Assessment of radiation exposure around abandoned uranium mining area of Stara planina Mt., Serbia
The aim of this work was to estimate the health and radiation hazard due to external irradiation from terrestrial radionuclides in the Stara planina Mt. region, which is important because of past uranium mining activities on the mountain. Soil samples were collected inside the flotation pro...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1451-3994/2014/1451-39941401058T.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811264761962168320 |
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| author | Tanić Milan N. Momčilović Milan Z. Kovačević Jovan R. Dragović Snežana D. Bačić Goran G. |
| author_facet | Tanić Milan N. Momčilović Milan Z. Kovačević Jovan R. Dragović Snežana D. Bačić Goran G. |
| author_sort | Tanić Milan N. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this work was to estimate the health and radiation hazard due to
external irradiation from terrestrial radionuclides in the Stara planina Mt.
region, which is important because of past uranium mining activities on the
mountain. Soil samples were collected inside the flotation processing
facilities, their surroundings and more distant locations, i.e. from areas
considered certainly affected, potentially affected, and unaffected by former
mining and uranium ore processing activities. The radiological and health
risk assessments were done by calculating the six main parameters, based on
the activity concentration of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in soil samples as
determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. Increased values of the risk parameters
were observed only for sites where uranium ore was processed, while the
location surrounding these compounds showed values that are usual for this
mountain or slightly above them. Calculations of the risk parameters for the
background area showed no radiation risk for the local and seasonal
population. The presence of U and Th was detected in all water samples from
creeks surrounding the facilities, but only in the water from the facility
drainage pipe did their concentration exceed the limits given for the uranium
content in drinking water. In conclusion, the results obtained in this study
fall within the range of values in similar studies conducted worldwide and
are below the values which can cause a significant radiation hazard.
[Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III43009 i br. III41005] |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:10:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-66c6657f40af4f5aa29ae10bf0dd0a64 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1451-3994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:10:08Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection |
| spelling | doaj.art-66c6657f40af4f5aa29ae10bf0dd0a642022-12-22T03:18:15ZengVINCA Institute of Nuclear SciencesNuclear Technology and Radiation Protection1451-39942014-01-01291586610.2298/NTRP1401058T1451-39941401058TAssessment of radiation exposure around abandoned uranium mining area of Stara planina Mt., SerbiaTanić Milan N.0Momčilović Milan Z.1Kovačević Jovan R.2Dragović Snežana D.3Bačić Goran G.4CBRN Training Centre, KruševacInsitute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, BelgradeGeological Institute of Serbia, BelgradeInsitute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, BelgradeFaculty of Physical Chemistry, BelgradeThe aim of this work was to estimate the health and radiation hazard due to external irradiation from terrestrial radionuclides in the Stara planina Mt. region, which is important because of past uranium mining activities on the mountain. Soil samples were collected inside the flotation processing facilities, their surroundings and more distant locations, i.e. from areas considered certainly affected, potentially affected, and unaffected by former mining and uranium ore processing activities. The radiological and health risk assessments were done by calculating the six main parameters, based on the activity concentration of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in soil samples as determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. Increased values of the risk parameters were observed only for sites where uranium ore was processed, while the location surrounding these compounds showed values that are usual for this mountain or slightly above them. Calculations of the risk parameters for the background area showed no radiation risk for the local and seasonal population. The presence of U and Th was detected in all water samples from creeks surrounding the facilities, but only in the water from the facility drainage pipe did their concentration exceed the limits given for the uranium content in drinking water. In conclusion, the results obtained in this study fall within the range of values in similar studies conducted worldwide and are below the values which can cause a significant radiation hazard. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III43009 i br. III41005]http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1451-3994/2014/1451-39941401058T.pdfradiological assessmenturaniumthoriumsoilwater |
| spellingShingle | Tanić Milan N. Momčilović Milan Z. Kovačević Jovan R. Dragović Snežana D. Bačić Goran G. Assessment of radiation exposure around abandoned uranium mining area of Stara planina Mt., Serbia Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection radiological assessment uranium thorium soil water |
| title | Assessment of radiation exposure around abandoned uranium mining area of Stara planina Mt., Serbia |
| title_full | Assessment of radiation exposure around abandoned uranium mining area of Stara planina Mt., Serbia |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of radiation exposure around abandoned uranium mining area of Stara planina Mt., Serbia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of radiation exposure around abandoned uranium mining area of Stara planina Mt., Serbia |
| title_short | Assessment of radiation exposure around abandoned uranium mining area of Stara planina Mt., Serbia |
| title_sort | assessment of radiation exposure around abandoned uranium mining area of stara planina mt serbia |
| topic | radiological assessment uranium thorium soil water |
| url | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1451-3994/2014/1451-39941401058T.pdf |
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