| title: | Development of New Analysis Methods in Environmental Radiation Applications |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF6535 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | Institute of Physics at University of Tartu |
| head of project: | Madis Kiisk |
| duration: | 01.01.2005 - 31.12.2008 |
| description: | Important nuclides for formation of radiation dose are 14C, 137C, 90Sr, transuranic radionuclides, also 232Th, 238U nuclide families with mainly natural origin. Besides artificial radinuclides, increasincly is gaining the importance of natural and technologically enhanced radionuclides in the estimations of radiation dose, since the half live and dose coefficients for majority of natural radionuclides extend artificial nuclides, created by various nuclear activities. The nuclear spectroscopy lab in Institute of Physics in University of Tartu has long experience in environmental protection and radiation dose research. In previous research projects, partly supported by Estonian Science foundation, the research has been concentrated for studies of geographical distribution of 137Cs and 134Cs originating from the nuclear weapon tests and the Chernobyl accident, also for depth profiles studies of unsupported and supported 210Pb including other radionuclides from the natural decay series. Those studies have mainly being concentrated to soil and atmospheric samples. Current project has intended to enlarge the scale of sample types in our studies, which would also provide a basis for a quantitative change in the estimations of environmental impact and radiation dose. Providing better primary data we insure better models of radionuclides migration and distribution, as well providing at the same time better verification of these models. For example, beta-emitting 14C can be measured for depth profile analysis combined with 232Th and 238U series nuclides in peat samples. 137Cs and can be analysed in the sediments of Inland water bodies. Moreover, new applications may follow as a surplus value. These well known accumulators can be dated by 210Pb in sediments, which spans up to 150 years behind from today to pre-industrial era and 14C can be used for dating 50 000 y. in peat samples behind from now. The main objectives of the project are to determine the concentrations of natural and technologically enhanced radionuclides, its environmental impacts and dose estimations in the Estonian environment. More precisely: to develop the analysis methods for sediment and peat samples using gamma spectrometry as an analysis tool; to develop peat samples preparation methods for Accelerator Mass-Spectrometry (AMS) analysis in combined measurements; to perform the sediment and peat analysis using gamma-spectrometry and as well as AMS or Liquid Scintillation Counter for 14C nuclides. 14C analysis has been planned in co-operation with the AMS group at the Nuclear Physics department in Lund University, who have already submitted pertinent grant proposal in Sweden. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Madis Kiisk | Institute of Physics at University of Tartu | Post-doctoral fellow | |
| 2. | Enn Realo | Institute of Physics at University of Tartu | head of laboratory | |
| 3. | Küllike Realo | research associate | ||