Detection of Irradiated Food and Evaluation of the Given Dose by Electron Spin Resonance, Thermoluminescence, and Gas Chromatographic/Mass Spectrometric Analysis

Abstract The treatment of food with ionizing radiation, at doses lower than 10 kGy, is a preservation technology, which can be used to reduce food spoilage due to microorganisms and to decrease insect infestation, enhancing, in the same time, the hygienic quality, extending the shelf life of food itself. In order to increase the general consumer acceptance and accordingly to facilitate the commercialization and trade of irradiated food, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) validated reliable analytical techniques to identify irradiated foodstuffs for legal control purposes, distinguished in Chemical, Physical, and Microbiological ones, depending on the characteristics of marker …

EXPOSURE OF Gd2O3-ALANINE AND Gd2O3-AMMONIUM TARTRATE ESR DOSIMETERS TO THERMAL NEUTRONS: EXPERIMENTS AND MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS

Identificazione tramite termoluminescenza di gamberi e scampi irradiati: confronto tra le due metodiche di estrazione dei silicati raccomandate nel protocollo europeo

Metodi fisico e biologico di identificazione di alimenti irradiati contenenti cellulosa attraverso l'uso della DNA comet assay e della spettroscopia di risonanza di spin

METODI FISICO E BIOLOGICO DI IDENTIFICAZIONE DI ALIMENTI IRRADIATI CONTENENTI CELLULOSA ATTRAVERSO L'USO DELLA DNA COMET ASSAY E DELLE SPETTROSCOPIA ESR

Lead(II) ions adsorption onto amyloid particulates: An in depth study

The production of new cost-effective biocompatible sorbent sustainable materials, with natural origins, able to remove heavy metals from water resources is nowadays highly desirable in order to reduce pollution and increase clean water availability. In this context, self-assembled protein materials with amyloid structures seem to have a great potential as natural platform for a broader development of highly-tunable structures. In this work we show how protein particulates, a generic form of protein aggregates, with spherical micro sized shape can be used as adsorbents of Pb2+ ions from aqueous solution. The effect of pH, ionic medium, ionic strength and temperature of the metal ion solution…

A practical and transferable methodology for dose estimation in irradiated spices, based on thermoluminescence dosimetry

Abstract The thermoluminescence technique is recommended by the European Committee for Standardization for the detection of irradiated food containing silicates as contaminants. In this work, the applicability of the thermoluminescence technique as a quantitative method to assess the original dose in irradiated oregano was studied; the additive-dose method was used, with reirradiation doses up to 600 Gy. The proposed new procedure allows to clearly discriminate irradiated from unirradiated samples, even after one year storage, and it gives an acceptable estimation of the original dose; the overall modified procedure requires only one day to be completed.

The additive dose method for dose estimation in irradiated oregano by thermoluminescence technique

The ionizing radiation treatment of food is nowadays a worldwide recognized tool for food preservation, provided that proper and validated identification methods are available and used. The thermoluminescence (TL) technique is one of the physical methods recommended by the European Committee for Standardization to distinguish irradiated from not irradiated samples, for food containing silicate minerals as contaminants, such as spices and aromatic herbs, which are among the most frequently irradiated foods. The experimental results presented in this work show that, at least up to the highest tested doses (2 kGy), it is possible to set up a procedure to estimate the actual dose in the irradia…

Assessment of contamination of <em>Salmonella</em> spp. in imported black pepper and sesame seed and salmonella inactivation by gamma irradiation

This study shows the frequency of seeds samples contaminated by Salmonella spp. collected randomly from local markets; on 30 black pepper sample no contaminated sample was found while Salmonella spp. was detected in 3 of 36 (8.3%) analyzed sesame samples; three different serotypes were identified: S. Montevideo, S. Stanleyville e S. Tilene. The efficacy of gamma irradiation to inactivate Salmonella Montevideo in black pepper and sesame irradiated between 1 and 5 kGy was evaluated. 3 kGy is sufficient to reduce of 3-4 log CFU/g; whereas 5 kGy have been need to reduce 5.5-6 log CFU/g for samples of black pepper and sesame. No statistically significant differences were found between black pepp…

ESR response to gamma-rays of alanine pellets containing B(OH)3 or Gd2O3.

ESR response to gamma-irradiation (1-50 Gy) of blends containing alanine and either B(OH)(3) or Gd(2)O(3) is reported. The sensitivity of the alanine--B(OH)(3) blend is comparable to the sensitivity of pure alanine, although its lowest detectable dose, LDD, is smaller ( approximately 1.3 Gy) than that of pure alanine ( approximately 2.9 Gy). Alanine with Gd(2)O(3) is about two times more sensitive than pure alanine, and its LDD is 0.8 Gy. The better sensitivity and LDD are probably due to the high atomic number (Z=64) of gadolinium, which enhances the interaction probability with photons and, consequently, the radical yield. This study suggests that other high-Z atoms may be useful for incr…

Electron Spin Resonance and Thermoluminescence dating of shells and sediments from Sambaqui (shell mound) Santa Marta II, Brazil

In Tupi, the word Sambaqui means “mound of shells”. These archaeological sites are cultural vestiges left by the prehistoric occupation of the Brazilian coast from five to six thousand years ago. Mollusks, fishes, and other marine edible foods were important for the survival of this population. The remains of foods, mainly shells, were heaped up, giving a mound of different proportions, which became part of the landscape of the Brazilian coastal plain. Due to the large number of Sambaquis in Brazil and considering that Sambaqui Santa Marta II, Laguna, SC, has not yet been dated, Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) measurements were performed in aragonite shells collected from different layers of …

Una rapida metodica di estrazione del 2-dodecilciclobutanone per la identificazione tramite GC/MS di alimenti irradiati contenenti grassi

PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON THE IDENTIFICAZION OF IRRADIATED CHICKEN WITH GC/MS AS A FUNCTION OF STORAGE CONDITIONS

Sensitivity of alanine dosimeters with gadolinium exposed to 6 MV photons at clinical doses.

In this study we analyzed the ESR signal of alanine dosimeters with gadolinium exposed to 6 MV linear accelerator photons. We observed that the addition of gadolinium brings about an improvement in the sensitivity to photons because of its high atomic number. The experimental data indicated that the addition of gadolinium increases the sensitivity of the alanine to 6 MV photons. This enhancement was better observed at high gadolinium concentrations for which the tissue equivalence is heavily reduced. However, information about the irradiation setup and of the radiation beam features allows one to correct for this difference. Monte Carlo simulations were carried out to obtain information on …

The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry can be used for dose estimation in irradiated pork

Abstract Food safety can be improved using ionizing radiation to reduce food spoilage and to extend its shelf life. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) has been validated by the European Community as a powerful method to identify irradiated food containing fat. The preliminary goals of our research were: (i) to set up this method, based on the detection of radiation induced 2-dodecylcyclobutanones (2-DCB) in pork muscle samples and (ii) to check the microbiological efficacy of the treatment. The main objective was to render the GC/MS a quantitative technique for dose estimation, through the measurement of the 2-DCB concentration in the irradiated sample. Our results show that t…

Proprietà del segnale ESR di dosimetri a tartarato di ammonio irradiati con radiazioni di diverso LET

Impiego delle radiazioni ionizzanti per il trattamento degli alimenti a scopo conservativo

Response charactterization of ammonium tartrate solid state pellets for ESR dosimetry with radiotherapeutic photon and electron beams.

Solid state pellets (1 mm thick) for electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry were made using ammonium tartrate as the radiation-sensitive substance. Their behaviour was experimentally investigated as a function of dose with 60Co gamma rays. The calibration function obtained permits measurements of absorbed dose in the 2-50 Gy range, with a combined uncertainty of +/-4%. The lowest detectable dose was about 0.5 Gy. These properties are comparable with or even better than those of ESR dosimeters made from other materials. The time stability of the ESR signal of ammonium tartrate dosimeters at different storage conditions after irradiation was studied. A rather complex behaviour was observed, …

An inter-laboratory comparison to evaluate the suitability of EN 1787 standard to detect irradiation in plant-origin foods with health benefits

Abstract This paper reports the results of a study carried out to verify the applicability of the EN 1787 method, which uses the Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) technique for the identification of irradiated plant-origin foods with health benefits. The method was tested on samples of herbal ingredients of Plant Food Supplements (PFSs), nuts and fresh blueberries. Untreated and irradiated samples of Camellia sinensis (leaves) Ginkgo biloba (leaves), Glycine max (seeds), Silybum marianum (fruits), Vaccinium myrtillus (fruits), almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pistachios, walnuts and fresh blueberries were analysed. The work includes an inter-laboratory blind test involving five Italian laboratories…

Improvement of ESR dosimetry for thermal neutron beams through the addition of gadolinium.

In this paper, the addition of gadolinium is proposed as a useful tool to enhance the electron spin resonance (ESR) sensitivity of organic compounds to thermal neutrons. The target of this work is the detection, through the ESR technique, of the thermal neutron fluence in a mixed field of photons and neutrons. Gadolinium was chosen because it has a very high capture cross section to thermal neutrons; its nuclear reaction with thermal neutrons induces complex inner shell transitions that generate, besides other particles, Auger electrons, which in turn release their energy in the neighborhood (only several nanometers) of the place of reaction. Gadolinium was added to two organic molecules: a…

Mycotoxin contamination of animal feedingstuff: detoxification by gamma irradiation and reduction of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A concentrations

Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites identified in many agricultural products screened for toxigenic moulds. They have been reported to be carcinogenic, teratogenic, tremorogenic, haemorrhagic and dermatitic to a wide range of organisms. With the increasing stringent regulations for mycotoxins imposed by importing countries such as those of the European Union, many cereals that are not safe for human consumption are used in formulations intended for animal feed. Gamma-rays are reported in the scientific literature to destroy ochratoxin A and aflatoxin in food crops and feed. The present study provides preliminary data for establishing the effect of dose of gamma-irradiation, ranging …

TL dose reconstruction in watch glasses exposed to photon, electron and proton beams

APPLICAZIONE E SVILUPPO DI UN METODO DI IDENTIFICAZIONE DEI MANGIMI IRRADIATI E VALUTAZIONE DELLA CAPACITA' SANITIZZANTE DEL TRATTAMENTO RADIANTE

Effects of gamma-irradiation on the alpha-tocopherol and fatty acids content of raw unpeeled almond kernels (Prunus dulcis)

Abstract The present study evaluated fatty acid composition and α-tocopherol content of almond as a function of irradiation dose in order to determine dose levels causing minimal undesirable changes to almonds. Raw unpeeled almonds variety Tuono ( Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb) were irradiated using 60 Co source at dose of 0.5, 1.5, 3, 6, 8 and 10 kGy. Both control and irradiated samples were kept frozen and immediately analyzed. The data obtained showed no change in fatty acid compositions up to a dose of 10 kGy; on the contrary, a general trend observed is that increasing the dose of irradiation resulted in the decrease of α-tocopherol content. The study has shown that irradiation is a…

Qualitative and quantitative thermoluminescence analysis on irradiated oregano

Abstract Thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetry is one of the physical methods used for the identification of irradiated food, suitable for foods from which silicate minerals can be extracted. The aims of the present work were to apply the TL analysis for a qualitative identification of irradiated oregano, and to set up a quantitative procedure to estimate the original treatment dose on the sample. The experimental results show that the TL analysis allows to distinguish irradiated oregano even seven months after the treatment. The additive dose procedure gives a rough estimation of the treatment dose, but can be helpful when the TL ratio method is unsatisfactory.

Alanine blends for ESR measurements of thermal neutron fluence in a mixed radiation field

In this paper, the results of a study on the electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry to measure thermal neutron fluence in a mixed radiation field (neutron and photons) are presented. The ESR responses of alanine dosemeters with different additives are compared. In particular, the (10)B-acid boric and the Gd-oxide were chosen to enhance the sensitivity of alanine dosemeters to thermal neutrons. Irradiations were carried out inside the thermal column of the TAPIRO reactor of the ENEA center, Casaccia Rome. The main results are a greater neutron sensitivity and a smaller lowest detectable fluence for the dosemeters with gadolinium than for dosemeters of alanine with (10)B, which is well known…

EFFECTS OF GAMMA IRRADIATION ON THE ALFA TOCOPHEROL AND FATTY ACIDS CONTENT IN RAW UNPEELED ALMOND KERNELS (PRUNUS DULCIS)

Applicazione della spettroscopia ESR per la ricostruzione della dose in ossa di pollo irradiato a scopo conservativo

Watch glasses exposed to 6 MV photons and 10 MeV electrons analysed by means of ESR technique

γ-irradiation as a methods for decontaminating food: reduction/elimination of mycotoxins in raw unpeeled almond kernels (Prunus dulcis)

A fast extraction procedure of 2-dodecylcyclobutanone for the identification of irradiated pork, employing gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis

Riconoscimento e analisi del segnale della chitina nello spettro ESR di Mn2+ del guscio di scampi irradiati

DOSimetria in Situazioni di Emergenza Radiologica (DOSSIER)

Dosimetria ESR per la identificazione di frutta secca irradiata e stima della dose

DOSE RECOSTRUCTION IN IRRADIATED FOOD CONTAINING HYDROXIAPATITE USING ESR SPECTROMETRY

GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC/MASS SPECTROMETRIC AND MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSISES ON IRRADIATED CHICKEN

Application of the ESR spectrometry to evaluate the original dose in irradiated dried fruit

The identification of irradiated dried fruit can be achieved by means of the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry, as recommended by the European Community, since ionizing radiation induces free radicals in cellulose, a constituent of the shell. The aim of this work was to use the ESR spectrometry also as a quantitative procedure to evaluate the original dose in irradiated dried fruits, using the additive dose method. Little shell pieces, taken from nuts, chestnuts, peanuts and pistachios, were irradiated at “original” dose values in the range 1 to 8 kGy, and the ESR signal intensity was measured. Each specimen was then reirradiated with added doses of 1 kGy, and the ESR signal was me…

Uso della spettroscopia ESR per la valutazione della dose nel pollo irradiato

VALUTAZIONE DELL'EFFETTO DEL TRATTAMENTO CON RADIAZIONI IONIZZANTI SUL CONTENUTO DI MICOTOSSINE NELLA FRUTTA SECCA

Le micotossine sono un gruppo eterogeneo di sostanze chimiche a basso peso molecolare prodotte dal metabolismo secondario di varie specie di funghi tossigeni appartenenti ai generi Aspergillus, Penicillum, Alternaria e Fusarium [1]. Sono molto resistenti al calore e non vengono completamente distrutte durante le normali operazioni di cottura, né dai trattamenti fisici, chimici e biologici cui vengono normalmente sottoposte le derrate durante i processi di preparazione degli alimenti. La loro possibile presenza in molti alimenti costituisce oggi un motivo di crescente preoccupazione per la salute dei consumatori poiché alcune micotossine manifestano caratteristiche di genotossicità, cancerog…

DATA ANALYSIS OF ESR SIGNALS OF DOSIMETERS FOR NEUTRON-GAMMA MIXED FIELD WITH GADOLINIUM AS AN ADDITIVE

RISPOSTA ESR DI COMPOSTI ORGANICI PER LA DOSIMETRIA DI NEUTRONI TERMICI

EPR dating of shells from Malhada Marsh, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The formation of the coastal plain of the Brazilian sea is mainly due to the fluctuation of relative sea level in the past. Armacao dos Buzios or simply Buzios is a municipality in the microregion of lakes, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. In this region there is a lowland area about two meters above current sea level. This lowland area is also known as coastal plain of Una River. It is expected that during the Holocene period the sea level reached a maximum about 2.5 meters above the current level. During that time billions of mollusks lived and proliferated in the shallow waters around the coastal plain of the Una River. As they died their shells formed a layer in the soil including Malhad…

Exposure of -alanine and -ammonium tartrate ESR dosimeters to thermal neutrons: Experiments and Monte Carlo simulations

Abstract Electron spin resonance solid state dosimetry with alanine and ammonium tartrate pellets is a valuable tool in both medical and industrial applications when dealing with photon and charged particle beams. Its use in neutron beams is limited by the low nuclear cross section values of atoms in the pellets. Addition of boron (10B) or gadolinium ( Gd 2 O 3 ) , known to have high neutron capture cross sections, has been proposed to improve neutron sensitivity. In this paper we present the results of an experimental study concerning neutron sensitivity vs. gadolinium concentration in dosimeter mixtures, with the aim of optimizing mixture composition and maximizing the electron spin resol…

Watch glasses exposed to 6 MV photons and 10 MeV electrons analysed by means of ESR technique: A preliminary study

Abstract In this work we report a case study of the ESR response of watch glasses exposed to 6 MV photons and to 10 MeV electrons. The choice of watch glasses is justified by the fact that watch glasses are very close to the exposed individual. For both types of radiation beams, the absorbed doses belong to the range between 1 and 20 Gy. The samples have been irradiated in water-equivalent plastic phantom with a linear accelerator used for radiotherapy. After exposure watch glass samples have been cut in small strip-shaped pieces with suitable size to be put into the quartz tube for ESR measurements. The signal induced by radiation (RIS) lies in the g ∼ 2 region and must be discriminated fr…

Improvement of neutron sensitivity for lithium formate ESR dosimeters: A Monte Carlo analysis

This work presents the computational analysis of the sensitivity improvements that could be achieved in lithium formate monohydrate (LFM) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosemeters exposed to neutron beams. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were performed on LFM pellets exposed to neutron beams with different energy spectra at various depths inside a water phantom. Various computations were carried out by considering different enrichments of 6Li inside the LFM matrix as well as addition of different amounts of gadolinium oxide inside the pellet blend. The energy released per unit mass was calculated with the aim of redicting the increase in dose achievable by the addition of sensitizers in…

Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric and microbiological analyses on irradiated chiken

Ionizing radiation is widely used as treatment technique for food preservation. It involves among others reduction of microbial contamination, disinfestations, sprout inhibition and extension of shelf life of food. However, the commercialization of irradiated food requires the availability of reliable methods to identify irradiated foodstuffs. In this paper, we present results on the application to irradiated chicken of this method, based on the detection, in muscle and skin samples, of the peaks of ions 98 Da and 112 Da, in a ratio approximately 4:1, typical of radiation induced 2-dodecylcyclobutanones (2-DCB). Aim of the work was also to study the time stability of the measured parameters…

APPLICATION OF THE ESR SPECTROMETRY TO EVALUATE THE ORIGINAL DOSE IN IRRADIATED FOOD CONTAINING HYDROXIAPATITE

Evaluation of the original dose in irradiated dried fruit by ESR spectroscopy

Thermoluminescence response of sodalime glass irradiated with photon and electron beams in the 1-20 Gy range

Abstract The thermoluminescence response of a watch commercial glass was studied after irradiation with photons and electrons, in the range 1–20 Gy, of interest in accidental dosimetry; a linear response was obtained with both beams. This result, together with the satisfactory time stability of the thermoluminescence signal, indicates this glass as a potential material for retrospective dosimetry applications.

DOPED ALANINE ESR DOSIMETERS FOR MEASUREMENTS OF THERMAL NEUTRON FLUENCE IN A MIXED RADIATION FIELD

DOSE RECONSTRUCTION IN IRRADIATED OREGANO BY THERMOLUMINESCENCE DOSIMETRY

EPR DOSIMETRY IN A MIXED NEUTRON AND GAMMA RADIATION FIELD

Suitability of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy for criticality dosimetry was evaluated for tooth enamel, mannose and alanine pellets during the 'international intercomparison of criticality dosimetry techniques' at the SILENE reactor held in Valduc in June 2002, France. These three materials were irradiated in neutron and gamma-ray fields of various relative intensities and spectral distributions in order to evaluate their neutron sensitivity. The neutron response was found to be around 10% for tooth enamel, 45% for mannose and between 40 and 90% for alanine pellets according their type. According to the IAEA recommendations on the early estimate of criticality accident a…

Evaluation of the original dose in irradiated dried fruit by EPR spectroscopy

Abstract The electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) is one of the physical methods, recommended by the European Committee for Standardization, for the identification of irradiated food containing cellulose, such as dried fruit. In this work the applicability of EPR as identification method of irradiated pistachios, hazelnuts, peanuts, chestnuts, pumpkin seeds is evaluated; the time stability of the radiation induced signal is studied and the single aliquot additive dose method is used to evaluate the dose in the product.

THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY IN ESR DOSIMETRY AT UNIVERSITA' DI PALERMO, ITALY

ANALISI DEI RISULTATI OTTENUTI IN SEGUITO ALLO SVILUPPO DI UN PROGETTO NAZIONALE SU "SVILUPPO, APPLICAZIONE E VALIDAZIONE DI METODI: CHIMICI, FISICI E BIOLOGICI PER LA IDENTIFICAZIONE DI ALIMENTI IRRADIATI"

Effects of gamma-irradiation on trehalose–hydroxyethylcellulose microspheres loaded with vancomycin

Ionizing radiation can be used as a drug sterilization technique, provided that the drug itself is not modified and that no toxic products are produced; moreover, if the irradiated product is a drug delivery system, the drug release characteristics must not be significantly altered by radiation. The aim of this work was to study the effects of sterilization by ionizing radiation on hydroxyethylcellulose/trehalose spherical micromatrices, containing the antibiotic vancomycin. Our experimental results showed that gamma-rays did not alter the chromophore groups of vancomycin (UV measurements), and did not modify the kinetic behavior of drug release from microspheres. Moreover, no significant c…

Power saturation of ESR signal in ammonium tartrate exposed to 60Co gamma-ray photons, electrons and protons.

Abstract Marrale, M., Brai, M., Triolo, A., Bartolotta, A. and D'Oca, M. C. Power Saturation of ESR Signal in Ammonium Tartrate Exposed to 60Co γ-Ray Photons, Electrons and Protons. Radiat. Res. 166, 802–809 (2006). In this paper we present an investigation of the electron spin resonance (ESR) line shape of ammonium tartrate (AT) dosimeters exposed to radiation with different linear energy transfer (LET). We exposed our dosimeters to γ-ray photons (60Co), 7 MeV and 14 MeV initial energy electrons, and 19.3 MeV initial energy protons. The differences in the power saturation behavior of ESR spectra of AT irradiated with photons, electrons and protons could be correlated to the effective LET o…

Antibacterial PEGylated Solid Lipid Microparticles for Cosmeceutical Purpose: Formulation, Characterization, and Efficacy Evaluation

The development of efficacious means of delivering antioxidant polyphenols from natural sources for the treatment of skin diseases is of great interest for many cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies. Resveratrol (RSV) and Limonene (LIM) have been shown to possess good anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus infections responsible for many skin disorders, such as acne vulgaris. In this study, solid lipid microparticles are designed as composite vehicles capable of encapsulating a high amount of trans-RSV and enhancing its absorption through the stratum corneum. A microparticulate system based on mixture of PEGylate lipids, long-chain alcohols and LIM is a…

Fast Extraction Procedure of 2- DodecylCycloButanone for the identification of irradiated pork, employing Gaschromatographic/Mass Spectrometric analysis

PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF IRRADIATED CHICKEN WITH GC/MS A FUNCTION OF STORAGE CONDITIONS

Utilizzo del gadolinio in composti organici per la misura di fluenza di neutroni termici

THE EFFECT OF GADOLINIUM ON THE ESR RESPONSE OF ALANINE AND AMMONIUM TARTRATE EXPOSED TO THERMAL NEUTRONS

Many efforts have been made to develop neutron capture therapy (NCT) for cancer treatment. Among the challenges in using NCT is the characterization of the features of the mixed radiation field and of its components. In this study, we examined the enhancement of the ESR response of pellets of alanine and ammonium tartrate with gadolinium oxide exposed to a thermal neutron beam. In particular, the ESR response of these dosimeters as a function of the gadolinium content inside the dosimeter was analyzed. We found that the addition of gadolinium improves the sensitivity of both alanine and ammonium tartrate. However, the use of gadolinium involves a reduces in or abolishes tissue equivalence b…

Determinazione tramite GC/MS di etilentiourea (ETU) in urine di lavoratori di una azienda vitivinicola siciliana esposti a mancozeb

ESR response to 60Co-rays of ammonium tartrate pellets using as additive

Abstract This work presents experimental results regarding a new ammonium tartrate blend for ESR dosimetry, with a higher sensitivity and a lower lowest detectable dose (LDD) to Co 60 γ -rays than the recently used pure ammonium tartrate. The blend composed by ammonium tartrate and gadolinium-oxide ( Gd 2 O 3 ) shows a greater sensitivity ( ∼ 2 times) and a smaller LDD than ammonium tartrate. The increased sensitivity was mainly attributed to the great atomic number ( Z = 64 ) of gadolinium, that increases the effective atomic number of the blend; the interaction probability with photons and consequently the radical yield is therefore enhanced. Moreover ammonium tartrate with Gd 2 O 3 has a…

Irradiation detection of herbal ingredients used in plant food supplements by Electron Spin Resonance on samples pre-treated with alcoholic extraction

Abstract This study aimed to verify the applicability of the EN 1787 method for the detection of irradiation in herbal ingredients used in Plant Food Supplements (PFSs). In matrices such as herbs and spices the main limit of the method is the presence of intrinsic radicals responsible for spurious signals leading to complex ESR spectra. To overcome this limit, before ESR measurement a treatment with alcohol has been proposed (Delincee and Soika, 2002; Ahn et al., 2012, 2014). As reported in the literature, this treatment is expected to reduce/eliminate the confounding signals so that the samples may be correctly classified. In this study the efficacy of the pre-treatment was tested on raw h…

ESR RESPONSE TO 60 CO-RAYS OF AMMONIUM TARTRATE PELLETS USING GD2O3 AS ADDITIVE.

This work presents experimental results regarding a new ammonium tartrate blend for ESR dosimetry, with a higher sensitivity and a lower lowest detectable dose (LDD) to 60 Co -rays than the recently used pure ammonium tartrate. The blend composed by ammonium tartrate and gadolinium-oxide (Gd2 O3 ) shows a greater sensitivity (∼2 times) and a smaller LDD than ammonium tartrate. The increased sensitivity was mainly attributed to the great atomic number (Z = 64) of gadolinium, that increases the effective atomic number of the blend; the interaction probability with photons and consequently the radical yield is therefore enhanced. Moreover ammonium tartrate with Gd2 O3 has a linear dose respons…

Quality evaluation of extra-virgin olive oils from Sicilian genotypes grown in a high-density system

Studying the sensory profile and chemical composition of monovarietal extra-virgin olive oils (EVOOs) is important to define and manage their quality and uniqueness. Chemical and sensory traits of olive oils from 14 minor Sicilian olive genotypes in comparison with oils from six major Sicilian and three international cultivars were analysed. Oils were extracted in 2015 from fruit of the 23 genotypes grown in an experimental orchard at a planting density of 1140 trees ha−1. Fatty acid composition, phenol composition, carotenoid content and antioxidant power were determined and analysed using univariate and multivariate procedures, in particular Nocellara Etnea along with carotenoid, phenol c…

Thermoluminescence response of sodalime glass irradiated with proton and neutron beams

In the research field of emergency dosimeters to be used in case of accidental radiation exposure of the population, watch glass has been considered as a possible fortuitous dosimetric material. This paper reports on results obtained by thermoluminescence of glass samples exposed to neutron and proton beams. Thermoluminescent glow curves have been analyzed for each irradiation studying the modifications induced by the irradiation as a function of proton dose or neutron fluence. The glow curve in a specific temperature range has been used as dosimetric parameter. The thermoluminescence response of samples exposed to protons has been found to be linear in the dose range between 2 and 20 Gy an…

Preliminary application of thermoluminescence and single aliquot regeneration method for dose reconstruction in soda lime glass

The research described in this paper shows that the use of the single aliquot regeneration (SAR) method for thermoluminescence (TL) measurements applied to soda lime glasses allows to carry out a retrospective dose evaluation. We have followed a fast and efficient sample preparation procedure which permits measurements without powdering and sieving processes. We have analyzed the TL signal of commercial soda lime watch glass irradiated with 6 Mega Volts (MV) LINAC photons, 10 MeV LINAC electrons and 62 MeV protons. After the initial exposure and following TL reading, the samples are successively irradiated with increasing doses of photons. Therefore, for each sample its calibration curve is…

RIDUZIONE DEL CONTENUTO DI MICOTOSSINE DOPO TRATTAMENTO CON RADIAZIONI IONIZZANTI VALUTATO SU CAMPIONI DI MANDORLE SICILIANE

The identification of irradiated crustaceans and evaluation of the dose by thermoluminescence: Intercomparison between two methods for extracting minerals

Abstract The thermoluminescence (TL) is one of the physical methods recommended by the European Committee for Standardization, for the identification of irradiated food from which silicate minerals can be extracted. The efficacy of the method strongly depends on the quantity and purity of the extracted minerals, and therefore on the extraction procedure. In this work we applied the TL for the identification of crustacean Nephrops norvegicus irradiated at 0.5−1.5−3.0 kGy, comparing two different procedures for extracting minerals: by means of a density gradient or with acid hydrolysis. The identification of the irradiation treatment was always achieved with both procedures, without any false…

IMPROVEMENT OF SENSITIVITY IN ESR GAMMA-DOSIMETRY BY GADOLINIUM ADDICTION

Application of the ESR spectroscopy to estimate the original dose in irradiated chicken bone

Abstract The paper discusses the results of an investigation aimed to use the ESR spectroscopy as a quantitative procedure to estimate the original dose in irradiated chicken. The time stability of the ESR signal was at first carried out, to obtain a correction factor to be applied to the dose estimated with the added dose method. Our results show that this procedure gives an estimation of the original dose within ±25%.

Ottimizzazione della dosimetria a termoluminescenza per la identificazione di spezie ed erbe aromatiche irradiate

Combined TL and 10B-alanine ESR dosimetry for BNCT

The dosimetric technique described in this paper is based on electron spin resonance (ESR) detectors using an alanine-boric compound acid enriched with 1 0 B, and beryllium oxide thermoluminescent (TL) detectors; with this combined dosimetry, it is possible to discriminate the doses due to thermal neutrons and gamma radiation in a mixed field. Irradiations were carried out inside the thermal column of a TRIGA MARK II water-pool-type research nuclear reactor, also used for Boron Neutron Capture therapy (BNCT) applications, with thermal neutron fluence from 10 9 to 10 1 4 n t h cm - 2 . The ESR dosemeters using the alanine-boron compound indicated ESR signals about 30-fold stronger than those…