Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of secular equilibrium and determination of natural and artificial radionuclide concentrations in the zone surrounding the site of the first nuclear reactor in Jordan

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

High-resolution gamma-spectrometry and ICP-MS measurements were utilized to confirm the validity of secular equilibrium among the identified natural radioactive progeny of 238U and 232Th series. The measurements of 238U, 232Th, and 40K concentrations, in the soil within 2 km range around the first nuclear reactor in Jordan, were close to the worldwide average levels. Among artificial radionuclides, only 137Cs was detected but with very low traces. The dose rate and radiological hazard parameters were found to be close to worldwide average values and below the recommended limits. Our results indicate that secular equilibrium is unperturbed within and around the uncontaminated reactor site.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jordan’s First Nuclear Research Reactor Goes Through IAEA Peer Review, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication. https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/jordans-first-nuclear-research-reactor-goes-through-iaea-peer-review. Accessed 27 Jun 2017

  2. JAEC (2011) White paper on nuclear energy in Jordan. Jordan Atomic Energy Commission, Amman

    Google Scholar 

  3. IAEA (2016) Safety of research reactors. IAEA safety standards series. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  4. UNSCEAR (2008) Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. United Nations Publications, New York

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kritsananuwat R, Sahoo SK, Fukushi M, Pangza K, Chanyotha S (2015) Radiological risk assessment of 238U, 232Th and 40K in Thailand coastal sediments at selected areas proposed for nuclear power plant sites. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 303(1):325–334. doi:10.1007/s10967-014-3376-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Veiga R, Sanches N, Anjos RM, Macario K, Bastos J, Iguatemy M, Aguiar JG, Santos AMA, Mosquera B, Carvalho C, Baptista Filho M, Umisedo NK (2006) Measurement of natural radioactivity in Brazilian beach sands. Radiat Meas 41(2):189–196. doi:10.1016/j.radmeas.2005.05.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Tabar E, Yakut H, Saç MM, Taşköprü C, İçhedef M, Kuş A (2017) Natural radioactivity levels and related risk assessment in soil samples from Sakarya, Turkey. J Radioanal Nucl Chem. doi:10.1007/s10967-017-5266-2

    Google Scholar 

  8. Singh P, Singh P, Bajwa BS, Sahoo BK (2017) Radionuclide contents and their correlation with radon-thoron exhalation in soil samples from mineralized zone of Himachal Pradesh. India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 311(1):253–261. doi:10.1007/s10967-016-4975-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Pehlivanovic B, Avdic S, Gazdic I, Osmanovic A (2017) Measurement of natural environmental radioactivity and estimation of population exposure in Bihac, Bosnia and Herzegovina. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 311(3):1909–1915. doi:10.1007/s10967-016-5155-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chaudhuri P, Naskar N, Lahiri S (2017) Measurement of background radioactivity in surface soil of Indian Sundarban. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 311(3):1947–1952. doi:10.1007/s10967-016-5158-x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Jang M, Chung KH, Ji Y-Y, Lim JM, Kim CJ, Kang MJ, Choi GS (2016) Indoor external and internal exposure due to building materials containing NORM in Korea. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 307(3):1661–1666. doi:10.1007/s10967-015-4375-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Zaim N, Atlas H (2016) Assessment of radioactivity levels and radiation hazards using gamma spectrometry in soil samples of Edirne. Turkey. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 310(3):959–967. doi:10.1007/s10967-016-4908-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Bourdon B (2016) Uranium Decay Series. In: White WM (ed) Encyclopedia of geochemistry: a comprehensive reference source on the chemistry of the earth. Springer, Cham, pp 1–6

    Google Scholar 

  14. Papadopoulos A, Christofides G, Koroneos A, Stoulos S, Papastefanou C (2013) Radioactive secular equilibrium in 238U and 232Th series in granitoids from Greece. Appl Radiat Isot 75:95–104. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.02.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. IAEA (2004) Soil sampling for environmental contaminants. IAEA TECDOC No. 1415. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria

  16. Bakshi AK, Prajith R, Chinnaesakki S, Pal R, Sathian D, Dhar A, Selvam TP, Sapra BK, Datta D (2017) Measurements of background radiation levels around Indian station Bharati, during 33rd Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. J Environ Radioact 167:54–61. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.11.025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Long SE, Martin TD, Martin ER (1994) Method 200.8 determination of trace elements in waters and wastes by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, Revision 5.4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio

  18. UNSCEAR (2000) Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. United Nations Publications, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) for granting permission to use JAEC laboratory facilities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Khaled F. Al-Shboul, Abdullah E. Alali, Hiba Y. AL-Khodire & Ibrahim M. Batayneh

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Alham W. Al-Shurafat

Authors
  1. Khaled F. Al-Shboul
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abdullah E. Alali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hiba Y. AL-Khodire
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ibrahim M. Batayneh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Alham W. Al-Shurafat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Khaled F. Al-Shboul.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Al-Shboul, K.F., Alali, A.E., AL-Khodire, H.Y. et al. Assessment of secular equilibrium and determination of natural and artificial radionuclide concentrations in the zone surrounding the site of the first nuclear reactor in Jordan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 314, 1353–1360 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5504-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5504-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation