Studies from Atomic Energy Commission Reveal New Findings on Environmental Radioactivity

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Ecology, Environment & Conservation -- Current study results on Environmental Radioactivity have been published. According to news reporting originating from Damascus, Syria, by VerticalNews correspondents, research stated, "Mass attenuation coefficients of various soil and sediment samples (density range between 1.0 and 1.7 g cm(-3)) collected from 60 sites distributed in Syrian land have been determined for gamma lines of 46.5, 59.5, 88, 122, 165, 392, 661, 1173, and 1332 keV using gamma spectrometry and simulation software program X-com. The average mass attenuation coefficients for the studied samples were found to be 0.513, 0.316, 0.195, 0.155, 0.134, 0.096, 0.077, 0.058, and 0.055 cm(2) g(-1) at previous energies, respectively."

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from Atomic Energy Commission, "The results have shown that Ca and Fe contents of the samples have strong effect on the mass attenuation coefficient at lower energies. In addition, self-attenuation correction factors determined using mass attenuation coefficient was in good agreement with addition spiked reference material method provided that the sample thickness is 2.7 cm."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "However, mass attenuation coefficients determined in this study can be used for determination of gamma emitters at energy ranges from 46.5 to 1332 keV in any soil and sediment samples having density of 1.0-1.7 g cm(-3)."

For more information on this research see: Mass attenuation coefficients of soil and sediment samples using gamma energies from 46.5 to 1332 keV. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2013;116():28-33. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Journal of Environmental Radioactivity - www.elsevier.com/wps/product/cws_home/405861)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting M.S. Al-Masri, Dept. of Protection and Safety, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, P O Box 6091, Syria.

Keywords for this news article include: Asia, Syria, Damascus, Environmental Radioactivity.

Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2013, NewsRx LLC