DOSIMETRIC EVALUATION OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL RADIOACTIVITY IN ENVIRONMENT USEFUL FOR FORENSIC PURPOSES
Keywords:
exposure to ionizing radiation, dosimetric quantities, radiation detectors, NORMAbstract
Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism of exposure to ionizing radiation through different pathways with a focus on both external and internal exposure scenarios. By examining the behavior and distribution of natural and artificial radionuclides in different matrices, the research aims is to quantify absorbed, equivalent, and effective doses relevant to human exposure. Special emphasis is placed on the forensic relevance of radiation dose assessment and its application in identifying sources and situations of exposure using radiation detection methods. The use of radiation detectors and dosimetric methods ensures accurate detection and analysis, making the results applicable to radiation protection.Design/Methods/Approach: This paper presents a study about dosimetric quantities that can be derived from radionuclide concentration data in various matrices. The focus is placed on understanding the relationship between radionuclide activity concentrations and the calculation of key dosimetric quantities, including absorbed dose, equivalent dose and effective dose. The approach involves reviewing existing methodologies and mathematical models used for dose estimation based on internal and external exposure scenarios.
Findings: Various dosimetric quantities, such as absorbed dose, equivalent dose and effective dose can be estimated based on radionuclide activity concentrations in different media. These quantities are essential for assessing both external and internal exposure to ionizing radiation. This framework enables dose assessments based on contamination data. The findings underline the importance of combining radiological measurements with dose modeling tools in order to support health risk assessment.
Originality/Value: This paper provides a structured overview of how key dosimetric quantities can be determined from radionuclide concentration data, without direct dosimetric measurements and emphasis on the role of nuclear techniques and dose assessment methodologies as fundamental tools in forensic analysis, in the context of radiological or nuclear emergencies. This study provides a valuable reference for professionals involved in dose assessment and ionizing radiation protection.
References
Beretka, J., Mathew, P. J. (1985). Natural Radioactivity of Australian Building Materials, Industrial Wastes and by-Products, Health Phys. 48, 87-95.
Caridi, F. Spoto, S. E. Mottese, A. F. Paladini, G. Crupi, V. Belvedere, A. Marguccio, S. D’Agostino, M. Faggio, G. Grillo, R. et al. (2022). Multivariate Statistics, Mineralogy, and Radiological Hazards Assessment Due to the Natural Radioactivity Content in Pyroclastic Products from Mt. Etna, Sicily, Southern Italy. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 19, 11040.
Cember, H., Johnson, T.E. (2009). Introduction to Health Physics. Fourth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Clement, C.H. (2012). Compendium of Dose Coefficients based on ICRP Publication 60, Annals of the ICRP, 41 (1).
Dimović, S., Ćurčić, M., Nikezić, D., Lazović, I., Radivojević, D. (2024). Rapid deep learning prediction model using satellite imagery for radiation accident Announcement system in Serbia. Nuclear Engineering and Design. 430, 113657.
Janković, M. M., Sarap, N. B., Pantelić, G. K., Todorović, D. J. (2015). Comparison of two different methods for gross alpha and beta activity determination in water samples. Open Chemistry, 13, 668–674.
Janković, M., Jelić, I., Rajačić, M., Krneta Nikolić, J., Vukanac, I., Dimović, S., Sarap, N., Šljivić-Ivanović, M. (2023). Distribution of Natural Radionuclides and 137Cs in Urban Soil Samples from the City of Novi Sad, Serbia - Radiological Risk Assessment. Toxics. 11(4), 345.
Krneta Nikolić, J., Rajačić, M., Todorović, D., Janković, M., Sarap, N., Pantelić, G., Vukanac, I. (2018). Semiempirical Efficiency Calibration in Semiconductor HPGeGamma-Ray Spectroscopy. Journal of Spectroscopy. Article ID 5392658.
Offsite Dose Calculation Manual. (2002). Exelon Nuclear Revision 3.
Rulebook on Radioactivity Control of Goods During the Import, Export and Transit (Official Gazette of RS, No. 86/19).
Rulebook on Limits of Exposure to Ionizing Radiation and Measurements for Assessing Levels of Exposure to Ionizing Radiation (Official Gazette of RS, No. 86/2011 and 50/2018)
Rulebook on the Limits of Radionuclide Content in Drinking Water, Food, Feedstuf, Medicines, Items of General Use, Building Materials and Other Goods that are Put on the Market (Official Gazette of RS, No. 36/18).
Sarap, N. B., Janković, M. M., Krneta Nikolić, J. D., Vukanac, I. S., Rajačić, M. M. (2024). Establishing control points scheme and baseline measurements for environmental radioactivity monitoring: A case study of the nuclear Institute. Nuclear Engineering and Design. 427, 113411.
Taskin, H. Karavus, M. Ay, P. Topuzoglu, A. Hidiroglu, S. Karahan, G. (2009). Radionuclide concentrations in soil and lifetime cancer risk due to gamma radioactivity in Kirklareli, Turkey. J. Environ. Radioact. 100, 49-53.
Todorović, N., Nikolov, J., Stojković, I. (2018). Nuclear analytical techniques liquid scintillation
Spectroscopy. Novi Sad: Faculty of Science, Department of Physics.
Trevisi, R., Ampollini, M., Bogi, A., Bucci, S., Caldognetto, E., Verde, G.L., Leonardi, F., Luzzi, L., Nuccetelli, C., Peroni, I., Picciolo, F., Pratesi, G., Trotti, F., Ugolini, R., Venoso, G., Pugliese, M. (2023). Radiological Protection in Industries Involving NORM: A (Graded) Methodological Approach to Characterize the Exposure Situations. Atmosphere. 14, 635.
UNSCEAR 2020/2021. (2022). Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes, Sources, Effects and Risks of Ionizing Radiation. New York: United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation.
Veljković, F. Dodevski, V., Marinović-Cincović, M., Veličković, S., Janković, B. (2024). Combustion Behavior of Cellulose Ester Fibrous Bundles from Used Cigarette Filters: Kinetic Analysis Study. Polymers, 16, 1480.
Veljković, F., Kong, X., Dimitrijević, S., Janković, M., Janković, B., Dodevski, V., Veličković, S. (2025). Experimental Investigation of the Stability of AunCln+m− (n = 1–5; m =1, 3, 5, 7) Clusters by Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Molecules. 30(10) 2227.
Xinwei, L. (2004). Radioactivity Level in Chinese Building Ceramic Tile. Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 112, 323-327.
