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The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) was entered into force in September 2017. It deals with one of the greatest threats to coastal and marine environments around the world: aquatic invasive alien species (IAS) and harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens (HAOP). Although the control of IAS and HAOP through treatment of ballast water (BW) is appropriately dealt with in the Convention and its implementation, the problems generated by sediments are not treated in such a manner. There are many published technical and scientific papers, discussions and commentaries proposing the remediation of the present situation. They are discussed, and recommendations are summarized. Besides, several systems for the treatment of BW use a combination of two or three techniques, with filtration usually being the first and/or the last step. Presence of sediments in BW results in the reduced applicability of such an approach. The requirements for sediment management procedures are discussed along with a proposal for their implementation. In the first step, the ballast tank sediments should be freed of active biological agents for the elimination of IAS and HAOP. Instead of biological agents, we advocate the use of radiation treatment by using an electron accelerator, preferably in an on-shore installation or as a mobile, additive, sea container size units with integral power, separated for water and sediment treatment. In the second step, the concentrations of heavy metals should be determined. We recommend the use of EDXRF as an analytical method. After the determination of sediment class, the recommended disposal procedures should be followed. Sediment management procedures should specify the disposal requirements: (i) free of active biological agents, IAS and HAOP; (ii) chemical composition, no chemical elements in a toxic range (≤ Class 3); and (iii) displacement/storage requirements, displacing sediments characterized as harmful in appropriate sediment reception facilities/landfills.

The potential of detecting particular formation elements inside boreholes, separated by small distances, was investigated. Neutron probe, designed for C/O nuclear well logging and with associated alpha particle method (AAP) as its operational principle, was used. The measurements consisted of irradiating 0.5 l diesel-filled plastic bottle with fast tagged neutron beam. The bottle was placed in four positions along the axis of the probe, spaced by ∼ 10 cm ; time spectrum for each position was obtained. The peaks in time spectra are separated by ∼ 2 ns, suggesting that neutron probe with AAP can, in principle, distinguish between parts of the formation separated by 10 cm. The results were confirmed by Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of the experiment.

The possibility of using fast 14 MeV neutrons and the associated alpha particle technique, together with a library least-squares fitting technique to detect the various CW agents as well as explosives and narcotics were investigated. The Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures for neutron sensors were established and further developed for CW agents, with the aim to reduce the false positive and false negative rates. Simulants of the various types of CW agents were prepared and measured as well as appropriate standards for measuring the ratios of chemical elements abundances: C/Cl, C/N, C/S, C/F, C/P, C/O. The influence of the measurement environment and material in which the targets were hidden was investigated.

The prospecting activities for finding new rare earth elements (REE) sources have increased greatly in recent years. One of the main discoveries was announced in 2011 by Japanese researchers who found large quantities of REE on the ocean seafloor at the sea depths greater than 4,000 m. The classic approach to investigate REE in deep sea sediments is to obtain sediment samples by drilling that is followed by laborious laboratory analysis. This is very expensive, time consuming and not appropriate for exploring vast areas. In order to efficiently explore the ocean floor for REE deposits, the further development of affordable sensors is needed. Here, we propose two nuclear techniques for exploring REE in surface deep sea sediments: i) Passive measurement of lutetium-176 radioactivity, appropriate if long-term in-situ measurements are possible, and ii) The use of the neutron sensor attached to a remotely operated vehicle for rapid in-situ measurement of gadolinium by thermal neutron-capture. Since concentrations of lutetium and gadolinium show strong linear correlation to the total REE concentrations in deep sea sediments, it is possible to deduce the total REE content by measuring Lu or Gd concentrations only.

723 sediment samples collected along the eastern Adriatic coast have been analyzed using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence. Factor Analysis and GIS have been used for the evaluation of the resulting data base containing information on K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, and Pb concentration levels in order to find spatial relationships in distribution of measured elements. This study can be used to identify background values and to evaluate sediment quality standards.

The possibility of the detection of “dirty bomb” presence inside sea containers is evaluated. The method proposed for explosive and fissile material detection makes use of two sensors (X-rays and neutrons). A commercial imaging device based on the X-ray radiography performs a fast scan of the container, identifies a “suspect” region and provides its coordinates to the neutron based device for the final “confirmatory” inspection. In this two sensor system a 14 MeV neutron beam defined by the detection of associated alpha particles is used for interrogation of only volume elements marked by X-ray sensor. The object’s nature is determined from passive and neutron induced, gamma energy spectra measurements. Experimental results (time-of-flight and gamma energy spectra) obtained for the irradiation 30 kg of TNT, depleted uranium and other materials hidden inside the container are presented.

A prototype of portable sealed neutron generator has been recently built to deliver 14 MeV neutron beams tagged by a YAP:Ce α -particle detector. In order to produce simultaneously multiple neutron beams to irradiate complex samples, a study of the position sensitivity of the α -particle detector has been performed. Possible applications in non-destructive analysis and future developments of the tagged neutron inspection system (TNIS) concept are discussed.

The detection of landmines by using available technologies is a time consuming, expensive and extremely dangerous job, so that there is a need for a technological breakthrough in this field. Atomic and nuclear physics based sensors might offer new possibilities in de-mining. Among the available nuclear techniques, the neutron backscattering technique (NBT), based on the detection of the produced thermal neutrons, is thought to be the most promising for field applications. We discuss here two limitations of NBT, being related to the soil moisture. First, the critical value of the soil moisture, reached when the density of the hydrogen atoms in the landmine is equal to that in the background soil, defines a condition for which the detection is not possible. Critical values are small for some of the landmine types, thus suggesting the application of the method to arid countries, where the soil moisture is lower than 10%. Furthermore, small-scale variations of the soil moisture content, experimentally determined for different soil types, are found to be capable of generating false positive readings. To avoid this problem, the integration of the NBT with a second sensor, as the metal detector, is proposed.

The reported loss of α-particles in the 14 MeV tagged neutron generators has been investigated using two neutron generators equipped with α-particle counters and two neutron detectors. One neutron detector was put right in the middle of the tagged neutron cone and another one was put outside the cone. By measuring the difference between double (neutron–neutron) and triple (α-neutron-neutron) coincidences it is possible to deduce the α-particle loss since the number of triple coincidences should be equal to the number of double coincidences. In all measurements performed a deficit of triple with respect to double coincidences has been observed. This deficit was smallest for the threshold of α-particle Constant Fraction Discriminator (αCFD) being 0 and maximum allowed voltage of α-particle detector being −1.7 kV. The smallest measured deficit value was equal to 13±1%. From the observed results it was concluded that the deficit was due to a number of non-detected α-particles that loose sufficient quantity of energy while traveling to the detector because of collisions with particles present in the neutron tube and/or in the tritium target. These α-particles will not be detected as they fall under the threshold of αCFD discriminator. Magnetic fields present in the system worsen the situation since they are forcing α-particles to travel larger distances because of toroidal movement and undergoing additional collisions. Tagged neutron technique has many kind of applications and it is particularly important for high accuracy nuclear cross-sections measurements when α-particles losses must be carefully assessed.

The most important fraction of aerosols with respect to human health is the respirable fraction, which has particles less than 10 μm in equivalent aerodynamic diameter (EAD), the so called PM 10 fraction. The collection of these respirable particles and the determination of their trace element composition is the focus of an IAEA Co-ordinated Research Programme (CRP). The IAEA Laboratory participated in this Programme and established collection sites for the air particulate samples on the grounds of the Atominstitute of the Austrian Universities in Vienna and the IAEA Laboratories, Seibersdorf, representing an urban residential site and a rural site. The collected samples as well as samples of simulated air filters (used also for blind controls) and control materials were analyzed sequentially and/or in sections by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE), instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Results demonstrate the applicability of the PM-10 sampling approach, provided PIXE and/or INAA are used in the determinations. Reliable results can be obtained that will lead in comparable air pollution data for many regions in the world through CRP.

The total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) method has been used for the analysis of various types of solid materials of biological, geological and environmental origin. The sample preparation step prior to TXRF measurements has been optimized for the various solid samples, including their decomposition by applying both a microwave oven and a PTFE bomb. Complete procedures for the optimized decomposition from the point of view of speed and completeness of digestion, as well as of the overall precision and accuracy are presented.

The K-shell X-rays of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu induced by 12C ions were detected in the projectile energy range 5–12 MeV. From these measurements, experimental K-shell X-ray production cross sections; Kα, Kβ X-ray energy shifts and the K α K β intensity ratios are extracted and presented. Our results are compared with the experimental data obtained previously and with the predictions of the perturbed stationary-state approximation with energy loss, Coulomb, and relativistic corrections (ECPSSR theory). The role of electron transfer to the projectile have been discussed.

It has been shown that filters used for collection of airborne particles by high volume air samplers can yield information on the particles' elemental composition when analyzed by X-ray emission spectroscopy methods. In this work we present some results on trace element characterization (both bulk and individual particles) of air particulates by X-ray fluorescence (in normal and total reflection geometry) and proton induced X-ray emission (in standard and microbeam geometry).

Carbon ion beam, in energy range 3–8 MeV, was applied for PIXE measurements of silicon samples with diffused or implanted heavy metals and for measurements of high-Tc YBa2Cu3O7 superconductors. For comparison with the light ion PIXE, a 3 MeV proton beam PIXE was also employed. Due to the significant decrease of Si K X-ray production cross section for carbon ion PIXE, much better sensitivity for detection of L and M X-rays of heavy metal impurities can be achieved. Possibilities of heavy ion PIXE analysis of high-Tc YBa2Cu3O7 superconductor samples is also discussed.

Usually it takes a decade or even several decades, from a discovery to its practical applications. This was not the case with X-rays; they were widely applied in medical and industrial radiography within a year of their discovery in 1895 by W.C. Rontgen. Today, X-ray analysis covers a wide range of techniques and fields of applications: from deduction of atomic arrangements by observation of diffraction phenomena to measurements of trace element concentration levels, distributions and maps by measuring fluorescence, X-ray attenuation or scattering. Although the contribution of analytical applications of X-rays to the present knowledge is difficult to surpass, modern application cover a wide range of activities from three-dimensional microfabrication using synchroton radiation to collecting information from the deep space by X-ray astronomy.

Pollution of coastal seas with toxic substances can be efficiently detected by examining toxic materials in sediment samples. These samples contain information on the overall pollution from surrounding sources such as yacht anchorages, nearby industries, sewage systems, etc. In an efficient analysis of pollution one must determine the contribution from each individual source. In this work it is demonstrated that a modelling method can be utilized for solving this latter problem. The modelling method is based on a unique interpretation of concentrations in sediments from all sampling stations. The proposed method is a synthesis consisting of the utilization of PIXE as an efficient method of pollution concentration determination and the code ANCOPOL (N. Limic and R. Benis, The computer code ANCOPOL, SimTel/msdos/geology, 1994 [1]) for the calculation of contributions from the main polluters. The efficiency and limits of the proposed method are demonstrated by discussing trace element concentrations in sediments of Punat Bay on the island of Krk in Croatia.

XRF, PIXE, RBS and STIM were used for a study of trace element distributions in Greek lignites and their ashes. Samples of fly ash collected from electrostatic precipitators have been separated into seven fractional sizes ranging from 300 μm to less than 25 μm. Trace element concentrations show variation as function of grain size. In addition, the results of analyses of 50 individual fly ash particles are presented.

Within the framework of a regional project for technical cooperation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the possibilities to supply intercalibration standards for several accelerator based analytical techniques are explored. Different types of calibration needs of such analytical techniques are discussed, and consequently the necessary material properties of intercalibration standards are derived. This is done for the following calibration fields of ion beam analytical (IBA) techniques: basic intrumental parameters for RBS and PIXE analysis; analytical accuracy of PIXE with “real life” samples; determination of light elements with nuclear reaction analysis (NRA); depth profile determinations. Materials already available are discussed in terms of their applicability in intercalibration exercises. In fields where standards have to be produced yet, their necessary characteristics are precised.

X-ray fluorescence has been applied as an analytical technique for the trace element characterization of Mongolian coals. Coal, samples from five regions of Mongolia are found to contain variable amounts of many trace elements. Various approaches to quantitative XRF analysis including a simple quantitative method, an emission-transmission method and a full fundamental parameter method are compared.

A capillary based X-ray microfluorescence system with a spatial resolution of 30 μm has been described. The system has been used to perform local analysis and elemental mapping of geological materials, individual particles and fused glass disks which can be used as reference materials for microanalysis. The relevant results are presented.

Radioisotope-excited XRF systems, using annular sources, are widely used in view of their simplicity, wide availability, relatively low price for the complete system and good overall performance with respect to accuracy and detection limits. However, some problems arise when the use of fundamental-parameter techniques for quantitative analysis is attempted. These problems are due to the fact that the systems operate with large solid angles for incoming and emerging radiation, and both the incident and take-off angles are not trivial. In this paper, an improved way to calculate ‘effective’ values for the incident and take-off angles, using Monte Carlo (MC) integration techniques, is shown. In addition, a study of the applicability of the ‘;effective’ angles for analysing different samples, or standards, was carried out. The MC method allows also calculation of the excitation-detection efficiency for different parts of the sample and estimation of the overall efficiency of a source-excited XRF set-up. The former information is useful in the design of optimized XRF set-ups and prediction of the response of inhomogeneous samples. A study of the sensitivity of the results due to sample characteristics and a comparison of the results with experimentally determined values for incident and take-off angles is also presented. A flexible and user-friendly computer program was developed in order to perform efficiently the lengthy calculations involved.

Trace elements play an important role in sustaining life on Planet Earth. The consumption of energy and other human activities mobilize large quantities of a number of elements in the environment. As a result, the uptake of trace elements by living organisms is being modified, and because of a narrow range of adequacy this can result in different abnormalities. Because of low concentration levels and the variability of species and individuals, a large number of measurements has to be performed in the study of this problem. These requirements give a central role to the methods of detection. If one considers the problems associated with air, water or soil pollution, SR-XRF techniques appear usable in almost all cases.

Radioisotop-excited x-ray fluorescence is advantageously applied to many specific analytical problems. It is a method of choice for in situ and on-line analysis. There is a growing need for in vivo determinations of many elements; radioisotope excitation offers some interesting possibilities. In addition to a review of published applications, current XRF activities in IAEA Laboratories are briefly described.

The development and improvement of technology for the abatement of fly ash emitted by coal-fired power plants can be enhanced by an understanding of particle formation upon coal combustion and of the collection mechanism during precipitation. This requires the chemical and physical characterization of fly ash in terms of both bulk and single particle properties. In this context, μPIXE and RBS analysis using a 1 μm focused beam is very successful in providing major and trace element composition of single particles. In the present work, fly ash particles collected at the inlet and outlet ports of the electrostatic precipitator of a coal-fired power plant have been analysed. In particular, particles with a diameter of about 1 μm, for which the collection efficiency is rather low, have been considered. Results are presented and discussed.

Trace element analysis of biopsy samples represents a difficult analytical problem because of: a) the small amount of material available for analysis and b) the lack of adequate reference materials for microanalytical investigations. In this report we have evaluated the capabilities of X-ray fluorescence in both standard and total reflection geometry, proton-induced X-ray emission and neutron activation analysis for multi-elemental analysis of biopsy samples.

Selenium is an essential trace element to man. Assessment of the selenium status, including its determination in biological materials, has been improved by the advances in analytical methodology. In this report we present the procedures used for selenium determination in different biological material by using nuclear analytical techniques, in particular PIXE, XRF and NAA. The difficulties associated with quality control of these measurements are discussed in some details. Examples of selenium determination in material are presented.

The determination of the elemental composition of parent coal and of the different combustion products is important in giving an insight into the partitioning of major, minor and trace elements upon combustion and abatement by control devices in power plants. Besides the relevance of these data from the environmental point of view, the characterization of the pathways of the different elements through the combustion cycle, including combustion itself and fly ash abatement, is essential for the understanding, quantification and improvement of the fly ash precipitation mechanisms. In this work PIXE and PIGE techniques have been applied to the characterization of South African coal and its fly ash collected at the inlet and outlet of the electrostatic precipitators of a power plant. Enrichment and penetration factors for major and trace elements have been determined thus pointing out the different behaviours of elements according to the chemico-physical properties of fly ash particles to which they are associated, as well as their dependence on the plant operating conditions.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has been providing analytical quality control services (AQCS) to its Member States since the 1960's. The AQCS programme distributes reference materials (RMs), organizes intercomparison runs, and provides training courses for quality assurance in chemical analysis and radioactivity measurements of food, biological, environmental and marine materials. This paper focusses on those aspects of the subject dealing with reference materials and intercomparison runs for the determination of radionuclides. Nineteen natural matrix reference materials are available for the determination of radionuclides. Twelve new intercomparison and reference materials are in preparation or under consideration. The radionuclides of interest include: K-40, Mn-54, Co-60, Sr-90, Tc-99, Ru-106, Ba-133, Cs-134, Cs-137, Pb-210, Ra-226, Th-228, Th-232, Pu-238, Pu-239+240.

Within the EURopean Illicit TRAfficking Countermeasures Kit (EURITRACK) project, a new Tagged Neutron Inspection System (TNIS) has been developed and installed in the Port of Rijeka in Croatia. The system was based on the examination of sea containers with the 14 MeV neutron beam. During the operation the characteristic gamma rays were produced and measured by several 5″×5″×10″ NaI(Tl) detectors. During this procedure some of the detectors were exposed to an intensive neutron beam radiation. It was necessary to check for possible radiation damage of the NaI(Tl) scintillator during the gamma detector selection phase of the project. The 4″×4″ NaI(Tl) detector was exposed to 14 MeV neutrons for 20 h. From the presented results on energy resolution and activation measurements it could be concluded that there are no significant differences in energy resolution before and after the irradiation by 4.7×1011 of 14 MeV neutrons. The only problem could be the high level of medium and long term induced activity in the energy region below 2 MeV.

Large numbers of trace elements occur in coals used in coal burning power plants. In order to assess the environmental impact of the coal fuel cycle, coal and coal ash samples need to be analyzed for a number of toxic and radioactive elements. In this work we demonstrate the analytical use of X-ray and γ-ray spectroscopies. Concentration levels for a number of trace elements were determined by using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE), proton induced γ-ray emission (PIGE) and γ-radioactivity spectrometry. Special attention was paid to sample preparation procedures and quality control by analysis of standard reference materials.

Charged-particle beams are assuming an evermore prominent role in our everyday life. For example, today it is difficult to envisage a research centre in biomedical sciences or a contemporary hospital without the access to a particle accelerator. With future development in technology and our better understanding of charged-particle interaction with living matter the role of accelerators in life sciences will increase even more.

Hair is the unique biological material which, because of its growth, reflects the biomedical and environmental history of the subject. Because of convenience in handling and sampling and relatively high concentrations of metals, trace-element analysis of human hair has been applied widely for different purposes. Although even the measurements of the bulk trace element levels contain some information, the real meaning is contained in longitudinal and radial concentration profiles. This is best achievable by X-ray emission spectroscopy measurements.

Direct application of many existing reference materials in micro-analytical procedures such as energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), particle induced x-ray emission spectroscopy (PIXE) and ion probe techniques for the determination of trace elements is often impossible or difficult because: 1) other constituents present in large amounts interfere with the determination; 2) trace components are not sufficiently homogeneously distributed in the sample. Therefore specific natural-matrix reference materials containing very low levels of trace elements and having high degree of homogeneity are required for many micro-analytical procedures. In this report, selection of the types of environmental and biological materials which are suitable for micro-analytical techniques will be discussed.

Environmental and health impact of coal burning power plants due to particulate emission is considered. As a result of coal burning large number of toxic elements are released into the atmosphere. The quantity released depends on the particulate control system, furnance design, mineral content of the coal and existing emission control standards. The pathways of toxic elements from coal burning power plants to man as well as dose-response effects could be considered by the applications of PIXE and μ-PIXE as analytical techniques. It is demonstrated that, in addition to concentration levels, information on concentration profiles (surface enrichment) of elements on fly ash particles, having diameter of few micrometers or less is essential.

Within the framework of the International Chernobyl Project, the IAEA's Seibersdorf Laboratories organized an intercalibration exercise among some of the laboratories which were involved in assessing the environmental contamination in the USSR due to the accident. The objective was to assess the reliability of the radioanalytical data for food and environmental samples, which were used to assess the doses. In the initial study reference materials from the stocks of the IAEA's Analytical Quality Control Services (AQCS) were re-labelled and submitted to 71 laboratories as blind samples. These natural matrix materials included samples of milk (containing 2 different levels of radioactivity), soil, air filters and clover. The concentrations of radionuclides in these samples were known from previous intercalibration exercises. The overall range in performance was broad, which is similar to what has been observed in previous international intercomparisons. The results obtained by gamma-ray spectrometry tended to be somewhat underestimated, on average. On the other hand, the laboratories showed an overall tendency to overestimate 90Sr and possibly 239Pu, which were analysed radiochemically. The intercalibration exercise is continuing with nine materials, including: soil, grass, hay and milk powder contaminated with fallout from the Chernobyl accident. These materials, which were prepared by laboratories in the USSR, are now being tested by AQCS prior to future intercomparison exercises. Work with these materials is expected to continue for several years.

Within the framework of the International Chernobyl Project, the IAEA's Seibersdorf Laboratories organized a number of intercalibration exercises among some of the laboratories which were involved in assessing the environmental contamination in the USSR due to the accident. The objective was to assess the reliability of the radioanalytical data for food and environmental samples. Five different materials, including two milk powders, soil, air filters and clover, all having measured concentrations of radionuclides, were distributed to designated laboratories in the USSR. The results were analysed to see if the individual and overall means deviated significantly from the reference values. Most of the laboratories did reasonably well in analysis of gamma-emitters, although there were some outlying results. Some of the overall means were found to be significantly different from the reference values, but the biases were small ( In an independent exercise, samples of clover were distributed to the international network of laboratories which participated in the International Chernobyl Project. The analysis of their results showed that performance was satisfactory for both gamma-spectrometry and radiochemical analysis.

Matrix characterization in the threat material detection is of utmost importance, it generates the background against which the threat material signal has to be identified. Threat materials (explosive, chemical warfare, …) are usually contained within small volume inside large volumes of variable matrices. We have studied the influence of matrix materials on the capability of neutron systems to identify hidden threat material. Three specific scenarios are considered in some details: case 1—contraband material in the sea containers, case 2—‐explosives in soil (landmines), case 3—explosives and chemical warfare on the sea bottom. Effects of container cargo material on tagged neutron system are seen in the increase of gamma background and the decrease of neutron beam intensity. Detection of landmines is more complex because of variable soil properties. We have studied in detail space and time variations of soil elemental compositions and in particular hydrogen content (humidity). Of special interest are ammu...

Medical applications of low energy accelerators include: the use of nuclear analytical methods and procedures for laboratory studies and routine measurements; material productions and modifications to meet special requirements; radioisotope productions and their applications in radiopharmaceuticals as well as in positron emission tomography; and radiotherapy with ions, based on improved understanding of the interaction of charged particles with living tissue. Some of the recent advances in these fields are critically summarized. The plan for an improved charged particle facility in a hospital environment dedicated to applications in biology and medicine is presented.

In the present study efforts are made to obtain a correlation between the trace element (TE) levels in patients and the presence of digestive cancer. The aim of the study is to detect selenium (Se), zinc (Zn) and other TE concentrations in different segments of colonic mucosa and to find out if there is any difference between the normal and pathological colonic mucosa. The concentration data (averages, standard deviations and ranges) obtained by neutron activation analysis and proton induced X-ray emission are presented and the data distribution is analyzed.

Measurements made with the 100kg of the explosive Semtex 1 a and 64.4 kg of the paper show that there is a very poor difference in the gamma ray spectra between the explosive and the paper. The nitrogen peak at 5.1 MeV is overlapped with the second escape peak from the 6.1 MeV oxygen line while the peak at the 2.3 MeV is not recognizable at all. By using the triangular diagram the way was found to separate the signature of the Semtex 1 a from that of the paper. The triangular diagram coordinates are the number of counts in carbon peak, the number of counts in oxygen peak and the number of counts in transmitted neutron peak.

The use of neutron beams produced via the D + T reaction and tagged by the associated particle technique has been recently applied to cargo container inspections. In the EURITRACK project, a portable sealed-tube neutron generator has been designed and built to deliver 14 MeV neutron beams tagged by a matrix of 64 YAP:Ce alpha-particle detectors read by a multi-anode HAMAMATSU H8500 Photomultiplier Tube. The performances of this alpha-particle detector have been determined as a function of the count rate at the Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb (Croatia). Moreover, tests of the final detector operated inside the sealed-tube neutron generator are fully satisfactory.

A new Tagged Neutron Inspection System (TNIS) able to detect illicit materials such as explosives and narcotics in cargo containers has been developed within the EURopean Illicit TRAfficing Countermeasures Kit (EURITRACK) project. After the R&D phase, the inspection portal has been installed and commissioned at the Rijeka seaport in Croatia, where it has been operated in connection with the existing X‐ray scanner for a first two‐month demonstration campaign. Results obtained are presented and discussed in this paper.

Fast neutrons produced via D+T reactions and tagged by the associated particle technique have been recently proposed to inspect cargo containers. The general characteristics of this technique are studied with Monte Carlo simulations by determining the properties of the tagged neutron beams as a function of the relevant design parameters (energy and size of the deuteron beam, geometry of the charged particle detector). Results from simulations, validated by experiments, show that the broadening of the correlation between the α-particle and the neutron, induced by kinematical as well as geometrical (beam and detector size) effects, is important and limits the dimension of the minimum voxel to be inspected. Moreover, the effect of the container filling is explored. The material filling produces a sizeable loss of correlation between α-particles and neutrons due to scattering and absorption. Conditions in inspecting cargo containers are discussed.

The EURopean Illicit TRAfficing Countermeasures Kit (EURITRACK) Front-End and Data Acquisition System is a compact set of VME boards interfaced with a standard PC. The system is part of a cargo container inspection portal based on the tagged neutrons technique. The front-end processes all detector signals and checks coincidences between any of the 64 pixels of the alpha particle detector and any gamma-ray signals in 22 NaI(Tl) scintillators. The system is capable of handling the data flow at neutron flux up to the portal limiting value of 10 8 neutrons/second. Some typical applications are presented.

PIXE and TR-XRF measurements were carried out in rabbits after titanium endosseous implant insertion, in order to evaluate a possible diffusion and accumulation of this metal in the tissues. Titanium was below the minimum detection limit after one month; however, this metal begins to be detectable in some animals after six months.

The detection of hidden explosives by using nuclear techniques has been pursued by the EXPLODET Collaboration during the last years. The aim of the Collaboration was to verify the possibility of applying new tools and methodologies in Humanitarian De-mining. Results so far obtained are presented and discussed looking also to possible application in other fields.

Elemental composition of phosphate fertilizers is of interest because of the possible migration of elements from the fertilizers to soil and plants, and via the food chain, to human beings where this may result in health effects. Several methods have so far been used for the measurement of both toxic elements and radionuclide concentrations in phosphate fertilizers. In this work the use of x-ray fluorescence is described and elemental compositions of rock phosphate samples of different origin are presented.

The DIAMINE sensor makes use of the neutron backscattering techniques (NBT). The presence of a buried land‐mine causes a localized strong increase of the yield of low energy neutrons, due to the hydrogen content of the explosive and of the plastic case of the mine. In some conditions, the hit distribution could provide an “image” of the hidden object. Coupling of the NBT sensor with a metal detector (MD) will provide the operator with a compact device, reducing the false alarm rate of the single sensors. The laboratory tests of the DIAMINE system demonstrate the possibility to detect small APM up to 10 cm depth in sand. The best use of the NBT technique is presented in the frame of the Humanitarian De‐mining requirements.