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Quality assurance for the measurements and monitoring of radioactivity in the environment.

During the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) of the European Commission--according to an institutional programme in support to the policy of the European Commission for the implementation of Art. 35 and 36 of the Euratom Treaty as well as in the framework of the OSPAR Convention for the protection of marine environment of the north-east Atlantic--at the Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU--General Directorate Joint Research Centre--European Commission), a reference laboratory for the measurement of radioactivity in the environment (MaRE laboratory) has been set up. In this paper, the principles and philosophy in order to improve the quality and reliability of analytical data for the measurement and monitoring of radioactivity in the environment under a quality assurance (QA) programme are presented. Examples of how a QA programme at the MaRE laboratory is developed and applied are given. Internal and external quality control (QC) programmes are also discussed.

Environmental Monitoring↗

Receptor-mediated transcytosis of transferrin across the blood-brain barrier.

The perfusion of rat brain with 125I-transferrin resulted in a receptor-mediated uptake of transferrin into the endothelium of the blood-brain barrier followed by its detection in the brain. During a pulse-chase experiment, 125I-transferrin accumulated in the endothelial cells during the pulse, with a decrease of this intraendothelial radioactivity during the chase associated with a concomitant increase in the nonvascular elements of the brain. The receptor-mediated movement of transferrin across the blood-brain barrier suggests that the brain may derive its iron through the transcytosis of iron-loaded transferrin across the brain microvasculature. We discuss the likelihood that aluminum and other potentially toxic heavy metals, which also bind tightly to transferrin, may enter the brain by this pathway. We also discuss the possibility that other large molecules including neuroactive peptides and neurotrophic viruses may enter the brain through a similar receptor-mediated, vesicular transcytotic route.

Animals↗

The gastrointestinal absorption of the actinide elements.

The greatest uncertainty in dose estimates for the ingestion of long-lived, alpha-emitting isotopes of the actinide elements is in the values used for their fractional absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (f1 values). Recent years have seen a large increase in the available data on actinide absorption. Human data are reviewed here, together with animal data, to illustrate the effect on absorption of chemical form, incorporation into food materials, fasting and other dietary factors, and age at ingestion. The f1 values recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, by an Expert Group of the Nuclear Energy Agency and by the National Radiological Protection Board are discussed.

Actinoid Series Elements↗

Influence of microorganisms on the behavior of technetium and other elements in paddy soil surface water.

Insolubilization patterns of technetium (Tc) and other trace elements (Sc, Co, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Nb, Ce, Pm, Gd, Lu, Hf, and Re) in surface water covering paddy fields were compared to gain insight into the behavior of Tc in an agricultural environment. The insolubilization of Tc, which did not pass through a 0.2-microm-pore-size filter, was mainly caused by bacteria. Among the 14 other elements investigated, Nb was insolubilized by bacteria and the amounts of insoluble Nb were positively correlated with those of Tc. Although Re is a chemical analog of Tc, no similarity was observed. These results suggest that Tc behaves similarly to Nb in the insolubilization in surface water covering paddy fields.

Bacteria↗

Partitioning of radionuclides and trace elements in phosphogypsum and its source materials based on sequential extraction methods.

Phosphogypsum is a waste produced by the phosphate fertilizer industry. Although phosphogypsum is mainly calcium sulphate dihydrate, it contains elevated levels of impurities, which originate from the source phosphate rock used in the phosphoric acid production. Among these impurities, radionuclides from 238U and 232Th decay series are of most concern due to their radiotoxicity. Other elements, such as rare earth elements (REE) and Ba are also enriched in the phosphogypsum. The bioavailability of radionuclides (226Ra, 210Pb and 232Th), rare earth elements and Ba to the surrounding aquatic system was evaluated by the application of sequential leaching of the phosphogypsum samples from the Brazilian phosphoric acid producers. The sequential extraction results show that most of the radium and lead are located in the "iron oxide" (non-CaSO4) fraction, and that only 13-18% of these radionuclides are distributed in the most labile fraction. Th, REE and Ba were found predominantly in the residual phase, which corresponds to a small fraction of the phosphate rock or monazite that did not react and to insoluble compounds such as sulphates, phosphates and silicates. It can be concluded that although all these elements are enriched in the phosphogypsum samples they are not associated with CaSO4 itself and therefore do not represent a threat to the surrounding aquatic environment.

Barium↗

The use of extraction chromatography resins to concentrate actinides and strontium from soil for radiochromatographic analyses.

An analytical technique utilizing selective extractant resins to concentrate strontium and actinides from soil followed by separation with radiochromatography was evaluated. The technique was tested using uncontaminated soil samples spiked with a radionuclide tracer solution that were either microwave-aided acid digested or leached with a strong acid. Extraction of the strontium and actinides from the acidified solution was accomplished using a serial arrangement of Sr-Resin and TRU-Resin columns. The combined eluate solutions from the extraction resins were treated with HNO(3) and H(2)O(2) to oxidize residual extractant and eluates prior to separation and analysis of the radionuclides by radiochromatography. Chromatograms obtained with larger soil mass loadings resulted in either incomplete peak resolution of the tracers or had highly variable peak elution times, indicative of an ionic interfering constituent(s). Better separations (e.g., chromatograms that resolved all radioactive constituents) were obtained when the sample mass loading was decreased, but with a concurrent decreased sensitivity for the radionuclides. Elemental analyses of the soil were conducted to provide data on the ionic constituents in unprocessed soil and post-processed soil samples. These results identified aluminum as an interfering contributor to the poor performance exhibited by the radiochromatographic separations.

Actinoid Series Elements↗

Omega iodo fatty acid scintigraphy--what are we measuring?

In an open chested dog model utilizing dual isotope techniques (125I heptadecanoic acid and 9, 10 3H palmitic acid), sequential myocardial biopsies were performed to: validate the scintigraphic background subtraction technique for the iodo fatty acid, compare the myocardial activity time course for the fatty acids and by TLC methods determine the chemical form of the myocardial activity and to study the influence of free iodide on the overall time-activity pattern. The findings supported the method of background subtraction and demonstrated a similar activity-time course for the two fatty acids. In spite of this, approximately 30% of the myocardial activity (125I) was in the form of free iodide which suggested that the rate of diffusion of iodide may be an important kinetic element in the system. Some differences in the lipid form of the radioactivity (3H, 125I) were noted.

Animals↗

Analyses of radioactive aerosols to support accurate internal dose assessments at Chin-Shan nuclear power plant.

Studies of the physical and chemical properties of radioactive aerosols produced in different work environments were made at Chin-Shan nuclear power plant in Taiwan. These properties, including particle mass- and activity-size distributions, elemental and radionuclide compositions, and solubility lung class, are essential for the assessment of internal dose equivalents from the inhalation of radioactive aerosols. Several practices and environments studied include thermal arc cutting, grinding, sandblasting, and noble gas progeny. For physical analyses, cascade impactors, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and neutron activation analysis were applied. For chemical analyses, the solubility lung class was determined, in vitro, with the measurement of aerosol dissolution rates in simulated biological fluids. Results of these analyses were used to calculate the annual limit on intake, the derived air concentration, and committed dose equivalents for radiological protection against radioactive aerosols produced at Chin-Shan nuclear power plant.

Aerosols↗

Glass-batch composition monitoring by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy is an almost ideal technique for the in situ monitoring of the composition of a glass batch before it enters the glass-melting furnace, saving a significant amount of energy by the optimization of the furnace parameters for a particular composition of the glass batch. We investigate this application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy by determining the elemental composition of the glass batch used (i) as a surrogate for radioactive glass waste and (ii) to manufacture the most common type of flat glass. The surrogate glass-batch and flat-glass calibration curves for the major constituents have been prepared using both the line intensity and the line-intensity ratio. The analytical figure of merit of the glass-batch data obtained from the two different detection systems, namely, the Czerny-Turner spectrometer with an intensified diode-array detector and the echelle spectrometer fitted with an intensified CCD camera, are compared.

Journal Article↗

[Determination of mercury and copper in water samples by activation analysis using preconcentration on emission spectroscopic carbon powder (author's transl)].

A simple preconcentration procedure for mercury and copper was examined in the activation analysis of water samples. The preconcentration using pure activated carbon has been reported in several papers. The authors found that the carbon powder for emission spectroscopic analysis showed the high purity equivalent to pure activated carbon. The influence of various parameters in adsorption conditions was studied by radioactive tracers 197Hg and 64Cu. It was confirmed that 100% of these elements were adsorbed on carbon powders as pyrrolidine dithiocarbonate complexes at an acidity of pH 6--8, the temperature of 50 degrees C and the stirring time of 30 minutes. This method was applied to the activation analysis of the river water samples taken from the upper stream area of the Arakawa river and the ground water samples taken from the upper stream area of the Arakawa river and the ground water samples taken from the wells of the environs of Tokyo Megapolis. The carbon powders which adsorbed these elements were filtered, dried and analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The Hg concentrations of 0.01--0.1 ppb in river water and 0.03--1.4 ppb in ground water were obtained as well as the Cu concentrations of 0.3--3.0 ppb in ground water. The limits of determination of this method are 0.01 ppb Hg and 0.2 ppb Cu in the case of 11 sample of fresh water.

Activation Analysis↗

[Methodological principles for using agents for the mass prevention of the sequelae of human irradiation].

The means of mass prevention of radiation consequences are biologically active additives to food, usual diet components, etc., micronutrients, as well as some sorbents and radio protective agents, which show various actions: 1) those reducing absorption; 2) those accelerating radionuclide excretion; 3) those enhancing the body's resistance to radiation; 4) those contributing to the prevention (less risk) of late radiation-induced cancer. The paper formulates basic requirements for means of mass prevention and guidelines for their use in terms of benefits and risk.

Animals↗

Fetotoxicity of inorganic mercury in the mouse: distribution and effects on nutrient uptake by placenta and fetus.

Different aspects on the fetotoxicity of HgCl2 have been studied in vivo and in vitro and have been compared to earlier results with CdCl2, which is known to cause placental necrosis and fetal death. Hg has to be given in higher doses (20-25 mg/kg body weight) than Cd (3-4 mg/kg body weight) to cause fetolethality in late pregnancy in the mouse. It does not cause the typical signs of placental damage (congestion and bleedings) as does Cd. At a dose level of 15 mg/kg body weight, Hg reaches more than 10 times higher concentrations (approx. 5 times higher on a molar basis) in the fetus, while Cd (4 mg/kg body weight) on the other hand appears in the placenta at a double molar concentration as compared to Hg. In a chick, limb bud mesenchyme cell culture differentiating into chondrocytes, Hg and Cd were about equally effective in inhibiting cartilage-specific staining by alcian blue (ED50 approximately 1 microM). Due to the strong accumulation of Hg and Cd in the placenta, the effects of Hg on the placental and fetal uptake of four nutrients was studied. Hg caused a dose-dependent decrease in fetal radioactivity as compared to controls 4 hours after administration of 57Co-vitamin B12 to the mother. However, this effect was not as marked as for Cd. Hg, on the other hand, decreased fetal radioactivity after 14C-alpha-aminobutyric acid more than Cd did. Both elements decreased the fetal uptake of 65Zn, probably due mainly to a concomitant decrease in maternal serum concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aminobutyrates↗

Radioactive colloidal solutions and suspensions for medical use.

Radioactive colloidal solutions and suspensions are being widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. The author considers the behaviour or radioactive disperse preparations in the body and devotes particular attention to the reasons for isotope transition from the colloidal to the ionic state. Questions concerned with producing and investigating radioactive colloidal solutions are discussed. In the light of the physical and chemical properties of the radioisotopes and of the disperse systems themselves, the author considers methods of producing the more important radioactive disperse preparations: colloidal solutions of noble metals; colloidal solutions containing phosphorus-32, yttrium-90 and isotopes of the rare-earth elements; colloidal solutions with with indium-113m, gallium-68, technetium-99m and rhenium-186; suspensions (macroaggregates and microspheres) for the diagnosis of lung diseases; and radioactive colloidal solutions based on quaternary ammonium base compounds.

Colloids↗

Absorption and retention studies of trace elements and minerals in rats using radiotracers and whole-body counting.

A description is given of a whole-body counting technique using radiotracers, permitting the determination of true absorption and endogenous excretion of trace elements and minerals in the rat in vivo. This non-invasive counting method involves oral and intraperitoneal administration of tracer doses of a radioisotope in a cross-over fashion and subsequent measurement of the whole-body retention in a whole-body counter. Thus, true absorption can be determined in one animal which contributes to the reduction of animal use. To study the variations in counting response due to radioisotope distribution, to size or shape of the animal body, the influence of the position of a point source and distribution over different phantoms to simulate various body sizes are experimentally evaluated for 64Cu, 65Zn, 59Fe and 28Mg. Results from 2 studies, with 64Cu and 28Mg, as an example for a trace element and a mineral respectively, are presented and illustrate that absorption as measured by apparent absorption does not necessarily reflect true absorption. True absorption as determined by the whole-body retention method using radioisotopes corrects for faecal losses of endogenous origin.

Absorption↗