Development of a methodology for assessing radiological dose due to use of NORM sludge as fertilizer.

In Europe, the general obligation to recycle drives for increased reuse of residues containing Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM). In agriculture, this has led to the reuse of sludge produced by groundwater filtration facilities as a means of fertilization. In the frame of the RadoNorm project, a methodology was developed for dose assessment of agricultural workers and other members of the public living near agricultural fields in which NORM-containing sludge is applied.

Experience with NORM waste disposal in different European countries.

Industrial processes generate various quantities of waste that can be contaminated with radionuclides of natural origin (naturally occurring radioactive material ('NORM waste')). The efficient management of this waste is essential for any industries affected by NORM waste generation. To obtain an overview of current practices and approaches in Europe, the IRPA Task Group on NORM conducted a survey among task group members and other experts from European countries.

A methodology for the systematic identification of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM).

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) are present worldwide and under certain circumstances (e.g., human activities) may give radiation exposure to workers, local public or occasional visitors and non-human biota (NHB) of the surrounding ecosystems.

Cost-effectiveness analysis to assess the protection of workers from exposure to radon at work: A first application to Italian retail shops.

For the implementation of the requirements in the Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom (2013 EUBSS), the cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is generally considered a useful tool to compare different radon policies aimed at reducing radon exposure both at home and at work. In the framework of the EU funded RADPAR project, a methodology to perform CEA analysis of radon control in dwellings was developed - and used also for WHO's radon recommendations of 2009 - and it is based on the evaluation of the health effectiveness in terms of life years and/or QALYs (Quality Adjusted Life Years) gained. In this work, starting from the RADPAR model used for dwellings, a so-called RADPAR4workplaces model was developed to carry out CEA focused on reduction of radon exposure at workplaces.

Critical aspects of radon remediation in karst limestone areas: some experiences in schools of South Italy.

The final results of radon monitoring in 438 schools located in the province of Lecce (Puglia Region, South Italy) showed an average radon concentration of 215 ± 20 Bq m and that 7% of schools exceeded 500 Bq m, the current Italian action level for radon in workplaces, and consequently required remedial actions. The activity described in the present paper includes the main elements of the remediation project in a subgroup of school buildings. The main radon control systems adopted were sub-slab depressurization (in 57% of schools) and the active ventilation of the crawlspace (in 21% of schools).

Alkali-activated concrete with Serbian fly ash and its radiological impact.

The present paper reports the results of a study on different types of fly ash from Serbian coal burning power plants and their potential use as a binder in alkali-activated concrete (AAC) depending on their radiological and mechanical properties. Five AAC mixtures with different types of coal burning fly ash and one type of blast furnace slag were designed. Measurements of the activity concentrations of K, Ra and Th were done both on concrete constituents (fly ash, blast furnace slag and aggregate) and on the five solid AAC samples.

A new accurate and flexible index to assess the contribution of building materials to indoor gamma exposure.

The role of building materials as a source of gamma radiation has been recognized in the new EU Basic Safety Standards Directive which introduces an index I to screen building materials of radiological concern. This index was developed to account for average concrete values of thickness and density, the main structural characteristics of building materials that have an effect on gamma irradiation. Consequently, this screening procedure could be unfit in case of significantly different density and/or thickness of the building materials under examination.

Indoor radon levels in schools of South-East Italy.

A survey was conducted to evaluate average levels of indoor radon and gamma doses in all educational buildings (506 schools) located in South-East Italy (the Salento peninsula, province of Lecce). In this paper the final findings relating to measurements performed with SSNTD dosemeters in 438 schools (86% of the sample) are reported. The average annual activity concentration of radon in schools located in the province of Lecce is 209 ± 9 Bq/m(3).

A pilot study on natural radioactivity in schools of south-east Italy.

In the period 2005-2006 a survey on natural radioactivity in about 500 schools located in south-east Italy (the Salento peninsula, province of Lecce) was carried out. In particular average radon concentration and average absorbed dose rate in air due to gamma radiation have been assessed by using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) and electret ionization chambers (EIC), as well as thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD), respectively. SSNTD dosimeters were placed in every school, while electrets and TLD have been employed in a pilot study performed in a selected sample of 56 schools in order to achieve preliminary information.