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John Martin tells the history of Newfoundland's fluorspar mines from their founding to the last shipment of fluorspar in 1990 and declaration of bankruptcy a year later. He focuses on the health hazards experienced by the miners, and how the mining companies, workers, governments, and health services came to terms with the unfolding human tragedy. He also covers such matters as the improvement of methods for dust quantification and radiation surveillance in the mines, battles for compensation, and the influence of the St Lawrence case on the development of labour law in the province.

This study aimed to estimate the, exhalation rate, and natural radioactivity in the soil of Roopnagar district, Punjab. The radon mass and surface exhalation rate ranged from 1.18 mBq kg.sup.-1 h.sup.-1 to 5.72 mBq kg.sup.-1 h.sup.-1, with an average value of 2.68 mBq kg.sup.-1 h.sup.-1, and from 4.89 mBq m.sup.-2 h.sup.-1 to 23.58 mBq m.sup.-2 h.sup.-1, with an average value of 11.09 mBq m.sup.-2 h.sup.-1, respectively. The activity concentration of .sup.226Ra, .sup.232Th, and .sup.40K was found to be 31.9 Bq kg.sup.-1, 44.1 Bq kg.sup.-1, and 419.0 Bq kg.sup.-1, respectively. The air absorbed dose rates of radionuclides .sup.226Ra, .sup.232Th, and .sup.40K had an average value of 14.88 nGyh.sup.-1, 27.4 nGyh.sup.-1, and 5.89 nGyh.sup.-1, respectively. The total air absorbed dose from all radionuclides ranged from 19.5 nGyh.sup.-1 to 87.7 nGyh.sup.-1, with an average value of 48.1 nGyh.sup.-1, which is discovered to be well below the levels considered dangerous by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiations.

Hrvatsko društvo za zaštitu od zračenja (HDZZ) organiziralo je 2. Piknik medicinske fzike i zaštite od zračenja u Zagrebu u suradnji s Hrvatskim društvom za medicinsku fziku (HDMF) i Kliničkom bolnicom Dubrava, u ožujku ove godine, s ciljem popularizacije struke među mladima. Tijekom simpozija održana je i izborna skupština HDZZ-a, na kojoj je izabrano novo vodstvo društva za naredno mandatno razdoblje. U subotu, 15. ožujka 2025., u prostorijama Kliničke bolnice Dubrava održan je drugi Piknik medicinske fzike i zaštite od zračenja, zajednički organiziran od strane Hrvatskog društva za medicinsku fziku (HDMF), Hrvatskog društva za zaštitu od zračenja (HDZZ) i Kliničke bolnice Dubrava. Sudjelovalo je oko 150 sudionika (Slika 1), a program je obuhvatio plenarne sekcije i dvije serije interaktivnih radionica. Uvodna predavanja obuhvatila su aktualne teme poput detekcije radona, načina nastanka radiološke slike, zaštite pacijenata pri radiološkom oslikavanju, dozimetrije u radioterapiji te važnosti mobilnog laboratorija za mjerenje radioaktivnosti u okolišu. Od 1. do 4. travnja 2025. u Vodicama je uspješno održan 14. simpozij Hrvatskog društva za zaštitu od zračenja s međunarodnim sudjelovanjem, pod pokroviteljstvom Ministarstva znanosti, obrazovanja i mladih. Suorganizatori simpozija bili su Institut Ruđer Bošković (IRB), Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada te Hrvatsko društvo medicinske fzike (HDMF). Canberra Packard Kft., Nuklearna elektrana Krško, LKB Vertriebs GmbH, Ekoteh dozimetrija d.o.o., Enconet, Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Vindija d.d. i Atlantic Grupa d.d. Svoj doprinos simpoziju dali su i izlagači: Canberra Packard Kft., LKB Vertriebs GmbH, Jasika d.o.o., AlteaLife International te Siemens Healtcare d.o.o. Na svečanom otvaranju sudjelovali su brojni predstavnici srodnih društva iz zemlje i regije (Mađarska, Slovenija, Srbija). Simpozij je okupio više od 70 sudionika (Slika 3), uz bogat znanstveni program koji je uključivao 28 usmenih izlaganja i 29 posterskih priopćenja. Russell Alexander s predavanjem „Natural analogues (NA) of the enginered barrier system (EBS) te dr. sc. Uz to, program simpozija bio je izuzetno sadržajan i raznolik, obuhvaćajući niz tematskih sekcija koje su uključivale osim spomenutih i opće teme u znanosti o zračenju, biološke učinke zračenja, izloženost stanovništva zračenju, radioekologiju, radon te instrumentaciju i mjerne tehnike. Nagrada za najbolje usmeno izlaganje pripala je dr. sc. Nikoli Šegedinu s Medicinskog fakulteta u Zagrebu za izlaganje pod naslovom: „Utjecaj orijentacije detektora na učinak volumnog usrednjavanja u dozimetriji fotonskih snopova uređaja gama noža Perfexion\" (Slika 4), a za najbolji poster Aniti Crnov s KBC-a Zagreb, za postersko priopćenje naslova: „Implementacija CT simulatora u radioterapijski sustav KBC-a Zagreb\" (Slika 5). Tijekom simpozija održana je i izborna skupština Hrvatskog društva za zaštitu od zračenja (HDZZ). Nakon izlaganja izvješća uslijedili su izbori za novo vodstvo Društva. Za predsjednicu HDZZ-a ponovno je izabrana dr. sc. Ivana Coha, dok su za ostale ključne funkcije izabrani: dr. sc. Tomislav Bituh za dopredsjednika, dr. sc. Andreja Sironić za tajnicu, Iva Franulović za rizničarku te dr. sc. Ivana Tucaković za predsjednicu Zbora članova. Marina Poje Sovilj te dr. sc.

Among the physical pollutants affecting indoor air, the radioactive gas radon may turn out to be the most hazardous. Health effects related to radon exposure have been investigated for several decades, providing major scientific evidence to conclude that chronic exposures can cause lung cancer. Additionally, an association with other diseases, such as leukemia and cancers of the extra-thoracic airways, has been advanced. The implementation of a strategy to reduce the exposure of the population and minimize the health risk, according to the European Directive 59/2013/Euratom on ionizing radiations, is a new challenge in public health management. Starting from an understanding of the general state-of-the-art, a critical analysis of existing approaches has been conducted, identifying strengths and weaknesses. Then, a strategy for assessing the radon exposure of the general population, in a new comprehensive way, is proposed. It identifies three main areas of intervention and provides a list of hazard indicators and operative solutions to control human exposure. The strategy has been conceived to provide a supporting tool to authorities in the introduction of effective measures to assess population health risks due to radon exposure.

A model combined with carbonization and radon migration is proposed to simulate radon exhaled from concrete under standard accelerated carbonization. Considering the diffusion and reaction consumption of CO.sub.2 as well as the diffusion and decay of radon in porous media, the surface radon exhalation rate of the test block is obtained, and the radon diffusion coefficient was modified. The functional relationship between the correction factor and the carbonation depth and carbonation age period under standard accelerated carbonation conditions was established. The revised simulated value was in good agreement with the experimental value.

In the present study, assessment of indoor activity of radon and thoron is being carried out in dwellings of Duligaon area of Kokrajahar, Assam, using Solid state nuclear track based detector-Single entry Pin-hole dosimeter. The observed average indoor radon and thoron concentrations is found to be 246.06 Bq.m −3 and 44.08 Bq.m −3 respectively. Notably, these values are relatively higher than the global average which is 40 Bq.m −3 for radon and 10 Bq.m −3 for thoron. However these indoor metrics are within the acceptable range (200-300 Bq.m −3 ) as recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The estimated annual effective dose due to radon and thoron is estimated at 8.1 mSv.y −1 , which is within the action limit (3-10 mSv.y −1 ) set by ICRP. We have also investigated the variation of radon and thoron activity in different house types, and using appropriate Seasonal Correction Factor (SCF), we have also estimated the seasonal activity of radon and thoron.

The Ebro River Delta, in the northwestern Mediterranean basin, has an extension of 320 km2 and is mainly covered by rice fields. In the framework of the ClimaDat project, the greenhouse gases atmospheric station DEC was designed and installed in this area in 2013. The DEC station was equipped, among other tools, with a Picarro G2301 instrument and an ARMON (Atmospheric Radon Monitor) to measure both CH4 and CO2 and 222Rn concentrations, respectively. The variability of methane fluxes over this area and during the distinct phases of the rice production cycle was evaluated in this study using the Radon Tracer Method (RTM). The RTM was carried out using (i) nocturnal hourly atmospheric measurements of CH4 and 222Rn between 2013 and 2019 and (ii) FLEXPART-WRF back trajectories coupled with radon flux maps for Europe with a resolution of 0.05° × 0.05° available thanks to the project traceRadon. Prior to the calculation of methane fluxes by RTM, the FLEXPART-WRF model and the traceRadon flux maps were evaluated by modelling atmospheric radon concentrations at the DEC station and comparing them with observed data. RTM-based methane fluxes show a strong seasonality with maximums in October (13.9 mg CH4 m−2 h−1), corresponding with the period of harvest and straw incorporation in rice crop fields, and minimums between March and June (0.2 to 0.6 mg CH4 m−2 h−1). The total estimated methane annual emission was about 262.8 kg CH4 ha−1. These fluxes were compared with fluxes directly measured with static accumulation chambers by other researchers in the same area. Results show strong agreement between both methodologies, having both a similar annual cycle and similar monthly mean absolute values.

Indoor radon ( 222 Rn) measurements were carried out using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) in some dwellings from southwestern Nigeria. This was aimed at statistically assessing influence of building characteristics on the measured radon and estimating excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCR). The measured radon concentrations followed lognormal distribution and were significantly influenced by some building properties. The arithmetic mean (1.60 mSv) of annual effective doses (AEDs) due to indoor radon was observed to be higher than the world average level (1.15 mSv) but less than lower limit (3 mSv) of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The evaluated excess lifetime cancer risk ranged from 1.5 to 28.1 (MPy) −1 with an average value of 6.3 (MPy) −1 , indicating that after exposure to indoor radon for 70 years, 6 people in every 1000 are likely to suffer the risk of developing lung cancer. Adequate ventilation systems were recommended for houses with high level of radon to avoid unnecessary exposure to radon. However, the investigated data would form important component of the database required to set up guidelines and policy of controlling radon at home.

The urbanized area of Rome is largely built over volcanic deposits, characterized by a significant radionuclides content and consequently a high radon emanation potential. An accurate monitoring of workplaces and residential dwellings constitutes a first step towards mitigating the indoor radon exposure. Since radon diffusion dynamics involves complex interactions among many environmental parameters on different time scales, a proper assessment of radon concentration variations can be better achieved by means of active monitoring approaches. We present here the results of 1 year of continuous measurements conducted in six premises (five apartments and a basement) at different floors of the same building in the Esquilino district, in the historical center of Rome. Collecting annual series of radon concentration enables us to identify fluctuations over a seasonal scale, with radon generally decreasing in the warm season. The simultaneous tracking of different floors should cancel the influence of geogenic radon and of building characteristics like age, typology, and construction materials. While the basement shows the highest radon concentration, indicating a major contribution from the ground, we observe indoor radon levels comparable at all the upper floors, questioning the common belief that high-risk exposure be limited to the lowest storeys. The use of active devices makes it possible to discriminate between average indoor radon measured during the day and overnight, when residents are more likely to be at home. Our analysis provides the characterization of the dynamics of the gas emanation and transport inside the buildings and of its temporal fluctuations, in relation to the environmental and meteorological conditions. Since the experiment was performed in the Roman urban contest, we cannot ignore the specificity of the retrieved data, affected not only by endogenous factors like life habits relative to ventilation and conditioning of the apartments, but also by exogenous factors, among which the warmer microclimate compared to the surrounding suburban and rural areas, due to the effects of urbanization (urban heat island effect).

All humans are exposed to radon, the primary source of natural radiation, which can harm people due to natural processes rather than human activity. Thus, it is of significant importance to determine the levels of radon in indoor, soil gas, water, and outdoors. Radon concentration ( C Rn ) was measured in Kiraz district, İzmir, and the correlation between the indoor and soil gas C Rn values was investigated. The indoor C Rn values measured in 40 randomly selected dwellings in Kiraz exhibited a wide range from 19.50 ± 2.50 to 204.70 ± 8.00 Bq m −3 with an average value of 61.11 ± 4.23 Bq m −3 . The measured indoor C Rn values were compared to the reference levels in the world to help control radon in the dwellings. Indoor C Rn values were lower than the ICRP reference level of 300 Bq m −3 in all of the dwellings studied. Furthermore, in 34 dwellings (representing 85% of the total number of dwellings studied), indoor C Rn values were lower than the WHO reference level of 100 Bq m −3 . Health hazard indices, namely annual effective dose ( AED ) and excess lifetime cancer risk ( ELCR ), were also calculated for each dwelling and compared with internationally acceptable levels to estimate the risk to human health. The AED values varied from 0.49 ± 0.06 to 5.16 ± 0.20 mSv y −1 with an average value of 1.54 ± 0.11 mSv y −1 , which exceeds the world average of 1.15 mSv y −1 as reported by UNSCEAR. The ELCR values ranged from 2.05 ± 0.26 × 10 −3 to 21.55 ± 0.84 × 10 −3 with an average value of 6.43 ± 0.44 × 10 −3 , exceeding the world average of 0.29 × 10 −3 as reported by UNSCEAR. The soil gas C Rn values measured exhibited a wide variation ranging from 129.25 ± 6.38 Bq m −3 to 6172.64 ± 44.06 Bq m −3 with an average value of 1291.79 ± 18.70 Bq m −3 . The soil gas C Rn values were less than 10,000 Bq m −3 ; hence, the research area is categorized as “low radon risk areas” according to Sweden Criteria, and so no special constructions are required in the studied area. When soil gas C Rn values were compared to indoor C Rn values, no linear relationship was found between the C Rn values. However, a strong positive linear correlation was found between indoor and soil gas C Rn values less than 200 Bq m −3 and 2500 Bq m −3 , respectively.