Search results for "Radiation Monitoring"
showing 10 items of 33 documents
Effect of the relative optical air mass and the clearness index on solar erythemal UV irradiance
2014
This paper analyses the effects of the clearness index (Kt) and the relative optical air mass (mr) on erythemal UV irradiance (UVER). The UVER measurements were made in Valencia (Spain) from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm between June 2003 and December 2012 and (140,000 data points). Firstly, two models were used to calculate values for the erythemal ultraviolet irradiance clearness index (KtUVER) as a function of the global irradiance clearness index (Kt). Secondly, a potential regression model to measure the KtUVER as a function of the relative optical air mass was studied. The coefficients of this regression were evaluated for clear and cloudy days, as well as for days with high and low ozone levels…
Monte Carlo evaluation of kerma in an HDR brachytherapy bunker
2004
In recent years, the use of high dose rate (HDR) after-loader machines has greatly increased due to the shift from traditional Cs-137/Ir-192 low dose rate (LDR) to HDR brachytherapy. The method used to calculate the required concrete and, where appropriate, lead shielding in the door is based on analytical methods provided by documents published by the ICRP, the IAEA and the NCRP. The purpose of this study is to perform a more realistic kerma evaluation at the entrance maze door of an HDR bunker using the Monte Carlo code GEANT4. The Monte Carlo results were validated experimentally. The spectrum at the maze entrance door, obtained with Monte Carlo, has an average energy of about 110 keV, m…
Gamma activity and geochemical features of building materials: estimation of gamma dose rate and indoor radon levels in Sicily.
2001
A high-purity germanium detector has been used to measure the abundance of radium (Ra), thorium (Th) and potassium (K) in building materials used in Sicilian dwellings. The measurements were performed to evaluate which material was suitable for the construction of an enclosure, which would have a low background emission. The materials examined in this work showed concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K dramatically variable depending on the lithologies, particularly in the case of blocks, sands and aggregates commonly used in building materials in Sicily. The results are discussed and a criterion is indicated to reduce the radiation dose to humans. Since radon inlet is a major health problem…
Seasonal variation of air kerma rate in Sicily.
2007
Thermoluminescence dosimetry has been used to measure air kerma in 29 sites in Sicily. Four three month measurement campaigns have been carried out in order to assess seasonal variations. Average annual values between 20 and 90 nGy h(-1), after cosmic background subtraction, are reported. Average annual values are strongly dependent on site lithology, and we find that winter data are generally the highest, while spring and autumn rates are generally the lowest with very similar trends in any site. Summer values generally lay in between. Largest seasonal variations are found in sites along the southern coast of the island, probably because of stronger action of winds affecting radon, along w…
Obesity Triples the Radiation Dose of Stone Protocol Computerized Tomography
2013
Patients with recurrent nephrolithiasis are often evaluated and followed with computerized tomography. Obesity is a risk factor for nephrolithiasis. We evaluated the radiation dose of computerized tomography in obese and nonobese adults.We scanned a validated, anthropomorphic male phantom according to our institutional renal stone evaluation protocol. The obese model consisted of the phantom wrapped in 2 Custom Fat Layers (CIRS, Norfolk, Virginia), which have been verified to have the same radiographic tissue density as fat. High sensitivity metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor dosimeters were placed at 20 organ locations in the phantoms to measure organ specific radiation dose…
Dose determination using alanine detectors in a mixed neutron and gamma field for boron neutron capture therapy of liver malignancies
2011
IntroductionBoron Neutron Capture Therapy for liver malignancies is being investigated at the University of Mainz. One important aim is the set-up of a reliable dosimetry system. Alanine dosimeters have previously been applied for dosimetry of mixed radiation fields in antiproton therapy, and may be suitable for measurements in mixed neutron and gamma fields.Materials and MethodsTwo experiments have been carried out in the thermal column of the TRIGA Mark II reactor at the University of Mainz. Alanine dosimeters have been irradiated in a phantom and in liver tissue.ResultsFor the interpretation and prediction of the dose for each pellet, beside the results of the measurements, calculations …
Testicular cancer risk associated with occupational radiation exposure: a systematic literature review.
2010
Testicular cancer is a rare disease, affecting mainly young men aged 15-49. There have been some recent reports that it might be associated with radiation exposure. We have systematically reviewed this topic. English-language articles published between 1990 and 2008 studying the relationship between occupational radiation exposure and testicular cancer were included. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified version of the EPHPP checklist. For ionising radiation we subdivided study populations into occupational groups. No pooled analysis was performed due to the heterogeneity of studies. Seven case-control and 30 cohort studies were included in the review. For radiation workers, one incide…
A calorimeter for the precise determination of the activity of the 144Ce-144Pr anti-neutrino source in the SOX experiment
2018
We describe the design and the performance of a high precision thermal calorimeter, whose purpose was the measurement of the total activity of the 144Ce-144Pr anti-neutrino source of the SOX (Short distance neutrino Oscillation with BoreXino) experiment. SOX aimed at the search for eV-scale sterile neutrinos by means of the Borexino detector at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy and of a very powerful artificial anti-neutrino source located at 8.51 m from the detector center. In order to obtain the required sensitivity, the activity of the source (approximately 150 kCi) had to be known at 1% precision. In this work we report the design of the experimental apparatus and the res…
Real-Time SRAM Based Particle Detector
2015
International audience; Monitoring radiative environments is of great importance, especially for facilities hosting large particle accelerators and nuclear power plants. Such facilities make use of monitoring systems that are usually composed of different sensors to evaluate the intensity of the ambient radiation field in different locations. In this paper, we propose an SRAM-based monitor that works in dynamic mode (memory continuously accessed), according to data gathered by irradiating our sensor in several particle accelerator facilities. The dynamic mode of operation allows for real-time sensing, especially when the particle fluence is high. In order to ensure the efficiency of the det…
A low-level spectrometer with a planar low-energy HPGe: shielding arrangement tests and system performance for 210Pb determination in air filter samp…
2001
A system for low-energy photon spectrometry using a planar germanium detector with appropriate specifications is presented. A spectrometric background investigation has been carried out with various detector shielding arrangements. The characteristics of the system for measurements of 210Pb in air-particulate matter on filters have been determined.