothesis concerning the diversification of plutonium sources in the natural environment of Antarctica. Plutonium activity and atom ratios were analyzed in two groups of biological samples: terrestrial and marine. Both isotopic ratios in the terrestrial set were consistent with global radioactive fallout ratios.

The sources of high airborne radioactivity in cryoconite holes from the Caucasus (Georgia).

Cryoconite granules are mixtures of mineral particles, organic substances and organisms on the surface of glaciers where they decrease the ice albedo and are responsible for formation of water-filled holes. The contaminants are effectively trapped in the cryoconite granules and stay there for many years. This study evaluates the contamination level of artificial and natural radionuclides in cryoconite holes from Adishi glacier (Georgia) and identifies the sources of contamination based on activity or mass ratios among artificial radionuclides.