Vertical transport velocity of fine particles of aluminum smelter emissions.

In this study, the average values of vertical velocity of particles emitted from an aluminum smelter in the surface layer of the atmosphere were estimated using a semi-empirical method. The method is based on regression analysis of the horizontal profile of pollutants measured along the selected direction using moss bioindicators. The selection of epiphytic mosses was carried out in 2013 in the zone of influence of a metallurgical industry enterprise in the city of Kandalaksha, Murmansk region.

Influence of rock type and geophysical properties on radon flux density.

The most significant source of human exposure to ionizing radiation is the radioactive gas radon (basically Rn) and its daughter decay products, creating more than half of the effective dose from all natural sources. Radon enters buildings mainly from dense rocks, which are below building foundations at depths of 1 m and more. In this paper long-term measurements of radon flux density are analyzed, with radon exhalation from the surface of the most common rocks-loams, sandy loams, clays, clay shales, several types of sandy-gravel-pebble deposits, clay and rocky limestone.

Studying the influence of seasonal conditions and period of exposure on trace element concentrations in the moss-transplant Pylaisia polyantha.

This study evaluates the effects of seasonal conditions and exposure periods on trace element concentrations in samples of the epiphytic moss Pylaisia ​​polyantha when transplanted into urban areas. This assessment was carried out in summer and winter at four sites differing in their level of technogenic trace element load. The contents of 25 trace elements (As, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, La, Lu, Mo, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sr, Tb, Th, U, Yb, and Zn) were determined using neutron-activation analysis, and it was shown that seasonal conditions do not affect vital activity in P.

The plant for obtaining an aqueous radon solution.

Developing indicator methods to determine the main characteristics of cores extracted from oil-bearing strata presupposes simple, radiation-safe installations of an aqueous radon solution. This study describes such an installation, comprising crushed uranium ores weighing ~45 kg. Herein, we investigated the radon concentration (RC) of water as a function of pumping rate and duration to determine the optimal pumping conditions necessary for achieving a maximum RC in water of ~3 kBq/L.

Effect of placement conditions for active monitoring of trace element with the epiphytic moss.

In this work, problems arising by use of active biomonitoring are discussed. Biomonitoring technique using positioned vertically frameworks and epiphytic moss Pylaisia polyantha is proposed. The influence of tree species on which the bark of the frameworks is fixed, altitude, and orientation is researched.

Criteria of radon risk of territories and methods for their determination.

The paper analyzes the values used in the assessment of radon potential of territories. It was shown that the most reliable criterion in the assessment of radon risk of territories can be the value of radon activity concentration fixed at large depths. The authors proposed a simple method to assess this value and radon flux density from the soil surface, based on the measurement of radon activity concentration in soil gas at two twice differing depths and the diffusion model of transport.

A new method for estimating the coefficients of diffusion and emanation of radon in the soil.

This paper describes a new method for determining the basic parameters of soil - diffusion and emanation coefficients related to the transfer of radon in the soil matrix, which are very useful for testing models, based on diffusion and characteristics of various soil matrices regarding the dangers of radon. The method is based on the measurement of radon in soil air on two small depths, differing twice. The paper presents the results of the determination of the parameters for covering loams and clays of Tomsk (Russian Federation), obtained by this method.

[Role of the number of stories in the radiation-sanitary assessment of residential buildings].

Upon long-term exposure, the radioactive gas radon-222 and its decay products in increased doses adversely affect human health. Since the human being spends about 65% of his time in the buildings, it is necessary to evaluate air radiation purity in the rooms, which can be obtained by making a sanitary radiological survey of residential buildings. The scope of the rooms in many-storeyed buildings to be examined can be considerably reduced if the regularities in radon distribution are known.