Disequilibrium in natural decay series in samples from Czech water treatment plants: Uranium, radium and thorium isotopes determination.

In the Czech Republic, underground or mixed source water treatment plants are classified as the workplaces with possible increased exposure from a natural source of radiation. When releasing waste materials or residues from these NORM workplaces into the environment, the content of natural radionuclides is measured and compared with the clearance levels established by Czech legislation. The content of natural radionuclides in solid samples is determined primarily by high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry.

Lifetime excess absolute risk for lung cancer due to exposure to radon: results of the pooled uranium miners cohort study PUMA.

The Pooled Uranium Miners Analysis (PUMA) study is the largest uranium miners cohort with 119,709 miners, 4.3 million person-years at risk and 7754 lung cancer deaths. Excess relative rate (ERR) estimates for lung cancer mortality per unit of cumulative exposure to radon progeny in working level months (WLM) based on the PUMA study have been reported.

Evaluation of Radon Action Plans: Searching for a Systematic and Standardised Method.

Radon, a carcinogenic radioactive gas, is a leading cause of lung cancer according to the World Health Organization. European Member States are required to develop and implement National Radon Action Plans (RAPs) to address its dangerous health effects. However, assessing the effectiveness of these RAPs presents challenges for authorities.

Latent variable modeling of gamma-ray background in repeated measurements.

We propose a novel approach for background subtraction in repeated gamma-ray spectrometric measurements. This entirely data-driven method eliminates the need for Monte Carlo detector simulation. To accomplish this, we utilized the framework of Latent Variable Modeling, incorporating various matrix factorization techniques and artificial neural networks.

True and spurious anomalies in ambient dose rate monitoring.

Ambient dose rate surveys reveal zones of an elevated dose rate. As the observation results from two physical processes-the 'true' process in nature that one wants to assess and the observation process that consists of measuring under certain conditions-an observed anomaly can have its cause in either process. Anomalous effects rooted in the observation process are called spurious.

EURADOS project on the impact of the proposed ICRU operational dose quantities.

Following the publication of the joint The International Commissions on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) and on Radiological Protection (ICRP) report on new operational quantities for radiation protection, the European Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) have carried out an initial evaluation. The EURADOS report analyses the impact that the new quantities will have on: radiation protection practice; calibration and reference fields; European and national regulation; international standards and, especially, dosemeter and instrument design. The task group included experienced scientists drawn from across the various EURADOS working groups.

Response of current dosemeters to new operational quantities in rotational geometry.

Recently, the ICRU released Report 95, where new operational quantities for external radiation exposure are defined. The new quantities are defined in close relation to the protection quantities. This change affects the practice use of dosemeters.

A comparison of different detection techniques for 137Cs measurements of cattle in vivo.

Agricultural lands with farm animals (e.g. cattle) can be significantly affected by radioactive contamination following nuclear or radiation accidents.

Aggregated transfer factors of fresh Cs and Sr pollution to various vegetables from six common European soils - mesocosm experiment.

Aggregated transfer factors (T) were identified for three common vegetables grown in six common European soils freshly contaminated by Cs and Sr. The experiment was carried out as a mesocosm experiment in pots with an average soil weight of 15.8 kg per pot.

A psycho-social-environmental lens on radon air pollutant: authorities', mitigation contractors', and residents' perceptions of barriers and facilitators to domestic radon mitigation.

Introduction: Radon is a major indoor air pollutant that poses a significant risk of lung cancer to those exposed in their homes. While mitigation of high radon levels in homes has been shown to be effective, home mitigation rates remain low. This study examines the barriers and facilitators to radon mitigation in homes from the perspectives of authorities responsible for radon risk management, the mitigation industry (contractors), and residents in four European countries (Belgium, Ireland, Slovenia, and the UK) with high radon risks and low mitigation rates.

Anaerobic digestion: A promising technology of utilizing radioactively contaminated plant biomass.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a widely used technology that allows for the reprocessing and reduction of waste biomass. A study was conducted to see if the AD technology might be used to process radioactively polluted agricultural biomass. For this purpose, laboratory tests were carried out with a 20-liter model biogas plant (BGP) with the radionuclide Cs and operational tests with the South Bohemian commercial biogas plant monitoring the radionuclide Cs.

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.

Citizen monitoring of ambient dose rate: the SAFECAST project.

Citizen Science (CS) is research performed by citizens who are not professional scientists in general. SAFECAST was founded in Japan after the Fukushima accident 2011, motivated by distrust in the perceived biassed information by authorities about radiation situation. Measurements of ambient dose rate (ADR) performed by citizens were intended to verify and complement official data using bGeigieNano designed for purpose, recording ADR, GPS coordinates and date/time allowing projection on digital maps.

Radon and lung cancer in the pooled uranium miners analysis (PUMA): highly exposed early miners and all miners.

Objectives: Radon is a ubiquitous occupational and environmental lung carcinogen. We aim to quantify the association between radon progeny and lung cancer mortality in the largest and most up-to-date pooled study of uranium miners.

Methods: The pooled uranium miners analysis combines 7 cohorts of male uranium miners with 7754 lung cancer deaths and 4.

Impact of comorbidity scores and lifestyle factors in curative radiotherapy in laryngeal cancer.

Purpose: The principal goal of treatment of laryngeal cancer is to eliminate a tumour while preserving laryngeal function with radio(chemo)therapy being the mainstay of treatment. The aim of this report is to present the influence of comorbidities and lifestyle factors on treatment outcomes in our cohort of patients.

Methods: During the period 2009-2018, curative radio(chemo)therapy for laryngeal cancer was performed on 189 patients.

Dissolution characteristics of uranium and lead in simulated lung fluid using fly ash samples from coal-fired power plants in the Czech Republic.

Samples of fly ash, slag and boiler scale containing elevated amounts of uranium or lead (Pb) from several coal-fired power stations in the Czech Republic were collected for an assessment of their dissolution parameters - the dissolution rates and their respective fractions in vitro. The dissolution data were fitted either by a biexponential model or by a triexponential model. The uranium U and U in the fly ash sample are classified as M-type.

APPARATUS FOR LOCALIZATION AND DOSIMETRY OF WOUNDS WITH RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION.

Disasters involving radioactive materials are one of the most dangerous accidents a living organism can be exposed to. Individuals and first responders are in risk during accidents or interventions, due to radioactive debris impact, due to the use of depleted uranium ammunition or a malevolent act against individuals. Moreover, radioactive contamination of wounds causes internal exposure in the body and standard decontamination procedures cannot be applied.

DETERMINING THE TRANSFER FACTORS FOR ESTIMATES OF THE RADIATION CONTAMINATION OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS.

The study aims to provide a basis for measures reducing the consequences of a nuclear accident in its late phase, when plant contamination occurs mainly through the root system. Samples of the above-ground biomass of crops and soil were taken in 2020 in the vicinity of the Temelín and Dukovany nuclear power plants (Czech Republic). The 137Cs activities were determined using gamma spectrometry, and the 90Sr activities were measured through beta radiation.

YAP:CE SCINTILLATOR APPLICATION FOR 241AM COUNTING IN WOUND INJURY.

YAP:Ce scintillation probe was tested for use in a spectrometric measurement that is necessary to assess the internal dose in case of wound injuries involving radionuclide contaminant. A technique with metal filters published in the past for the determination of a depth of plutonium-contaminated wound was tested to verify the capability of the scintillator to be used for gamma-ray spectrometry counting of 241Am in a wound injury. Scintillation probe equipped with YAP:Ce scintillator showed properties sufficient for the wound counting technique tested.

OSL SENSITIVITY OF QUARTZ EXTRACTED FROM FIRED BRICKS FOR RETROSPECTIVE DOSIMETRY.

Optically stimulated luminescence of quartz extracted from fired materials has been used for retrospective dosimetry for about 40 years. Quartz sensitivity to thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence can vary over few orders of magnitude. These discrepancies in sensitivity for the quartz originating from different parts of the world are still not yet fully understood.

RESPONSE OF CURRENT AREA DOSEMETERS TO NEW OPERATIONAL QUANTITIES.

New operational quantities for external radiation exposure presented by the ICRU brought changes, which can affect the use of current dosemeters. Dosemeters calibrated in the old quantities should be tested, and the results obtained should be analyzed with respect to the new quantities. The difference between the old and new quantities depends primarily on photon energy.

Retrospective OSL Dosimetry With Common Pharmaceuticals and Food Supplements.

Several common pharmaceuticals such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, aspirin, oral contraceptives, drugs for the prevention of motion sickness and food supplements such as table vitamins and minerals have been studied for the purposes of retrospective dosimetry using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). The essence is that the tablets with these drug substances contain additive crystalline materials which, after irradiation and stimulation, may exhibit luminescence. For most of the pharmaceuticals and food supplements, a radiation-induced dose-dependent OSL signal was detected.