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In accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017, the testing laboratory needs to verify its ability to properly perform methods. For radiological testing, the sampling does not affect the results directly, but it has to ensure that sample adequately represents the tested material. To verify the procedure, a sampling of red mud and bauxite ore was conducted. All samples were measured in identical geometry by HPGe spectrometer. The counting rates per unit mass in the recorded spectra were compared. For each measurement series, the mean and standard deviations of respected peaks were calculated, as well as average and standard deviation of all series. The obtained results of each individual series were considered satisfactory, i.e. sampling procedure ensures the representativeness of the bulk material, if it is within ± two standard deviations of the average of the mean values., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

7Be, 210Pb and 137Cs activity concentrations in ground level air at five monitoring stations (MS Vinča, Zeleno Brdo, Zaječar, Vranje and Zlatibor) in Serbia were determined during the period from May 2011. to September 2012., as part of the project monitoring of Serbia. Activity of the radionuclides in air was determined on an HPGe detector (Canberra, relative efficiency 20 %) by standard gamma spectrometry. Concentrations of cosmogenic 7Be, ranged from 1.5 to 8.8 mBq m-3 and exhibit maxima in the spring/summer period. The maximum concentrations for 210Pb were generally obtained in the fall for all investigated locations, and concentrations were in range 3.6 - 30 × 10-4 Bq m-3. The activity concentrations of anthropogenic 137Cs in ground level air, during the observed period, were at level 0.3 - 8 μBq m-3. The variations in 7Be/210Pb activity ratio for the investigated stations are also presented. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III43009]

Activities of 7Be and 210Pb were monitored in surface air in Belgrade, Serbia, from 2004 to 2012. The measurements were taken from two locations, in an open field of a city suburb and in the central city area. The activities were determined on HPGe detectors by standard gamma spectrometry. The 7Be activity shows a pronounced seasonal pattern, with the maximum in spring-summer and minimum in winter, while the 210Pb activity exhibits two maxima, in autumn and late winter. The mean monthly concentrations measured at both sites are below 9 mBq/m3 and 1.3 mBq/m3 for 7Be and 210Pb, respectively. The obtained correlation of the 7Be activity with the number of sun-spots is not statistically significant. Relations of the radionuclides' activities with climate variables (precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, cloud cover, sunshine hours, and atmospheric pressure) are also investigated, but the only significant correlations are found for the 7Be activity with temperature and sunshine hours, and the 210Pb activity with atmospheric pressure. The maximum 7Be and 210Pb activities corresponding to binned total monthly precipitation data imply different modes of the radionuclide scavenging from the atmosphere. During dry periods, accumulation of the radionuclides in the atmosphere leads to their increased activities, but no correlation was found between the activities and the number of consecutive dry days. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 43007: Studying climate change and its influence on the environment: impacts, adaptation and mitigation]

A considerable number of primordial radioisotopes are present in almost all the samples extracted from the Earth’s crust, such as oil, rock, soil or other materials. Their concentrations are often determined by gamma spectrometry. Although the relative concentrations of isotopes often fluctuate within a narrow range, it is not always the case. Some natural materials (such as naturally occurring radioactive material) show unusual activity ratio between 238U and 232Th, while technologically processed materials (technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material) might also introduce significant disequilibrium in radioactive chains. Knowing that primordial radioisotopes emit in total more than a thousand gamma and characteristic X-ray photons and that many of them interfere with each other, a question arises whether for some activity ratios commonly used photopeaks become useless for quantitative analysis, due to interferences with other photopeaks. A computer program was developed in order to calculate full energy photon interferences for any chosen photopeak. The calculations are based on the inputs in the form of isotope activities and detector calibration equations and its characteristics are presented in this paper. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III43009]

Taking into account the importance of distribution and transfer of radionuclides in the soil–plant system, especially in agricultural fields, the aim of this research was assessment of radioactivity contribution and transfer characteristics of natural radionuclides in agroecosystem. The measurement of the natural radioactivity distribution was conducted in organic and sustainable farming management systems. Statistical evaluation of the physical and chemical properties of soils subjected to different farming systems, revealed the existence of differences in some parameters. Balanced distribution of natural radionuclides in soil-crop system was observed. Radionuclide 40K was the most accessible to the investigated crops via uptake from the soil, then 232Th and 226Ra. The obtained results are useful for understanding the behavior of the radionuclides and provide an insight into the cumulative deposition of radioactivity in the agroecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of the natural radioactivity levels in water around power plants, as well as in plants, coal, ash, slag and soil, and to assess the associated radiation hazard is becoming an emerging and interesting topic. This paper is focused on the results of the radioactivity analysis in waste water samples from five coal-fired power plants in Serbia (Nikola Tesla A, Nikola Tesla B, Kolubara, Morava and Kostolac), which were analyzed in the period 2003-2015. River water samples taken upstream and downstream from the power plants, drain water and overflow water were analyzed. In the water samples gamma spectrometry analysis was performed as well as determination of gross alpha and beta activity. Natural radionuclide 40K was detected by gamma spectrometry, while the concentrations of other radionuclides, 226Ra, 235U and 238U, usually were below the minimum detection activity (MDA). 232Th and artificial radionuclide 137Cs were not detected in these samples. Gross alpha and beta activities were determined by the α/β low level proportional counter Thermo Eberline FHT 770 T. In the analyzed samples, gross alpha activity ranged from MDA to 0.47 Bq L-1, while the gross beta activity ranged from MDA to 1.55 Bq L-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural resources such as ores contain radioactive nuclides at various concentrations. Therefore it is important to investigate the radioactivity in these resources as well as in the soil at the locations of ore deposits. For that reason we conducted preliminary measurements in the soil samples taken from the locations of lead and zinc ore deposits in Bosilegrad and Raška and from the locations of phosphate ore deposits in Bosilegrad to estimate the environmental conditions prior to the ore excavation. The activity concentrations of radionuclides in soil, water and plant samples were determined by gamma spectrometry (HPGe detector, relative efficiency 23%). Results showed the presence of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, 235U, 238U as well as the produced radionuclide 137Cs (from the Chernobyl accident). Ambient gamma radiation dose rate in ground level air was also measured. In order to estimate the influence of subsequent mining on the working and living environment, radium equivalent (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), external gamma absorbed dose rate () and annual effective dose (DE) were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]