Publications (5)6.66 Total impact
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Article: Natural radioactivity of 226Ra and 228Ra in thermal and mineral waters in Croatia.
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ABSTRACT: Thermal waters are known as valuable natural resources of a country. They contain certain degree of natural radioactivity attributable to the elements of the uranium and thorium natural decay series. Among these elements, the most radiotoxic and the most important is radium that exists in several isotopic forms (226Ra and 228Ra). The focus of attention was the content of radium in samples of thermal and mineral spring water from several spas in Croatia. These waters are mainly used for medical, bathing and recreational purposes, and some of them are used for drinking. Measured activity concentrations of 226Ra ranged from 87 to 6200 mBq l(-1) which, in some springs, exceed the maximal permissible level of 1 Bq l(-1) for drinking water. Measured activity concentrations of 228Ra ranged from 23 to 3480 mBq l(-1). The study showed that radium content for the investigated thermal and mineral waters is below the levels at which negative consequences would arise due to ingestion.Radiation Protection Dosimetry 02/2009; 133(2):119-23. · 0.82 Impact Factor -
Article: 226Ra and 228Ra in Croatian rivers.
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ABSTRACT: The presence of natural radionuclides in Croatian rivers emphasizes the need for its continuous monitoring. Therefore results of 226Ra and 228Ra determination in Croatian river waters are presented in this paper. 226Ra and 228Ra were chosen as a possible source of human exposure due to their high radio-toxicity. Fifty liters of river water samples were collected from the Danube, Drava, Sava, Krka and Neretva rivers twice a year from 2002 to 2006. It is showed that activity concentrations of 226Ra ranged from 6.54 mBq/L to 59.44 mBq/L and 228Ra activity concentrations ranged from 2.57 mBq/L to 20.76 mBq/L. The highest values of both 226Ra and 228Ra were measured in the river Drava, and the lowest values in the river Sava. Statistically significant differences were not observed between radium concentrations from two watersheds (the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea watershed), nor between 226Ra/228Ra ratio in rivers individually. The number of collected samples is insufficient to make more statistically significant conclusions. However the data obtained in this study could be the baseline for evaluating possible future changes.Collegium antropologicum 11/2008; 32 Suppl 2:105-8. · 0.61 Impact Factor -
Article: Radioactive contamination in Croatia by phosphate fertilizer production.
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ABSTRACT: The contents of natural radionuclides (radium, uranium and potassium) were measured in the area of a phosphate fertilizer factory in central Croatia, as a part of extended and still ongoing monitoring program of radioactive contamination of human environment in Croatia that is performed by the Radiation Protection Unit of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb. Activity concentrations in all analysed media (waste water, trickling water from piezometers, phosphogypsum deposit and final products) considerably fluctuated, especially in phosphogypsum and waste water. Mean (226)Ra activity concentration in waste phosphogypsum was measured to be 483+/-190 Bqkg(-1). Based on that value, it was estimated that 4 million m(3) of phosphogypsum that have been deposited up to now contain about 4.3 x 10(12) Bq, i.e. about 200 g of (226)Ra. However, effective dose for an adult that would be incurred by consumption of water from nearby wells was estimated to be 5.3+/-1.3 microSv. The results show that (226)Ra activities cause effective doses, which are below the recommended maximum as the estimated annual (226)Ra effective dose does not exceed 0.1 mSv as recommended by the World Health Organization.Journal of Hazardous Materials 07/2008; 162(2-3):1199-203. · 4.17 Impact Factor -
Article: [Radioactive waste due to electric power and mineral fertiliser production].
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ABSTRACT: Radiation Protection Unit of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb has been conducting systematic investigations of radioactive contamination of the Croatian environment by anthropogenic fission products as well as by naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) since 1963. Several critical sites in Croatia were identified for NORM, that is, for slag and ash repositories from coal-fired power plants and phosphogypsum repository from a mineral fertilizer production plant. As the coals and phosphate ores contain naturally occurring radionuclides, especially the members of the uranium and thorium radioactive chains, utilising these materials in various industries only enhances their natural radioactivity in residual waste. Consequently, the resulting activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in waste material could be several times higher than in the adjacent soil. These deposited materials pose permanent risk of radiation exposure due to the long physical half-life of natural radionuclides (e.g., T 1/2 = 1600 years for 226Ra). Results of scientific investigations related to natural radioactivity are used in the recovery of slag and ash repositories and landfills, as well as in establishing regulatory criteria targeting import of coal and phosphate ores. In consequence, recently measured activity concentrations of natural radioactivity in imported materials used nowadays in coal-fired power plants are significantly lower than in previously used raw materials. Therefore, slag and ash can be used as additive materials in cement production.Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 10/2006; 57(3):333-8. · 1.05 Impact Factor -
Article: Long-term investigations of radioactive matter in the air of Zagreb, Croatia
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ABSTRACT: Investigations on the distribution and fate of naturally occurring, nuclear-weapons-produced, and reactor-released radionuclides in the city of Zagreb, Coatia, have been conducted as part of the monitoring program for radioactive contamination of the human environment in Croatia since the early 1960s. This paper describes long-term investigations of man-made 137Cs and naturally occurring 7Be in the city of Zagreb after the Chernobyl accident. The Chernobyl nuclear accident caused a major increase in 137Cs activity concentrations only in 1986, which quickly decreased over the next few years to pre-Chernobyl values. The observed mean residence time for 137Cs in the air during the post-Chernobyl period from January 1987 to December 1990 was estimated to be 1.0 year. During this period, the observed mean residence time for 137Cs in fallout was estimated to be 0.9 years. The mean 7Be activity concentration in the air from 1987 to 2004 was (5.4 ± 2.8) × 10− 3 Bq m− 3. The measured 7Be activity concentrations showed seasonal behavior with the highest usually measured in July.Despite the constant presence of radioactive matter in the Zagreb air during the observational period, activity concentration values never exceeded legal limits. Consequently, 137Cs doses incurred by inhaling contaminated air after the Chernobyl accident were very small.Atmospheric Research.
