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Evaluation of external exposures of the population of Ozyorsk, Russia, with luminescence measurements of bricks.
Radiat. Environ. Biophys. 48, 405-417 (2009)
Recently discovered historical documents indicate that large releases of noble gases (mainly (41)Ar and radioactive isotopes of Kr and Xe) from the Mayak Production Association (MPA) over the period from 1948 to 1956 may have caused considerable external exposures of both, inhabitants of Ozyorsk and former inhabitants of villages at the upper Techa River. To quantify this exposure, seven brick samples from three buildings in Ozyorsk, located 8-10 km north-northwest from the radioactive gas release points, were taken. The absorbed dose in brick was measured in a depth interval of 3-13 mm below the exposed surface of the bricks by means of the thermoluminescence (TL) and the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) method. Generally, luminescence properties using TL were more favorable for precise dose determination than using OSL, but within their uncertainties the results from both methods agree well with each other. The absorbed dose due to natural radiation was assessed and subtracted under the assumption of the bricks to be completely dry. The weighted average of the anthropogenic dose for all samples measured by TL and OSL is 10 +/- 9 and 1 +/- 9 mGy, respectively. An upper limit for a possible anthropogenic dose in brick that would not be detected due to the measurement uncertainties is estimated at 24 mGy. This corresponds to an effective dose of about 21 mSv. A similar range of values is obtained in recently published dispersion calculations that were based on reconstructed MPA releases. It is concluded that the release of radioactive noble gases from the radiochemical and reactor plants at Mayak PA did not lead to a significant external exposure of the population of Ozyorsk. In addition, the study demonstrates the detection limit for anthropogenic doses in ca. 60-year-old bricks to be about 24 mGy, if luminescence methods are used.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
Keywords
optically stimulated luminescence; regenerative-dose protocol; 210-degrees-C TL peak; mayak nuclear workers; retrospective dosimetry; thermoluminescence measurements; techa riverside; cosmic-ray; test-site; quartz
Language
english
Publication Year
2009
HGF-reported in Year
2009
ISSN (print) / ISBN
0301-634X
e-ISSN
1432-2099
Quellenangaben
Volume: 48,
Issue: 4,
Pages: 405-417
Publisher
Springer
Publishing Place
Berlin/Heidelberg
Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
Institute(s)
Institute of Radiation Protection (ISS)
POF-Topic(s)
30504 - Mechanisms of Genetic and Environmental Influences on Health and Disease
Research field(s)
Radiation Sciences
PSP Element(s)
G-501100-005
PubMed ID
19680674
Scopus ID
70350589144
Erfassungsdatum
2009-11-27