Radioactivity background

Marshall, R. A. G., Cumulative Sum Charts for Monitoring of Radioactivity Background Count Rates, Anal. Chem. 49, 1977, 2193-2196. 

Marshall AG (1977) Cumulative sum charts for monitoring of radioactivity background count rates. Anal Chem 49 2193... 

Due to the low rates of the proposed processes, the essential requirement of these experiments is to achieve an extremely low radioactive background and large mass. In some of these phenomena, a very small amount of energy is deposited, and the sensitivity needed to detect the events must be much large. 

The main goal of CUORICINO was to demonstrate the feasibility of CUORE, which is to find out and solve the eventual problems, to test the purity of materials and radioactive background, mechanical vibration level, etc. 

High-purity detection systems having a very low background are suitable tools for the direct measurement of low-level radioactivity in environmental samples. The background features of the detection system are of considerable importance because they have to be known for one to obtain an estimate of the detection limit and of the minimum detectable activity (Curie, 1968). The natural radioactivity background originates from the uranium and the thorium series from K and from cosmic rays. Natural radioactivity is found in most materials, and it is necessary to shield the... 

Safety considerations are based on the magnitude of the half-life, shielding, distance from the radioactive source, time of exposure, and type of radiation emitted. We are never entirely free of the effects of radioactivity. Background radiation is normal radiation attributable to our surroundings. 

Potassium provides a natural radioactive background of waters because natural potassium contains 0.0118 % of the radioactive nuclide. The contents of sodium and potassium in waters for various industries is usually not significant. The exception is the requirement for water quality to be used for high pressure steam boilers, as under higher pressures insoluble sediments (incrustations) of the type Na.2 0.R2 03.xSi02.j/H20 can be formed. 

Delay-and-decay tactics imply that the waste is stored for a period of time that allows the short-lived radionuclides to decay until the reactivity level is reduced. The HLW from SNF decays to l%o of its initial activity within 40-50 years, and it is calculated that after 1000 years the level will be close to the natural radioactivity background. Figure 2.12 depicts the decay with time of the overall radioactivity, and the contribution of individual radionuclides, of the HLW from 1 ton of spent fuel. 

Brodzinski, R.L., Miley, H.S., Reeves, J.H. Avignone, E.T. (1990). Further reductions of radioactive backgrounds in ultra-sensitive germanium detectors, Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res., A, 292, 337-342. 

Small amounts of Cs and Cs are released into the environment during nearly aU nuclear weapon tests and some nuclear accidents, most notably the Chernobyl disaster. It is weU documented that mushrooms, including edible species from contaminated forests, accumulate radionucHdes (mainly Cs) in their fungal sporocarps. For example, the edible mushroom commonly known as penny bun, porcino or cep [Boletus edulis) from Poland (1987) showed about seven times higher activity of Cs in comparison with the radioactive background and about double the activity... 

Natural hazards caused by other impacts Increased radioactive background... 

The exact composition of the material contained within each flask is imknown due to the variable nature of material between flasks, restricted access for sampling and survey due to the high radioactive background activity of the area in which the waste is stored and a lack of historical record regarding spillages and generation of waste. 

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