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Ionising and Non Ionising Radiation Protection Issues in the Environment and Workplaces

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A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 36909

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gaetano Licitra

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Guest Editor

ARPAT, Environmental Protection Agency of Tuscany Region, 50144 Livorno, Italy
Interests: environmental acoustics; physical agents; noise modeling; big data
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Mauro Magnoni

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Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont Region, Ivrea, Italy
Interests: environmental radioactivity; radon; dosimetry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Gian Marco Contessa

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ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Lungotevere Thaon di Revel 76, 00196 Rome, Italy
Interests: radiation protection; radiation detection; radiation; ionizing radiation; radiation physics; medical radiation physics; nuclear safety; nuclear physics; radioactivity; magnetic resonance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Annual National Radiation Protection Conference organized by the Italian Radiation Protection Association (AIRP) and held in Rome from the 29th September to the 1st October, was a timely and long-awaited event for the Italian radiation protection community: it was necessary to resume contacts and share experiences after the forced limitations due to the pandemic.

The Conference, held in-person and online simultaneously, provided the Italian radiation protection community with an opportunity to discuss the most advanced and interesting radiation protection issues. The scientific program of the Conference covered the most important radiation protection fields: medical and health physics; decommissioning nuclear power plants; fusion reactors; accelerators; environmental radioactivity with a special emphasis on radon and NORM; non-ionizing radiation with the emerging and challenging issue of the measurement of the exposure due to 5G technology.

This Special Issue contains a selection of some of the best papers, chosen from over seventy that were presented in the Conference, but is also open to contributions from researchers on the topics presented within.

Prof. Dr. Gaetano Licitra
Dr. Mauro Magnoni
Dr. Gian Marco Contessa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

environmental radioactivity
radon
NORM
nuclear fusion facilities
dosimetry
health physics
5G exposure evaluation
electromagnetic fields
cellular base stations
non-ionizing radiation protection

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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13 pages, 1519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Assessment of Radiolysis for the Cooling Water System in the Rotating Target of SORGENTINA-RF

by Camillo Sartorio, Massimo Angiolini, Davide Flammini, Antonino Pietropaolo, Pietro Agostini, Ciro Alberghi, Luigi Candido, Marco Capogni, Mauro Capone, Sebastiano Cataldo, Gian Marco Contessa, Marco D’Arienzo, Alessio Del Dotto, Dario Diamanti, Danilo Dongiovanni, Mirko Farini, Paolo Ferrari, Angela Fiore, Nicola Fonnesu, Manuela Frisoni, Gianni Gadani, Angelo Gentili, Giacomo Grasso, Manuela Guardati, David Guidoni, Marco Lamberti, Luigi Lepore, Andrea Mancini, Andrea Mariani, Ranieri Marinari, Giuseppe A. Marzo, Bruno Mastroianni, Fabio Moro, Agostina Orefice, Valerio Orsetti, Tonio Pinna, Antonietta Rizzo, Alexander Rydzy, Stefano Salvi, Demis Santoli, Alessia Santucci, Luca Saraceno, Salvatore Scaglione, Valerio Sermenghi, Emanuele Serra, Andrea Simonetti, Ivan Panov Spassovsky, Nicholas Terranova, Silvano Tosti, Alberto Ubaldini, Marco Utili, Pietro Zito, Danilo Zola, Konstantina Voukelatou and Giuseppe Zummo Show full author list Hide full author list

Environments 2022, 9(8), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9080106 - 18 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4182

Abstract

The SORGENTINA-RF project aims at developing a 14 MeV fusion neutron source featuring an emission rate in the order of 5–7 × 10

^{13}

^{- 1}

. The plant relies on a metallic water-cooled rotating target and a deuterium (50%) and tritium [...] Read more.

The SORGENTINA-RF project aims at developing a 14 MeV fusion neutron source featuring an emission rate in the order of 5–7 × 10

^{13}

^{- 1}

. The plant relies on a metallic water-cooled rotating target and a deuterium (50%) and tritium (50%) ion beam. Beyond the main focus of medical radioisotope production, the source may represent a multi-purpose neutron facility by implementing a series of neutron-based techniques. Among the different engineering and technological issues to be addressed, the production of incondensable gases and corrosion product into the rotating target deserves a dedicated investigation. In this study, a preliminary analysis is carried out, considering the general layout of the target and the present choice of the target material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ionising and Non Ionising Radiation Protection Issues in the Environment and Workplaces)

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14 pages, 4657 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Preliminary Study of the Characteristics of Radon Data from Indoor Environments and Building Materials in the Campania Region Using PCA and K-Means Statistical Analyses

by Carlo Sabbarese, Maria Luisa Feola, Fabrizio Ambrosino, Vincenzo Roca, Antonio D’Onofrio, Giuseppe La Verde, Vittoria D’Avino, Mariagabriella Pugliese and Vittorio Festa

Environments 2022, 9(7), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9070082 - 30 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3415

Abstract

For a healthy indoor environment, it is important to understand which materials and factors favor the generation of high levels of indoor radon. A preliminary multivariate statistical analysis was carried out on two datasets concerning indoor radon and building materials in the Campania Region using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the k-means partitional analysis technique. A total of 13 parameters related to building materials were used. The results show the greater contribution of building materials of volcanic origin to the concentration of indoor radon and thoron activity and the different influence of the parameters of the 31 materials analyzed. The same analyses applied to the indoor radon values of 694 rooms in the Campania Region were equally effective in assessing the structural characteristics of indoor environments that most influence indoor radon levels. The study provided an effective assessment of the influence on radon activity of several environmental parameters, which are often not adequately considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ionising and Non Ionising Radiation Protection Issues in the Environment and Workplaces)

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10 pages, 856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Activated Corrosion Products Evaluations for Occupational Dose Mitigation in Nuclear Fusion Facilities

by Nicholas Terranova, Simona Breidokaité, Gian Marco Contessa, Luigi Di Pace, Claudia Gasparrini, Tadas Kaliatka and Giovanni Mariano

Environments 2022, 9(7), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9070076 - 22 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3448

Abstract

Activated corrosion products generation in primary heat transfer systems of nuclear fusion facilities is a relevant radiological source term for occupation dose assessments. The formation of the Chalk River Undefined Deposit, already well known in nuclear fission power plants, represents a significant safety issue in fusion applications due to the intense high energy neutron fluences (about 14 MeV in Deuterium-Tritium operation). The activated corrosion products formation is a multi-physical problem. The combined synergy of activation, corrosion, dissolution, erosion, ejection, precipitation, and transport phenomena induces the contamination of coolant loop regions located outside the bio-shield, where scheduled worker operation might take place. The following manuscript shows how activated corrosion products are evaluated for the nuclear fusion power plant design under investigation by the Safety and Environment Work Package (WPSAE) of the Eurofusion Consortium (i.e., the European Demonstration power plant, EU-DEMO). The major issues in activated corrosion products estimations are here exposed and the main results for mass and activity inventories are briefly shown for some main Primary Heat Transfer Systems of EU-DEMO. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ionising and Non Ionising Radiation Protection Issues in the Environment and Workplaces)

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13 pages, 775 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Management of a Fusion Facility: Radiation Protection and Safety Integrated Approach for the Sorgentina-RF Project

by Gian Marco Contessa, Nicholas Terranova, Tonio Pinna, Danilo Nicola Dongiovanni, Marco D’Arienzo, Fabio Moro, Paolo Ferrari, Antonino Pietropaolo and The SRF Collaboration

Environments 2022, 9(6), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9060071 - 14 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3493

Abstract

The Sorgentina-RF project will use fusion neutrons to produce ⁹⁹Mo, a precursor of ^99mTc, by irradiating natural molybdenum. ⁹⁹Mo is produced by means of the inelastic reaction ¹⁰⁰Mo(n, 2n)⁹⁹Mo on ¹⁰⁰Mo, which is an isotope of natural Mo. From a functional point of view, the project consists of two parts: an irradiation neutron source at 14 MeV and a radiochemistry facility dedicated to the extraction of ⁹⁹Mo from the solid sample irradiated by the neutron source. Given the degree of complexity of such a facility, the risk management strategy is based on an integrated approach that combines the engineering method of safety with that of radiation protection. Therefore, design issues were studied and systems were planned according to both radiation protection and safety criteria already in the preliminary phase, allowing a general strengthening of the safety of the plant. This work discusses the preventive analysis and the related activities to identify the ways in which potential exposures to radiation may occur. In particular, the preliminary safety analysis is presented for the innovative rotating target, developed for the project, and, accordingly, some specific technical solutions are given to refine the initial design of the facility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ionising and Non Ionising Radiation Protection Issues in the Environment and Workplaces)

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11 pages, 2631 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Terrestrial ²²²Rn Flux from ²¹⁰Pb Deposition Measurements

by Mauro Magnoni, Luca Bellina, Stefano Bertino, Brunella Bellotto and Enrico Chiaberto

Environments 2022, 9(6), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9060068 - 31 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3287

Abstract

The study of the ²²²Rn terrestrial flux (Bq/(m²·s) or Bq/(m²·h)) is a complex issue involving both radiation-protection and environmental aspects. While the radiation-protection aspects are quite obvious—it has been well known for several decades that soil is the major source of indoor radon—environmental issues such as the correlation with conventional pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NOX, etc.) and the use of radon for the esmation of the natural component of GHG (CO₂) emissions are relatively less discussed in spite of their growing relevance. In this work we present a method for the estimation of the average value of ²²²Rn flux from HPGe γ-spectrometry ²¹⁰Pb measurements performed on wet and dry deposition samples gathered monthly in the period 2006–2020. The results obtained with this technique give an average radon flux in the period Φ = 57 ± 27 Bq/(m²·h), the value of which is comparable with those coming from other methods and direct radon flux measurements as well. The method can thus be used to obtain a worldwide map of the radon flux. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ionising and Non Ionising Radiation Protection Issues in the Environment and Workplaces)

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19 pages, 12126 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Environmental Gamma Dose Rate Monitoring and Radon Correlations: Evidence and Potential Applications

by Alessandro Rizzo, Giuseppe Antonacci, Enrico Borra, Francesco Cardellini, Luca Ciciani, Luciano Sperandio and Ignazio Vilardi

Environments 2022, 9(6), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9060066 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4528

Abstract

Gamma emitting radionuclides naturally present in the Earth’s crust and the radon exhaled by soil in the atmosphere with its short-lived progeny are two of the main contributors to the environmental gamma dose rate that typically characterizes an outdoor measurement site. The present work aims to investigate variations in the environmental dose-rate time series originated by different natural phenomena, such as weather and seismic events, which can modify the radon concentration in the air. The data analyzed here were acquired over a five-year period using a Reuter–Stokes high-pressure ionization chamber placed in the ENEA Casaccia Research Center (Rome, Italy), from November 2013 to December 2018. The detector was set to take a single measurement of the equivalent ambient dose

H^{*} (10)

every 15 min, thereby collecting more than 184,000 values over the five-year period under consideration. The detector’s sensitivity to the short-lived radon progeny was verified in a preparatory study performed by means of simultaneous radon flux measurement on field. Variations induced by meteorological events as well as variations potentially induced by seismic events were investigated by implementing different data analysis techniques. In the latter case, a retrospective preliminary study was conducted, applying the ARFIMA class of models in order to test the method’s potential. The analysis techniques, results and potential applications are presented and discussed in this article. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ionising and Non Ionising Radiation Protection Issues in the Environment and Workplaces)

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12 pages, 5317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Radiation Protection at the Large Hadron Collider: Problematics, Challenges and Advanced Monte Carlo Simulation Techniques

by Angelo Infantino, Daniel Björkman, Lucie Elie, Maddalena Maietta, Christophe Tromel and Heinz Vincke

Environments 2022, 9(5), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9050054 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4211

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the problems, challenges, and the advanced simulation techniques used to study and plan complex interventions in radiation areas at CERNs Large Hadron Collider and its future upgrade to the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider. The operational radiation protection aspects are supported by state of the art simulations by means of the FLUKA Monte Carlo code and estimates conducted via other tools such as ActiWiz and SESAME, used within the HSE-RP group. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ionising and Non Ionising Radiation Protection Issues in the Environment and Workplaces)

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10 pages, 2091 KiB

Open AccessArticle

FMECA Application in Tomotherapy: Comparison between Classic and Fuzzy Methodologies

by Mariarosa Giardina, Elio Tomarchio, Pietro Buffa, Maurizio Palagonia, Ivan Veronese and Marie Claire Cantone

Environments 2022, 9(4), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9040050 - 10 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3827

Abstract

Accident analysis in radiotherapy highlighted the need to increase quality assurance (QA) programs by the identification of failures/errors with very low probability (rare event) but very severe consequences. In this field, a Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) technique, used in various industrial processes to rank critical events, has been met with much interest. The literature describes different FMECA methods; however, it is necessary to understand if these tools are incisive and effective in the healthcare sector. In this work, comparisons of FMECA methodologies in the risk assessment of patients undergoing treatments performed with helical tomotherapy are reported. Failure modes identified for the phases “treatment planning” and “treatment execution” are classified using the Risk Priority Number (RPN) index. Differences and similarities in the classification of failures/errors of the examined FMECA approaches are highlighted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ionising and Non Ionising Radiation Protection Issues in the Environment and Workplaces)

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Review

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13 pages, 2520 KiB

Open AccessReview

What Is Worth Knowing in Interventional Practices about Medical Staff Radiation Exposure Monitoring: A Review of Recent Outcomes of EURADOS Working Group 12

by Paolo Ferrari, Mercè Ginjaume, Oliver Hupe, Una O’Connor, Filip Vanhavere, Elena Bakhanova, Frank Becker, Lorenzo Campani, Eleftheria Carinou, Isabelle Clairand, Dario Faj, Jan Jansen, Zoran Jovanović, Željka Knežević, Dragana Krstić, Francesca Mariotti, Marta Sans-Merce, Pedro Teles and Milena Živković

Environments 2022, 9(4), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9040053 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5155

Abstract

EURADOS (European Radiation Dosimetry Group) Working Group 12 (WG12) SG1 activities are aimed at occupational radiation protection and individual monitoring in X-ray and nuclear medicine practices. In recent years, many studies have been carried out in these fields, especially for interventional radiology and cardiology workplaces (IC/IR). The complexity of the exposure conditions of the medical staff during interventional practices makes the radiation protection and monitoring of the exposed workers a challenging task. The scope of the present work is to review some of the main results obtained within WG12 activities about scattered field characterization and personal dosimetry that could be very useful in increasing the quality of radiation protection of the personnel, safety, and awareness of radiation risk. Two papers on Monte Carlo modelling of interventional theater and three papers on active personal dosimeters (APDs) for personnel monitoring were considered in the review. More specifically, Monte Carlo simulation was used as the main tool to characterize the levels of exposure of the medical staff, allowing to determine how beam energy and direction can have an impact on the doses received by the operators. Indeed, the simulations provided information about the exposure of the operator’s head, and the study concluded with the determination of an eye-lens protection factor when protection goggles and a ceiling shielding are used. Moreover, the review included the results of studies on active personal dosimeters, their use in IC/IR workplaces, and how they respond to calibration fields, with X-ray standard and pulsed beams. It was shown that APDs are insensitive to backscatter radiation, but some of them could not respond correctly to the very intense pulsed fields (as those next to the patient in interventional practices). The measurements during interventional procedures showed the potential capability of the employment of APDs in hospitals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ionising and Non Ionising Radiation Protection Issues in the Environment and Workplaces)

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