Radiactivity: Radiactivity: risk assessment and doses

J.L. Gutierrez-Villanueva Gutierrez-

Department of Soil and Environment Uppsala, SWEDEN LaRUC University of Cantabria Santander, SPAIN

1. Introduction 2. Basic concepts 3. Radon Gas and Natural Radiation: risk assessment 4. Doses 5. Summary: Some key messages 6. Activity: One i t 6 A ti it O minute paper

1. Introduction
2. Basic concepts 3. Radon Gas and Natural Radiation: risk assessment 4. Doses 5. Summary: Some key messages 6. Activity: One minute paper

Cost INES Date Location (in millions level 2006 $US) January 3, 1961 Idaho Falls, Idaho, US 22 4 December 7, 1975 Greifswald, East Germany 443 3 February 22, 1977 Jaslovsk Bohunice, Czechoslovakia 1,700 4 March 28, 1979 Middletown, Pennsylvania, US 2,400 5 April 26 A il 26, 1986 Pripyat, Ukrainian SSR P i t Uk i i 6,700 6 700 7 September 30, 1999 Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan 54 4 February 16, 2002 Oak Harbor, Ohio, US 143 3 August 9, 2004 Fukui Prefecture, Japan 9 1 March 11, 2011 11 kuma, Fukushima, kuma Fukushima Japan ? 7

Radithor radium solution -1928 radioactive water min. 37 kBq Ra-226 and Ra228 3 glass/ day stimulating, relaxing increase the sexual potencial M. Byers death due to Radithor- 1932

At the end of this lecture:

You will understand basic concepts on radioactivity You ill Yo will learn that doses from NATURAL SOURCES are more important than those from artificial sources You will be able to explain the main risk of radon gas You will be familiar with units and dose assessment

1. Introduction

2. Basic concepts
3. Radon Gas and Natural Radiation: risk assessment 4. Doses 5. Summary: Some key messages 6. Activity: One minute paper

When was the word radiactivity first time used ?

Nobel prize in Physics (1903) Nobel prize in chemistry (1911) She is the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences Irne Joliot-Curie (Nobel prize in chemistry - 1935) Frdric Joliot-Curie (Nobel prize in chemistry - 1935)

Ionizing radiation: Radiation with enough energy to detach electrons from atoms or molecules, thus ionizing molecules them.

keV k V
103 eV

MeV M V
106 eV

Alpha decay p y Beta decay Gamma decay

Alpha decay: Emission of an alpha p p y p particle by a nucleus y

4+ 4

He 2

High enery (MeV) Heavy particles: they can be stopped in some cm Elements heavy nucleus

222 86

Rn

238 92

210 84

Po

Alpha spectrum

Beta decay: Emission of beta particle (positive or negative) by a nucleus. Also electron capture by a ti ) b l Al l t t b nucleus.

Less energy than alpha emission Longer distance before stopping Continuous spectrum of energy
3 1

H Sr 38
90

Gammna decay: Photons emission by a nucleus when reaching steady state of energy.

Photons with different energies

X Rays Gamma Rays (with different energies)

Gamma rays = Nucleus X Rays = Atomic crust

99 43

Tc

60 27

Co

Gamma spectrum

450000 400000 350000 300000

Counts

250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

Channel

Lets remember
Activity (A): Number of disintegrations per second Half life (T1/2): Neccesary time for an isotope to decrease its nucleus by
half

Decay constant (): Probability of disintegration by time Decay chain: chained series of transformations (4 Natural decay
chains)

Units on radioactivity y
Becquerel (Bq) : unit of activity in the International System of Units 1Bq = 1 DPS (disintegration / second) Curie (Ci) : Old unit of activity 1 Ci = 3.7 1010 Bq Concentration : Bq/kg, Bq/l, Bq/m3 Sievert (Sv) : Unit for equivalent dose Working Level Month (WLM): Occupational exposure (1 WLM is approximately equivalent to an exposure of 150 Bq m-3 in a year)

Expontentials decay law A = A0 e- t

T1/2 = 0.693/

Natural decay series

Serie Thrium Neptunium Uranium Urani m Actinium Father
232Th 237Np 238U 235U

Half life (years) (y ) 1.41 1010 2.14 106 4.51 4 51 109 7.18 108

Final product p Pb-208 Pb-209 Pb-206 Pb 206 Pb-208

Earth s Earths age = 4.65 109 years

Natural Radioactivity y
Since the Earth s birth Earths Every second values are lower and lower : Exponential decay In our bodies : 40K In the rocks, air, water, food, clothes, EVERYWHERE More than 50 % of dose is NATURAL RADIATION

Artificial radioactivity
Radioactive isotopes can be created Fission and fusion = Energy AND/OR destruction X-ray detectors Medical applications I d t i l applications Industrial li ti

Natural Radioactivity
Cosmic radiation

Radiation, people and the environment (IAEA, February 2004)

What have we learnt ?

What have we learnt ? Radiactivity: natural and artificial 3 decay modes: alpha, beta and gamma Units: activity ( q, Ci); WLM y (Bq, ); 4 Natural decay series

1. Introduction 2. Basic concepts

3. Radon Gas and Natural Radiation: risk assessment

4. Doses 5. Summary: Some key messages y y g 6. Activity: One minute paper

238U

Natural series

238U

: Earth crust Average content in soils in the world: 35 Bq Kg-1 (UNSCEAR 2000)

222Rn
Noble gas T1/2 = 3.82 d Alpha Emitter (5.49 MeV) MeV)

SOURCES and transport mechanisms

Soils

Building Materials

Water

81 % comes from NATURAL SOURCES: Radon and others

Radon health risks

Radon inhalation (and progeny) causes alpha irradiation in the cells of the respiratory tract f th i t t t

Mutations, malignant transformation M i li f i Lung cancer risk

Radon health risks RADON PROGENY INHALATION

Increase in risk of lung cancer:

16% for 100 Bq/m3

95% CI (5, 31)

After correction for the dilution due to random year-to-year variability in residential radon concentrations, as well as stratification for study, age, sex, broad region of residence within study, and detailed smoking history. (Darby el al. 2006)

INTERNATIONAL RADON PROJECT (WHO, 2005 - 2009)

Radon health risks

WHO HANDBOOK ON INDOOR RADON, WHO 2009

Radon health risks

WHO HANDBOOK ON INDOOR RADON, WHO 2009

Radon health risks

RADON CONCENTRATION MAY PRESENT VARIATIONS - 3 ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE - FROM ONE BUILDING TO ANOTHER - FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER

SO MEASUREMENT CAMPAINGS ARE ESSENTIAL

Size (nm)

Radon decay products

Disinteg gratin Radon exhalation

RADON

0.5 - 1 05

Unattached progeny
Attachme ent
+ 88 % Neutro 12 %

Deposit

Recoil

Only 218Po

Wall, Wall Soil

10 - 1000

Attached progeny p g y

Deposit

Aerosol particle

Radon sources and transport

Soils

Building materials

Water

Diffusion Transport T t Convection

Through concentration differences Relative gas movement within containing material

Through pressure/temperature differences Gas containing fluid acts as a carrier

Major Radon entry routes

INFORMATION SHEET March 2004 (WHO)

UE Recomendation 90/143 On the protection of population against the risks of indoor radon exposure (1990)

New and existing dwellings New buildings: 10 mSv/year equivalent to an annual average radon concentration of 200 Bq/m3 E i ti b ildi : 20 mSv/year equivalent to an annual average radon Existing buildings S / i l tt l d concentration of 400 Bq/m3

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION of 20 December 2001 on the protection of the public against exposure to radon in drinking water supplies

Radon gas measurement devices

Passive
Alpha track Activated charcoal Electrets

Active Acti e
Electronic Integrating Device Continuos Radon Monitors

WHO HANDBOOK ON INDOOR RADON, WHO 2009

Alpha Track Detectors

The container and the CR-39 radon detector Measuring equipment

Alpha Tracks

Picture from Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland

Activated charcoal detectors

Picorad radon detectors and Quantulus Wallac 1220

Electrets radon detectors

Active Radon detectors

RTM 2100 SARAD GMbH

Alphaguard Saphymo GmbH

RAD7 Durridge Radon Instrumentation

WHO HANDBOOK ON INDOOR RADON, WHO 2009

Radon in Dwellings The Irish National Radon Survey, RPII-02/1 Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland

Health Protection Agency

SPAIN: WHAT WE KNOW

RADON MEASUREMENTS : MAIN RESULTS FROM THE NATIONAL SURVEY (1989-1991)
Number of dwellings surveyed: 2,000 Around 500 cities and villages Populated wieghted geometric mean 45 Bq/m3 (GSD: 3 Bq/m3 ) Percentage of dwellings above 400 Bq/m3 : 2% Highest value found: 15,400 Bq/m3

AREAS WITH HIGH RADON INDOOR VALUES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, IN THE CENTER AND THE WEST OF THE COUNTRY

SPAIN: SPAIN: WHAT WE KNOW ...

0% 0% 18% 19% 4% 4% 17% 8% 6% 3% 0% 4% 7% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 3% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 2% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

7% 7%

7%

16%

> 400 Bq/m3

0%

0%

SPAIN: SPAIN: WHAT WE KNOW ...

18% 21% 32% 36% 12% 8% 39% 20% 11% 13% 3% 22% 10% 12% 0% 3% 0% 1% 1% 4% 0% 4% 14% 2% 6% 7% 4% 0% 4% 0% 0% 0% 4% 1% 11% 3% 0% 0% 0% 0,3%

28%

> 200 Bq/m3 Bq/m

7%

0%

SPAIN: SPAIN: WHAT WE KNOW ...

NATURAL RADIATION MAP (MARNA Project) (1991AN ONGOING PROJECT THAT IS BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE CSN , THE URANIUM NATIONAL COMPANY, SOME UNIVERSITIES AND AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES. CURRENTLY IT IS IN THE LAST PHASE. THIS PROJECT PROVIDES US MAPS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE ZONES WITH DIFFERENT GAMMA RADIATION LEVELS ARE SHOWED.

1.500.000 nationwide terrestrial gamma radiation values 1320 nationwide activity concentration data of 40K, 226Ra, y 232Th in soil.

SPAIN: SPAIN: WHAT WE KNOW ...

NATURAL GAMMA RADIATION MAP (MARNA) AND INDOOR RADON LEVELS IN SPAIN Environment International, 29 (8), 1091-96, 2004

SPAIN: SPAIN: WHAT WE KNOW ...

18% 21%

14% 32%

2% 6% 36% 28% % 12%

7% 4%

4% 0% 0% 0% 4% 1% 11% 3% 13% 3% 0% 0% 0% 0,3%

8% 39%

0%

20%

11% 3% 10% 1% 4%

22%

0% 1% 0% 7% 4%

12%

0% 0%

Results of lung cancer in men

2008

Data from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain)

Results of lung cancer in women

Data from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain)

WHO HANDBOOK ON INDOOR RADON, WHO 2009

WHO HANDBOOK ON INDOOR RADON, WHO 2009

What have we learnt ?

What have we learnt ? Radon natural radioactive noble gas Radon R d causes l lung cancer (16 % f 100 B / 3) for Bq/m Recommended levels: 400 Bq/m3 and 200 Bq/m3 Measurement devices: active and passive Solutions to the radon problem

1. Introduction 2. Basic concepts 3. Radon Gas and Natural Radiation: risk assessment

4. Doses
5. Summary: Some key messages 6. Activity: One minute paper

RADON CONC.

7400 Bq/m3

740 Bq/m3

74 Bq/m3

7.4 Bq/m3

0.74 Bq/m3

Lets remember
Absorbed dose:
is a measure of the energy deposited in a medium by ionizing radiation per unit mass GRAY (Gy)

Equivalent dose : Absorbed dose in a tissue. Weighting factors depending on

the type of radiation SIEVERT (Sv) HT = R wR DT,R
wR (fotones) = 1 wR (alfa) = 20

Effective dose : SUM of all equivalent doses in all tissues and organs of the
body due to internal and external radiations SIEVERT (Sv)
wT (gnadas) = 0.20 (g )

E = T wT R wR DT,R

wT (mdula) = 0.12

Effective Dose calculations

H ~ C x F x O x DCF
H: effective dose C: concentration of radon O: Occupancy F: Equilibrium factor q DCF: Dose conversion factor Fixed values Dose conversion factor, DCF, of UNSCEAR 2000 Radon : 5 mSv per WLM Equilibrium factor, F, of UNSCEAR 2000 for q , , indoor environment Radon: FRn = 0.4 Occupancy workers: 2000 h/y, public: 8000 h/y Significant differences in dose assessment Integrated or Continuous Continuous

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption

Risk assessment
Dosimetric model Estimation of dose per unit exposure from respiratory tract model
Progeny retention period Weighting factor for alpha particles Sensibility of pulmonary tissue Weighting factors for esch region Probability density function P b bili d i f i

1 Applied to miners conditions (Birchall 1994) 1 mSv WLM-1 15 S

Applied to dwellings (Marsh 2002) 12 mSv WLM-1

Risk assessment
Epidemiological studies

Groups of miners High exposure rates Smoking factor Other agents are included, not only radon Specific exposure conditions
(breathing rates, different concentrations of particles, etc)

Difficult to extend to radon risk exposure in dwellings

Case/control studies in dwellings g at the moment

Risk assessment

Epidemiological approximation

Dosimetric approximation

Factor 3
Need to modify weighting factor used by ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) - Lung (0.12 to 0.04) - Alpha p p particles ( to 7) (20 ) - Pulmonary regions

Significant h Si ifi t changes i d i t of other radionuclides in dosimetry f th di lid

EXTERNAL EXPOSURES

arise from terrestrial radionuclides present at trace levels in all soils

238U

and 232Th series and 40K

Factors to be taken into account: Conversion coefficient from absorbed dose in air to effective dose (0.7 Sv Gy-1) indoor occupancy factor (0.8) outdoors occupancy factor (0.2)

EXTERNAL EXPOSURES (Natural radiactivity)

In order to assess radiological risk external exposure to radiation risk, arising from naturally occurring radionuclides can be determined in terms of the absorbed dose rate in air at 1 m above the ground surface

Annual effective dose equivalent for adults from outdoor terrestrial gamma radiation

Doses: other aspects D th t

Internal exposures other than radon Doses by ingestion are mainly due to series
210Po 40K

and to the

238U

and

232Th

which is present in relatively high concentrations in seafood

Artificial sources: 137Cs

What have we learnt ?

What have we l learnt ? Wh t h t Absorbed dose rate (Gy) Effective dose rate (Sv) Risk assessment: two approaches (dosimetrical and epidemiological) How to estimate external exposures p Other contributors to the dose

1. Introduction 2. Basic concepts 3. Radon Gas and Natural Radiation: risk assessment 4. Doses

5. Summary: S 5 S Some k messages key

6. Activity: One minute paper

Radioactivity: artificial and natural sources Concepts on radiactivity Units: Activity: Bq, Bq/m3 , Ci, WLM D Doses: G and S Gy d Sv Radon recommended levels: 400 Bq/m3 and 200 Bq/m3 Estimation of absorbed dose and effective dose rates

WHO HANDBOOK ON INDOOR RADON, WHO 2009

www.elradon.com http://www.unscear.org/ http://www unscear org/ (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation) http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/chart/ (Chart of nuclides) http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html (A Citizen's Guide to Radon, EPA) ...............................

1. Introduction 2. Basic concepts 3. Radon Gas and Natural Radiation: risk assessment 4. 4 Doses 5. Summary: Some key messages

6.Activity: One minute paper