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Grad Zagreb leži na šljunkovitim aluvijalnim nanosima rijeke Save koje sadrže velike količine prirodno profiltrirane podzemne vode. Voda se crpi na 7 vodocrpilišta iz 30 zdenaca. Na području PP Medvednica nalazi se 8 vodospremnika koji opslužuju gornje vodoopskrbne zone Grada Zagreba. Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, smješten nizvodno od Medvednice, provodi sustavno mjerenje koncentracija aktivnosti 137Cs u vodovodnoj vodi. U ovom radu bit će prikazani rezultati praćenja stanja koncentracija aktivnosti 137Cs tijekom višegodišnjeg perioda uzorkovanja (od Černobilske nesreće do danas), kao i izračun efektivne doze na čovjeka koja je posljedica konzumacije vodovodne vode Grada Zagreba. Uzorci su mjereni metodom visokorezolucijske gamaspektrometrije u energijskom rasponu 40 – 2000 keV koja je od 2010. godine akreditirana od Hrvatske akreditacijske agencije sukladno Normi HRN EN ISO/IEC 17025. Koncentracije aktivnosti 137Cs u vodovodnoj vodi kretale su se od 17, 68 ± 6, 61 Bqm-3 u 1987. godini (godina nakon nuklearne nesreće u Černobilu) do 0, 27 ± 0, 03 Bqm-3 u 2018. godini, dok su koncentracije aktivnosti u 2019. i 2020. godini bile ispod granice detekcije. Efektivna doza na čovjeka (procjena za konzumaciju 730 L godišnje) kretala se od 0, 28 μSv u 1987. godini do 2.5 nSv u 2018. godini. Ukupna efektivna doza na čovjeka u tom periodu iznosila je

Kontaminacija ekosustava umjetno stvorenim radionuklidima događa se već desetljećima. Ispušteni radionuklidi (posljedica testiranja nuklearnog oružja i nuklearnih nesreća) vežu se na veće molekule i čestice koje se nalaze u zraku. Na njihovo rasprostiranje bitno utječu meteorološki parametri kao što su vjetar i oborine. Uz zrak i tlo, oborine su jedan od prvih pokazatelja kontaminacije u atmosferi. Radionuklidi kao što su 137Cs i 90Sr duže vrijeme se nalaze u okolišu zbog relativno dugog vremena poluraspada i potencijalni su izvor kontaminacije biote. Oborine se svakodnevno, u dane s oborinama, sakupljaju na lokaciji Instituta. Dnevni se uzorci spajaju u zbrojni tromjesečni koji se nakon toga uparava na volumen 1 L. Koncentracije aktivnosti 137Cs izmjerene su gamaspektrometrijskim sustavom koji se temelji na ORTEC HPGe detektoru (FWHM 2, 24 keV na 1, 33 MeV 60Co s relativnom efikasnošću od 74, 2 % na 1, 33 MeV 60Co), spojenim s višekanalnim analizatorom. Za radiokemijsku analizu koncentracije aktivnosti 90Sr, uzorak je uparen do suhog. Standardnom metodom ekstrakcije s tributil fosfatom uz dodatak itrijevog nosača ekstrahiramo 90Sr temeljem radioaktivne ravnoteže s 90Y. Uzorci su mjereni u antikoincidentnom beta brojaču niskog osnovnog zračenja model RISØ GM-25-5. Metode su akreditirane prema zahtjevima norme HRN EN ISO / IEC 17025. Vrijednosti koncentracije aktivnosti 137Cs u oborinama za 2020. godinu se kreću u rasponu od 0, 52 Bq m-3 do 3, 15 Bq m-3. Srednja vrijednost je 1, 3 Bq m-3. Vrijednosti koncentracije aktivnosti 90Sr u oborinama za 2020. godinu se kreću u rasponu od 0, 06 Bq m-3 do 3, 78 Bq m-3. Srednja vrijednost koncentracije aktivnosti 137Cs iznosi 1, 3 Bq m-3, dok srednja vrijednost koncentracije aktivnosti 90Sr iznosi 1, 19 Bq m-3. Srednja vrijednost koncentracije aktivnosti 137Cs izražena po m2 pale oborine za 2020. godinu iznosi 0, 21 Bq m-2, dok za 90Sr iznosi 0, 14 Bq m- 2. Izmjerene koncentracije aktivnosti ne odstupaju značajno od izmjerenih vrijednosti prethodnih nekoliko godina. U radu je prikazan jedan dio sustavnih radioloških istraživanja koja Jedinica za zaštitu od zračenja Instituta za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada provodi na području Republike Hrvatske.

Prirodni i antropogeni radionuklidi prisutni su u našoj životnoj sredini. Prisutnost umjetno stvorenih radionuklida u okolišu posljedica je raznih događaja kao što su npr. nuklearna testiranja, te nuklearne i radiološke nesreće. Zbog toga se radionuklidi poput 137Cs i 90Sr mogu pronaći i u raznim namirnicama, uključujući mlijeko. Prisutnost tih radionuklida u mlijeku može biti potencijalno opasno za ljudsko zdravlje zbog njihovih dugih vremena poluraspada (T1 / 2 137Cs= 30, 17 god. ; T1 / 2 90Sr=28, 78 god.) te zbog njihove kemijske i metaboličke sličnosti s kalijem i kalcijem s kojima se lako zamijene u ljudskom organizmu. Za ljudsku prehranu najčešće se upotrebljava kravlje mlijeko koje predstavlja njen značajan dio. Ukoliko bi došlo do povećanih koncentracija aktivnosti 137Cs i 90Sr u toj namirnici ono bi predstavljalo značajan izvor kontaminacije radionuklidima putem hrane. U Jedinici za zaštitu od zračenja Instituta za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada godinama se provode istraživanja radioaktivnosti u okolišu. Između ostalog, u Jedinici se radiokemijskim metodama određuje aktivnost radionuklida u različitim uzorcima iz okoliša, uključujući mlijeko. Mlijeko se uzorkuje skupljanjem dnevnih uzoraka koji se zatim spajaju u zbirni dvomjesečni uzorak. Uzorak se zatim uparava pod infracrvenim žaruljama do suhog. Takav uzorak se spaljuje na otvorenom plamenu i zatim u peći na 450°C. U dobivenom pepelu određuje se koncentracija aktivnosti 137Cs gamaspektrometrijskom analizom. Za određivanje koncentracije aktivnosti 90Sr uzorak mlijeka spaljuje se na 650°C i radiokemijskom metodom ekstrakcije TBP-om uz dodatak itrij nosača određuje se koncentracija aktivnosti 90Sr kroz ravnotežu s 90Y koji se mjeri antikoincidentnim beta brojačem niskog osnovnog zračenja. Izmjerena prosječna vrijednost koncentracije aktivnosti 137Cs u mlijeku iz Pušće u 2020. godini iznosila je 27 mBq / L, a prosječna vrijednost koncentracije aktivnosti 90Sr iznosila je 21 mBq / L. Procijenjene efektivne doze zračenja odrasle populacije od unosa 137Cs i 90Sr mlijekom iz Pušće u 2020. godini iznosile su 35 μSv za 137Cs te 58 μSv za 90Sr i kao takve ne predstavljaju značajno opterećenje niti negativan utjecaj na ljudsko zdravlje.

U ovom radu prikazano je istraživanje utjecaja fosfogipsa, kao rezidua u proizvodnji fosfatnih gnojiva, na okoliš Parka prirode Lonjsko polje. Određene su koncentracije aktivnosti prirodnih radionuklida u uzorcima fosfogipsa na odlagalištu, te tla i trave oko odlagališta. Uporabom programa ERICA Tool procijenjen utjecaj odlagališta na biotu.

Coal fired power plant Plomin (CFPP) is situated some eight kilometres from the city of Labin, Istria, Croatia. The CFPP started with production in 1970 and up to year 1990 the coal, which had higher natural radioactivity was used. The ash and slag from the production were deposited at the deposition site in the vicinity of the CFPP. In 1990 the deposition site was remediated, which included foil protection, covering with soil and construction of rain and groundwater drainage. To control the permeability of isolating layers, there is a constant control of groundwater radioactivity. In this paper we report the results of the natural radioactivity of groundwater, sampled during 2013, 2014 and 2015. The groundwater was sampled from 6 piezometers surrounding the deposition site. Activity concentrations of natural radionuclides were determined using high resolution gamma spectrometry (for 238 U, 235 U, 226 Ra, 232 Th, 210 Pb i 40 K). Additionally, radiochemical method for determination of 226 Ra was used. The results show there is no radioactive contamination of groundwater in the surroundings of the deposition site. The activity concentrations were in accordance with results obtained in previous investigations (2004, 2006). There are some small variations in activity concentrations, so continuous monitoring of groundwater in the area of the CFPP is necessary.

Accreditation in accordance with the requirements of the international ISO / IEC 17025 standard (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories) has become a practical and widely accepted method of quality management and objective evidence of technical competence, knowledge and skills of testing and calibration laboratories issued by an independent third party. The competitive advantages of accredited laboratories are the documented quality management system, continuous improvement, training of personnel, quality assurance and reliability of test results, as well as the establishment of confidence in provided services, particularly for the purposes of (international) comparability in interlaboratory tests by adopting the concept of traceability. The Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMI) has accredited its management system in accordance with the requirements of ISO / IEC 17025 standard in year 2010 for the scope:  Determination of radioactivity,  Testing in the scope of ionizing radiation protection and  Determination of air quality and pollutants in the air This accreditation encompassed three units: Unit for Radiation Protection, Environmental Hygiene Unit and the Unit for Radiation Dosimetry and Radiobiology. This paper describes and discusses the main features of quality management system at the Institute and experiences over the six-year period following initial accreditation. Non- conformities discovered during regular work, internal audits and external audits performed by the Croatian Accreditation Agency were analysed.

The only coal-fi red power plant in Croatia is situated near the city of Labin, on the east coast of the Istrian Peninsula (the Northern Adriatic Region). The Raša coal (with super-high content of sulphur, up to 14%) was mined at six localities around the city of Labin for more than a century. Our latest research showed that the soil surrounding the plant is highly polluted with PAHs, and moderately polluted with potentially toxic trace elements Cd and Se. Herewith, the aim of this study was to assess for the fi rst time a health risk for the local inhabitants from Cd and Se caused by ingestion or dermal exposure to soil particles. The hazard index (HI) was used to assess non-carcinogenic human health risk of Cd and Se. Since slope factors for Cd and Se based on oral or dermal exposure of general population are not assigned due to the lack of evidence of carcinogenicity, we were not able to calculate carcinogenic risk from Cd and Se present in soil. The results showed that the calculated non-carcinogenic risk due to Cd (HImax=0.06) and Se (HImax=0.02) in soil were well below the threshold value (HI=1) for both adults and children, indicating that exposed individuals are unlikely to experience adverse health effects. However, further detailed investigation including larger number of potentially toxic and carcinogenic trace elements will be conducted in the future. These results will provide basic information of metal pollution control and environment management in the Labin area.

Radioactivity measurements and monitoring of the human environment in Croatia are part of the monitoring programme carried out by the Radiation Protection Unit of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb. Among other radionuclides and samples, this includes radiostrontium and radiocaesium in milk. The objective of this paper was to present and discuss the activity concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr in milk collected in the Osijek region in five consecutive years (from 2011 to 2015). The 137Cs activity concentrations ranged from 0.08 Bqm-3 to 65.88 Bqm-3, except for May 2011 when an activity concentration of 900.62 Bqm-3 was measured. This high value contributed to a higher effective dose for 2011. The 90Sr activity concentration ranged from 14.56 Bqm-3 to 86.08 Bqm-3. The average activity concentration for each year and radionuclide was calculated and the effective doses received from milk consumption were estimated for the adult population of the Osijek region. The effective doses received from 137Cs uptake by milk consumption ranged from 4 nSv up to 168 nSv for 2011. This effective dose was one order of magnitude higher than the effective doses for the four other years. The effective doses received from 90Sr uptake by milk consumption ranged from 51 nSv to 119 nSv. Continuous control and monitoring of radioactivity in food and the environment are necessary to detect possible future changes in radioactivity levels in the environment. This will result in the protection of the population from the negative effects of ionizing radiation.

We report on a part of a study of the environmental radioactivity in the Plitvice Lakes National Park that was carried out during 2011 and 2012. This part was focused on measuring the activity concentrations of important naturally occurring ( 40 K, 7 Be, 238 U, 235 U, 232 Th, 226 Ra, 210 Pb) and fission produced ( 90 Sr, 134 Cs, 137 Cs) radionuclides in collected samples of selected living organisms, these being moss, lichen, pine needles, mushrooms, earthworms, and fish. Our results suggest that the radiological load on the local biota was within the limits characteristic of Croatia, exhibiting no indication of negative trends. Only in one moss sample, we found an elevated activity concentration of 137 Cs. Taking into account that a low level of radioactivity in inorganic matter from the same environment was found in this study as well, we can conclude that the Plitvice Lakes National Park is a clean area from the point of view of radioecology.

Phosphate rock is a raw material used during the production of phosphate fertilizers. As a waste by-product, phosphogypsum is characterized by technically enhanced natural radioactivity (NORM). During the production of phosphate fertilizers, most of the natural 238 U from the phosphate ore ends up in the final products, while 80 % of 226 Ra is incorporated into phosphogypsum (CaSO 4 · 2H 2 O). The phosphogypsum from one Croatian phosphate fertilizer factory is deposited at a local site situated at the borderline of Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, which implies that the constant monitoring of the deposition site environment is necessary. In this investigation, the activity concentration of 226 Ra in trickling water samples from the surroundings of the mentioned deposition site was measured. The samples were collected by piezometers and after radiochemical separation of 226 Ra measured with an alpha spectrometer. Activity concentrations of 226 Ra in trickling water were within the range from 8 ± 4 Bq/m 3 to 34 ± 9 Bq/m 3 so we can conclude that layers of clay underneath the pile serve as good isolation. In addition, long-term systematic investigations showed a significant decrease in 226 Ra activity concentrations in the trickling water. However, constant monitoring is necessary to detect possible future changes in the radioactivity levels in the environment.

Validated and reliable measurement data are the foundation of any scientific report, especially in research fields that describe environmental stressors. In order to yield a trustworthy interpretation of environmental “events” monitored and explored by measuring ionising radiation, it is necessary to obtain accurate data on the local background radiation in the environment where research is conducted. Values of the measured ambient dose rate equivalent H*(10), an operational quantity for environmental monitoring used to characterise local natural background radiation, greatly depend on the geographic placement, geological composition, and urbanisation of the very location of the measurement. IMROH has designed and installed a measuring station within the research polygon “Šumbar” with the aim to establish it as a reference measuring station for local background ionising radiation for all future research regarding ionising radiation and its naturally, as well as accidentally, caused oscillations in the environment. Discrepancy in the H*(10) values between the two measuring locations is fully justified considering the fact that the Institute is located in an urban surrounding burdened by nearly every possible pollutant as well as buildings and is characterised by a specific city microclimate, while “Šumbar” is an ecologically untouched area, hunting grounds, and natural habitat mainly unaffected by modern life. Furthermore, knowing the H*(10) values at a remote and “unpolluted” location in real time (interactive communication with the measuring station) also enables a significantly faster regulatory reaction in cases of potential radiological accidents.

We report on a part of a study of the environmental radioactivity in the Plitvice Lakes National Park that was carried out during 2011 and 2012. This part was focused on measuring the activity concentrations of important naturally occurring ( 40 K, 7 Be, 238 U, 235 U, 232 Th, 226 Ra, 210 Pb) and fission produced ( 90 Sr, 134 Cs, 137 Cs) radionuclides in collected samples of soil, lake water, and river water, and also on determining the ambient dose equivalent rate H*(10)/t. Activity concentrations were determined by means of a high- resolution gamma ray spectrometry, except in the case of 90 Sr for which radiochemical separation and beta counting were used. The measured values of activity concentration were similar to those in other parts of continental Croatia. H*(10)/t was determined using continuously operating ALARA electronic dosimeters, and its value between April 2011 and October 2012 amounted to 77 ± 7 nSv/h. The only unusual feature we observed were large fluctuations of H*(10)/t in April 2011, which most likely occurred due to the Fukushima accident but did not last long.

A method for the rapid determination of radioactivity in cases of release into the environment as well as in cases of nuclear/radiological accidents is described. These measurements would enable a direct risk assessment for humans and biota, without any sampling and at a considerably larger number of locations than in previous studies. Thus obtained, the substantially expanded dataset is expected to shed more light on the properties of environmental radioactivity both in the region studied and in other similar areas. Field measurements will be performed and samples of soil and biota will be collected in order to compare field results with laboratory measurements. Once the method has been validated, previously unexplored locations will be included in the study. Our measurements at numerous locations will also provide control values for comparison in cases of any unplanned or accidental radiological event. An assessment of the possible effects of radionuclide concentrations on the human food chain and biota will be performed within the appropriate models used worldwide exactly for this purpose. In this way, the project should contribute to regional, European, and global efforts towards understanding the radiological impact on ecosystems. Field measurements will also address certain issues in the environmental metrology of radioactive substances, e.g., simultaneous determination of activity concentrations and related dose rates. This will serve as a tool for rapid risk assessment in emergency situations.

Hintergrund: Zum besseren Verständnis der Verbindung zwischen Genom, Umwelt und Erkrankung zielt das Projekt HEALS auf die Verfeinerung eines integrierten Ansatzes zur Durchführung von umweltweiten Assoziationsstudien (environment-wide association studies ; EWAS) ab, um das Exposom zu erklären. Leitlinien für Biomarker der Exposition wurden entwickelt um die interne Exposition in EWAS bestimmen zu können. Methode: 11 Partnerinstitute des HEALS Konsortiums haben Informationen zum Human Biomonitoring (HBM) von ausgewählten Umweltstressoren unter Verwendung von mehr als 800 Quellen in einem narrativen Reviewprozess zusammengestellt. Informationen bzgl. chemische Eigenschaften, Effekte an biologischen Systemen, Expositionsrouten, Absorption, Elimination, Biomarker der Exposition, Referenzwerte und Probenmaterial wurden gesammelt. Chemische, physikalische, biologische, soziale und psychologische Stressoren wurden einbezogen um den Anforderungen von EWAS gerecht zu werden. Ergebnisse: 56 Stressoren wurden betrachtet. Während Biomarker der Exposition für Stressoren wie z.B. Chemikalien (Metalle, organische Kontaminanten, etc.) verfügbar sind, hinterlassen andere Stressoren wie elektromagnetische Felder, Lärm oder UV Licht keine messbaren Substanzen in zugänglichem Körpermaterial. Einige Stressoren können nicht direkt gemessen werden, jedoch ihre Metabolite. Schlussfolgerungen: In einem umfangreichen Review wurden unterschiedliche Umweltstressoren betrachte und die Stärken und Schwächen zur Identifikation der internen Exposition bei Verwendung von HBM herausgearbeitet. Das Aufzeigen von Forschungslücken bzgl. Biomarkern der Exposition ist eine wichtige Basis für gesundheitsorientierte Umweltpolitik. Das Projekt HEALS (Health and Environment-wide Associations based on Large population Surveys) wird finanziert durch das 7. EU-Rahmenprogramm der Forschung, technologischen Entwicklung und Demonstration (Nr. der Zuwendungsvereinbarung: 603946).

Thermal waters are considered as natural treasures for their specific properties. They are primarily used for medical purposes (treatment of various diseases, recreation and tourism, spas, etc.), but are also being exploited for their geothermal potential (energy and heating). The northern and eastern parts of Croatia are very rich in geothermal and mineral water springs so many Croatian facilities have a long tradition of rehabilitation and tourism. However, as much as these waters are considered as cures, they can also pose a health hazard due to higher exposure to natural radioactivity since many of them are rich primarily in radium isotopes from natural uranium and thorium decay chains. Activity concentrations of 226Ra, 228Ra, 238U, 234U, 210Po, 210Pb, 40K and 137Cs for Croatian thermal and mineral waters, collected directly from springs (or wells), are presented herein with total effective doses assessed for consumption of those waters that are also used as drinking “cures”. The methods used for radionuclide determination included alpha- particle spectrometry (226Ra, 238U, 234U, 210Po), gas-proportional counting (210Pb) and gamma-ray spectrometry (228Ra, 40K, 137Cs). Activity concentrations of all radionuclides were found to be below the guidance levels set by the WHO and EC Directive, with an exception of one water sample measuring 0.26 Bq/L of 228Ra. The effective ingestion dose assessment for water “cure” consumption during one, two or four weeks time period per year showed that the maximum doses ranged between 0.004 and 0.014 mSv, which is well below the recommended 0.1 mSv for drinking water.

The Tenth Symposium of the Croatian Radiation Protection Association (CRPA) with international participation was held from 15 to 17 April 2015 in Šibenik, Croatia. The symposium was organized by the CRPA in collaboration with the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMROH), Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI) and State Office for Radiological and Nuclear Safety (SORNS). The presidents of the Organizing and Scientific Committees were Tomislav Bituh and Branko Petrinec, respectively, from IMROH. At the Opening ceremony, the Mayor of the city of Šibenik invited all participants to a guided tour through the oldest Croatian city with a visit to the fortress of St. Michael and the cathedral of St. Jacob (cultural heritage under protection of UNESCO). The tour was a gift of the City of Šibenik to the 10th Symposium of CRPA. There were 93 participants in total: 73 from national scientific and research institutions, universities, health facilities, and private companies and 20 international participants from Bosnia and Hercegovina, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, Macedonia, and Qatar. They presented 65 papers: 28 poster and 37 oral presentations. All contributions were printed in the Proceedings edited by Branko Petrinec, Tomislav Bituh, Nevenka Kopjar, and Mirta Milić. The proceedings is available at the CRPA web page www.hdzz.hr. The papers, usually of 5 pages, were written either in Croatian or in English, and all had a one-page English abstract that will be reproduced in the International Nuclear Information System (INIS database available at www.iaea.org/inis/). The proceedings of previous symposia used to have ISBN numbers. This year the proceedings series of CRPA was upgraded and received the number ISSN 1849-5060 for serial publications, which represents an obligation for the Society to continue regular issuing of such a book of papers. The program was opened by two introductory lectures. Ines Krajcar Bronić, the president of CRPA, presented a review “Ten symposia of the Croatian Radiation Protection Association 1992 – 2015”. At each symposium there were lectures devoted to special occasions, such as 100 years of radiation, 50 years of radiation protection in the region (2013), accreditation and quality control issues, the World Year of Physics (2005) or the Fukushima nuclear accident (2011). The topical sections showed a broad range of interest of the radiation protection community in Croatia and also witnessed some changes in their priorities. Several topics have remained constantly present, such as radioecology, biological effects of radiation, radiation protection in medicine, public exposure, and dosimetry. In the second introductory lecture Dubravko Pevec (Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb) discussed “The potential of fission nuclear energy in resolving global climate change”. The scientific part of the symposium was divided into eight sections: General topics in radiation science and radiation protection ; Radiation dosimetry ; Biological effects of radiation ; Radiation protection of the public ; Radiation protection in medicine ; Radioecology ; Non-ionizing radiation and Instrumentation and measuring techniques. Traditionally, all participants have a chance to vote for up to three best posters. The award for the best poster was received by Katarina Marušić (with co-authors from RBI) for the presentation “Protection of cultural heritage objects by ionizing radiation”. The success of the symposium should also at least in part be attributed to our sponsors: ALARA uređaji, BISS, Jadransko osiguranje, LKB Vertriebs Ges.m.b.H., Medicem servis, Mettler Toledo, Podzemno skladište plina, Selmet, the Ivanić-Grad Fire Department, and VERN. LKB Vertriebs Ges.m.b.H. was also present at the technical exhibition with two participants: Dušan Djurdjević (Vienna) and Draško Petrović (Zagreb). The 10th Symposium of CRPA with international participation represented once again a unique opportunity to scientists and practitioners of various profiles to exchange knowledge and experience in this interdisciplinary field of radiation protection in a stimulating international environment.

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a waste product (residue) from the production of phosphoric acid characterized by technologically enhanced natural radioactivity. Croatia’s largest PG deposition site is situated at the edge of Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, a sensitive ecosystem possibly endangered by PG particles. This field study investigates two aspects relevant for the general radiological impact of PG: risk assessment for the environment and risk assessment for occupationally exposed workers and local inhabitants. Activity concentrations of natural radionuclides ( 238 U, 235 U, 232 Th, 226 Ra, 210 Pb, and 40 K) were measured in the PG (at the deposition site), soil, and grass samples (in the vicinity of the site). The ERICA Assessment Tool was used to estimate the radiological impact of PG particles on non-human biota of the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park. The average annual effective dose for occupationally exposed workers was 0.4 mSv which was within the worldwide range.

The 10th Symposium of the Croatian Radiation Protection Association (CRPA) with international participation was held from 15 to 17 April 2015 in Šibenik, Croatia. It was organized by CRPA in collaboration with the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ruđer Bošković Institute and State Office for Radiological and Nuclear Safety. A total of 93 participants (73 from national scientific and research institutions, universities, health facilities, and private companies and 20 international participants from Bosnia and Hercegovina, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, Macedonia, and Qatar) presented 65 papers, all printed in the Proceedings edited by Branko Petrinec, Tomislav Bituh, Nevenka Kopjar, and Mirta Milić, available at the CRPA web page www.hdzz.hr . The scientific program started with two introductory lectures: “Ten symposia of the Croatian Radiation Protection Association 1992 – 2015” by Ines Krajcar Bronić (CRPA President) and “The potential of fission nuclear energy in resolving global climate change” by Dubravko Pevec (Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb). The scientific part of the symposium was divided into eight sections: General topics in radiation science and radiation protection ; Radiation dosimetry ; Biological effects of radiation ; Radiation Protection of the public ; Radiation protection in medicine ; Radioecology ; Non-ionizing radiation and Instrumentation and measuring techniques. There were 28 poster presentations and 37 oral presentations. Each oral presentation raised a lot of interest and resulted in a discussion. The award for the best poster presentation went to Katarina Marušić for her contribution “Protection of cultural heritage objects by ionizing radiation”. The city guided tour with a visit to the fortress of St. Michael was sponsored by the City of Šibenik, and a visit to Etnoland Dalmati was organized. During the conference dinner, participants were surprised by a special “birthday cake” for the occasion of the 10th symposium. Technical exhibition and sponsors contributed to the success of the symposium. The 10th Symposium of CRPA with international participation represented once again a unique opportunity to scientists and practitioners of various profiles to exchange knowledge and experience in the interdisciplinary field of radiation protection in a stimulating international environment.

Phosphogypsum (PG), a waste product in phosphate fertilizer production, is characterized by technically enhanced natural radioactivity. The stationary diffusion model was assumed and employed as a new approach to describe long term PG particle transfer into the surroundings. Active electronic dosimeters were used to measure dose rate originating from natural radionuclides in PG. The advantage of this approach is that it requires a minimal number of measurement locations and offers a realistic and reliable distribution of PG particles. The mass concentration of PG particles decreased to the distance of about 3 m, at most up to 10 m from the deposition site edge. The results indicate that a unique mechanism of particle transport exists and the migration of PG particles by surface water (due to floods) is the dominant way of their spread. The particle current deduced from the measurement results was very low, approximately 4.05 • 10-2 kg/h, and the migration coefficient was approximately 1.69 • 10-5 m2/h.

Continuous measurements of the environmental dose rate D at the Institute for medical research and occupational health in Zagreb have resulted in a database containing daily values of D between October 23, 1985, and December 31, 2011. Apart from the appreciable increase in the time of the Chernobyl accident, D was always constant and amounted to 30-35 pGy/s. Fourier transform of D as a function of time reveals a number of discernible periodicities hidden in the noise. The corresponding periods are 6 months (m), 9.3 m, 12 m, 13.7 m, 15.7 m, 20 m, 31 m, and 39 m. Two of the periods (6 m and 12 m) can be explained by seasonal atmospheric effects, whereas the other periods agree well with periods in solar activity. This can be linked to the nucleosynthesis of 7Be in the atmosphere under the influence of cosmic rays.

Odlagalište fosfogipsa, otpadnog materijala koji nastaje tijekom proizvodnje fosfatnih mineralnih gnojiva, nalazi se na rubu Parka prirode Lonjsko polje. Sirovina za proizvodnju fosfatnih mineralnih gnojiva je fosfatna ruda koja ima povišenu prirodnu radioaktivnost (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material – NORM). U ovom radu prikazani su rezultati istraživanja koncentracija aktivnosti prirodnih radionuklida (238U, 235U, 232Th, 226Ra i 40K) u travi i tlu oko odlagališta te su posebno određene koncentracije aktivnosti 226Ra u procjednim vodama zbog kontrole eventualne propusnosti odlagališta. Istraživanja u okolini odlagališta fosfogipsa nužna su radi neprekinutog praćenja utjecaja fosfogipsa na okoliš kako bi se procijenio utjecaj na ljude, okoliš i posebno biotu. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da koncentracije aktivnosti prirodnih radionuklida u uzorcima procjednih voda, trava i tla uzorkovanima uz samo odlagalište nisu povišene u odnosu na uzorke iz ostalih dijelova Hrvatske. Međutim, nastavak redovitog praćenja stanja nužan je kako bi se uočile eventualne rane promjene u razinama prirodne radioaktivnosti na odlagalištu kao i u okolišu odlagališta.

Odlagalište fosfogipsa, otpadnog materijala u proizvodnji fosfatnih mineralnih gnojiva nalazi se na granici Parka prirode Lonjsko polje. Fosfogips obilježava povišena prirodna radioaktivnost. Ona je posljedica prirodne radioaktivnosti fosfatne rude, sirovine za proizvodnju fosfatnih mineralnih gnojiva tijekom koje nastaje fosfogips, odložen u količinama koje predstavljaju trajno, potencijalno opterećenje za okoliš. Ciljevi disertacije bili su: a) odrediti koncentraciju fosfogipsa u okolišu korištenjem radionuklida kao markera, b) odrediti dominantan način prijenosa čestica s odlagališta u okoliš korištenjem modela stacionarne difuzije i c) odrediti doseg širenja fosfogipsa u okolišu. Rezultati pokazuju da se koncentracija čestica fosfogipsa, koje napuštaju odlagalište, smanjuje u ovisnosti o udaljenosti od ruba odlagališta toliko brzo da ju je već na 10 m udaljenosti od odlagališta nemoguće razlikovati od karakterističnih vrijednosti za pozadinsko zračenje. Rezultati su također pokazali da je dominantan način raznošenja čestica otplavljivanje, a ne vjetar kao što je bilo očekivano. Ispiranje tla oko odlagališta povremenim poplavama dovoljno je učinkovito. Zemljani nasip namjenski izgrađen oko odlagališta dovoljna je zaštita od utjecaja odlagališta fosfogipsa na Lonjsko polje koje ga okružuje. Model korišten u ovom istraživanju omogućio je, umjesto uobičajenog načina uzimanja uzoraka, znatno manji broj mjernih točaka u bitno kraćem vremenu, uz visoku pouzdanost za dobivanje podataka o okolišu odlagališta. Modeliranje u biologiji nužno je radi prevencije onečišćenja u prirodi, a time i zaštite čovjeka, životinja i biljaka, odnosno biote u cijelosti, u skladu s načelom održivog razvoja.

Proizvodnja fosfatnih mineralnih gnojiva i njen utjecaj na čovjeka i okoliš predmet je sustavnog istraživanja i praćenja putova širenja prirodne radioaktivnosti tijekom proizvodnje, prerade i odlaganja otpada s povišenom prirodnom radioaktivnosti. Fosfogips je otpadni materijal koji nastaje tijekom proizvodnje fosforne kiseline i fosfatnih mineralnih gnojiva. Fosfatna ruda, sirovina koja se koristi u postupku, ovisno o podrijetlu, sadrži povišenu prirodnu radioaktivnost (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material – NORM) radionuklida uranijevog i torijevog prirodnog radioaktivnog niza. U ovom radu koncentracije aktivnosti prirodnih radionuklida (40K, 232Th i 226Ra) izmjerene su gama spektrometrijski. Kako su posljednja istraživanja usmjerena u iskoristivosti fosfogipsa, određeni su ekvivalent aktivnosti radija (Raeq) i vanjski indeks rizika (Hex).

If the TENORM is a byproduct originating from any energy gaining technological production process is to be reused as a product – raw material for other advanced product it has to meet the ultimate condition regulating the content of NORM or TENORM material in a final product. It means that the minimum requirements to be achieved are to mix the TENORM material with any other suitable material resulting in final Hex less than unity (Hex

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The modern ecological approach in protecting human life and the environment from various natural and man made radiological stressors which may cause harm, involves the creation of a validated integral dosimetric concept. This concept is the one that does not extract humans as majestic species from their environment and habitat. The dosimetric concept of ionizing radiation protection involves the research of all possible pathways through which natural or man-made radioactive materials can flow through the environment, contaminate habitats and harm biota. The dosimetric methods are followed with validated methods of risk assessment. We are presenting the dosimetric research performed with newly developed and utilized active electronic dosemeter on a TENORM industrial phosphogypsum (PG) site. According to dose rate measured by several different instruments, average equivalent dose rate all over the PG site was found not more than three times higher than natural local background. Since the significant pathway of TENORM radioactivity dispersion includes also the air dispersion, inhalation of such PG dust together with professional worker staying at the PG dam during the working time of 2000 working hours per year leads to workers exposure burden of more than an additional 1 mSv/y thus defining this working area as an occupational.

0 Executive Summary - Client order The Radiological characterization of Phosphogypsum Tailing facility at Fertilizer Plant in Kutina Municipality – Croatia was worked out according to specific order request by a client as follows: Excerpt from the sub-consultancy agreement: Terms for service providers_medical and occupational health-1: 3.) Assessment and Investigation Requirements for Volume_A “ Please also take note for the required on site measurement in Kutina (tailing facility) of radiation on a raster of every 250 m along the dams, which are approximate 40 on site measurements (surface). All 500m sampling of gypsum (approximate 15 samples) and analyzing following isotopes Sample - coordinate K40 (Bq/kg) Th-232 (Bq/kg) Ra 226(Bq/kg) Cs-134/137 (Bq/kg) 4 samples shall be done on additional level of -50cm, -100cm, -150 cm, - 200cm = 16 samples and measures of isotopes as above mentioned. Summary: Pos001: - Qualitative Public Health Risk and Impact Assessment for Kutina and Knin (developing of a report according to attached QPHRA_form) Pos002: - 40 surface radiation measurements on tailing facility in Kutina Pos003: - 15 samples and isotope measurements from tailing facility in Kutina Pos004: - 4 x 4 in-depth sampling and isotope measurements from tailing facility in Kutina All points shall be measured with GPS in a well-known grid and date (eg. UTM/WGS84 or similar) “ ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Results are presented as follows: Poss001: A comprehensive separate parent report containing radiological characterization as its key part is given separately under the title: “Qualitative Public Health Risk Assessment – Phosphogypsum Tailing Facility at Kutina” _ Volume00_A – Final DRAFT - Poss002: The results and mapping are presented in: Poss003: The results of site sampling and measurements are presented in: Poss004: The results of site sampling and measurements are presented in: “Radiological characterization of Phosphogypsum Tailing Facility at Fertilizer Plant in Kutina Municipality – Croatia including comments on possible reuse of PG products”, a Sub-consultancy REPORT - IMI 06-1/1/250-2009. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The radiological characterization of specific PG tailing facility site at Kutina municipality showed that this specific industrial site in Croatia is radiologicaly very stable and that no harm to the environment or public is to be expected if the facility will be managed as till now in the future too. The radioactivity, natural radioactivity content (TENORM) of PG depends on the input phosphate ore quality and that fact is visible in radioactivity concentration variations due to the depth, and local sampling positions at the tailing from which the PG samples were taken. The purposely mixing of PG at the tailing facility site occurs for many practical and safety reasons and from the radiation protection point of view mixing the PG is a good practice. By mixing the PG the mixing of various levels containing various activities occurs assuring that after a certain number of mixing procedures the activity will be more evenly dispersed over the tailing facility volume. If the decision to upgrade the use of existing stored PG will be brought au it means that existing PG product will be used for new products. The new PG product fields of use or purposes are mentioned in this report. We are proposing to reuse the existing PG from the tailing facility in a manner that it must be removed from the entire tailing facility surface in layers not thicker than 0.5 m. This will assure enough time for radon equilibrium of every layer to be achieved lowering any public or occupational exposure during the campaign. The analyzed PG from the tailing facility in Kutina is definitely TENORM material. Hex and Hin and radium equivalent index (Raeq) calculated from the data measured are not less than 1 (unity) indicating that the existing PG is not to be used in construction material products alone. Hex > 1 , Hin > 1 Raeq > 1 (0) If some future building will be made of final construction product containing only PG the corresponding indoor equivalent exposure dose rate in the rooms (occupational and public) will be Dind > 1 mSvy-1. This is not in compliance with the Radiation Protection ALARA philosophy and violates the legal limits given by existing Croatian Radiation Protection legislation PG has to be mixed to a certain volume extent with third party materials (clay or else) containing much less TENORM assuring the Hex and Hin of the final PG product to become less than 1. This mixing process is to be fairly and constantly monitored by licensed technical services. Other fields of modern reuse of PG are to be considered only together with proper monitoring and radiological characterization regarding the specific planned and purpose (like agricultural use enriching the soil quality for certain variety of plants or else). At all times, it is important to have in mind that radiation protection of people (public members as defined in EU basic safety standard legislation) from TENORM exposures is to be defined using the occupancy factors and equivalent exposure dose rate calculations. This was done for the purpose of this report too show and to justify that despite of the fact that Hex > 1 , Hin > 1 and Raeq > 1 for the PG at tailing facility in Kutina no exposure of the particular public member in Kutina municipality is at any time greater than 1 mSv per year due to existence of PG tailing facility. This fact justifies all present (or future) effort leading to technological enrichment of TENORM PG product to be used in various new products and on the benefit of Kutina municipality inhabitants. According to above statements the PG tailing facility in Kutina is radiologically defined as normal tailing facility site where no specific safety or security procedures regarding radiation protection of environment or public are to be performed. Radioactivity from TENORM PG is not polluting the ground waters or agricultural soil in the vicinity of the tailing facility. PG is dispersed by air in the form of suspended air particles and this is the only pathway through which the surface PG from tailing facility can be dispersed over the environment causing diverse hazards to public health. This radiological characterization report on TENORM PG originating from various phosphate ores currently stored at tailing facility in Kutina is a base for the evaluation of radiological hazard and possible risk impact of PG on public member of Kutina municipality (Qualitative Public Health Risk and Impact Assessment – Phosphogypsum Tailing Facility at Kutina: _Volumen00_A_Final Draft)