The aim of the first part of this investigation is to assess the radioactive pollution caused by a production plant of complex fertilizers (that is to say containing nitrogen, phosphorus and, in some cases, potassium). Firstly, the authors determine the concentrations of natural radioactivity present in raw materials, end products and wastes of the industrial plant. Then, they carry out an asse...

A method of continuous recording of the disappearance of radioactive materials from the circulating blood is described. By cannulation of the right femoral artery of dogs and leading the tubing past a scintillation counter into the right femoral vein a complete circuit is established in which the concentration of radioactivity may be continuously monitored. Curves showing concentration of the r...

More than 4 years has passed since the accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Immediately after the accident, 40 to 50 academic staff of the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Tokyo created an independent team to monitor the behavior of the radioactive materials in the field and their effects on agricultural farm lands, forests, rivers, animals, etc. ...

Materials, known as radiopharmaceuticals, are intro.The use of specific radiotracers called radiopharmaceuticals for imaging organ function and disease states is a unique capability of nuclear medicine.nuclear medicine. The manual describes the requirements for safe preparation and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals. In addition, it contains essential.important factors common to most nucle...

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) found in liquid wastes from hydraulic fracturing are an emerging environmental health concern. The heavily drilled Marcellus Shale, for example, contains isotopes of radium, polonium, and lead. However, the few studies that have focused on NORM in fracking wastewater (produced fluids) have reported on a single element—radium. In this issue of EHP...

The development of commercial fusion plants includes the demonstration that the waste burden for future generations would be avoided. In order to minimize the radioactive material requiring long-term storage, maximum emphasis should be placed on recycling and clearance, avoiding geologic disposal. Clearance is the most desirable option for components like the vessel, shield, magnets and bioshie...

In this paper, Michael Boyer attempted to determine the magnitude of an emerging environmental threat: the flow of radioactive materials from industrial sites in the former Soviet Union to rivers and other bodies of water, which in turn empty into the Arctic Ocean. While such radioactive pollution is harmful regardless of its destination, the Arctic’s precarious ecology is particularly vulnerab...

Natural radioactivity is the main source of radiation which affects the human body [1]. Anthropogenic activities (e.g. high-altitude fl ights, mining and living in buildings) have increased the exposure to these sources [2]. In particular, the problem of natural radioactivity in buildings is of great interest since the building materials are of terrestrial origin and they consequently contain s...