Editorial

5 pages, 216 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue on Advances in Environmental Applied Physics

by Francesco Caridi

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 6172; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13106172 - 18 May 2023

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This Special Issue, “Advances in Environmental Applied Physics”, is dedicated to collecting original papers from eminent researchers in the field of environmental pollutants, which constitute a health risk to the population, increasing the likelihood of incurring cancer [...] Full article

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Research

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11 pages, 1960 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Radioactivity and Heavy Metals Content in a Basalt Aggregate for Concrete from Sicily, Southern Italy: A Case Study

by Francesco Caridi, Giuseppe Paladini, Santina Marguccio, Alberto Belvedere, Maurizio D’Agostino, Maurizio Messina, Vincenza Crupi, Valentina Venuti and Domenico Majolino

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 4804; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13084804 - 11 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1514

Abstract

In the present paper, an investigation on the natural and anthropic radioactivity and heavy metals content in a basalt aggregate for concrete from Sicily, Southern Italy, was performed as a case study. In particular, the evaluation of the specific activity of radium-226, thorium-232, [...] Read more.

In the present paper, an investigation on the natural and anthropic radioactivity and heavy metals content in a basalt aggregate for concrete from Sicily, Southern Italy, was performed as a case study. In particular, the evaluation of the specific activity of radium-226, thorium-232, potassium-40 and caesium-137 radionuclides was performed by using High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometry, together with the estimation of several indexes developed to evaluate the radiological risk for the population related to radiation exposure, i.e., the alpha index (I_α), the radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), the absorbed γ-dose rate (D) and the annual effective dose equivalent outdoor (AEDE_out) and indoor (AEDE_in). Moreover, measurements of the average heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, thallium and zinc) concentrations in the analyzed sample were performed by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Furthermore, with the aim to investigate any possible chemical pollution, the Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation Index (I_geo), Contamination Factor (CF) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) were assessed. Finally, the identification of the source of the aforementioned radioisotopes of natural origin was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thus identifying the major mineralogical phases present in the investigated basalt aggregate for concrete. Full article

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11 pages, 2104 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Verification of Estimated Cosmic Neutron Intensities Using a Portable Neutron Monitoring System in Antarctica

by Hiroshi Yasuda, Naoyuki Kurita and Kazuaki Yajima

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 3297; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13053297 - 04 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1344

Abstract

Many ongoing studies for predicting the production rates of cosmogenic nuclides, forecasting changes of atmospheric compositions and climate, assessing the cosmic-radiation exposure of aircraft crew, and the effects on precise electronic devices use numerical models that estimate cosmic-radiation intensities in the atmosphere. Periodic [...] Read more.

Many ongoing studies for predicting the production rates of cosmogenic nuclides, forecasting changes of atmospheric compositions and climate, assessing the cosmic-radiation exposure of aircraft crew, and the effects on precise electronic devices use numerical models that estimate cosmic-radiation intensities in the atmosphere. Periodic verifications of those models are desirable to be performed for assuring the reliability of the study outcomes. Here, we investigated an application of a portable neutron-monitoring system composed of an extended-energy-range neutron monitor and a small data logger for monitoring of cosmic-neutron intensities in a polar region. As a result of measurements in the east Antarctica region covering a wide range of altitudes (from 30 m to 3762 m) and comparisons with the model calculations performed with an analytical model based on comprehensive Monte Carlo simulations (PARMA), it was demonstrated that the portable neutron-monitoring system could be effectively applied for periodic verification of cosmic-neutron intensities that would improve the reliability of related studies. Full article

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11 pages, 1396 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multivariate Statistical Analyses and Potentially Toxic Elements Pollution Assessment of Pyroclastic Products from Mt. Etna, Sicily, Southern Italy

by Francesco Caridi, Giuseppe Paladini, Antonio Francesco Mottese, Maurizio Messina, Valentina Venuti and Domenico Majolino

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 9889; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199889 - 01 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1073

Abstract

Potentially toxic elements contamination represents a universal problem of major concern, due to several adverse health effects on human beings when permissible concentration levels are overcome. In this sense, the assessment of potentially risky elements content in different environmental matrices plays a key [...] Read more.

Potentially toxic elements contamination represents a universal problem of major concern, due to several adverse health effects on human beings when permissible concentration levels are overcome. In this sense, the assessment of potentially risky elements content in different environmental matrices plays a key role in the safeguarding of the quality of the environment, and thus of the strictly correlated public health. In this article, measurements of the average potentially toxic elements concentrations in pyroclastic products from Mt. Etna, Eastern Sicily and Southern Italy were performed together with a comparison with the allowable levels set by Italian legislation, with the aim to evaluate the level of toxicity imposed on the ecosystem. For this purpose, Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurements were performed to investigate any possible chemical pollution by potentially risky elements, by applying different indices such as Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation Index (I_geo), Contamination Factor (CF) and Pollution Load Index (PLI). Finally, the multivariate statistical analysis was performed by processing potentially toxic elements content and pollution indices. It is worth noting that the used approach could be applied, in principle, for the evaluation of the chemical risk due to the presence of potentially toxic elements in a large variety of samples of particular environmental interest, and can constitute a guideline for investigations focused on the monitoring of the environmental quality. Full article

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14 pages, 2370 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Estimation of Cosmic-Ray-Induced Atmospheric Ionization and Radiation at Commercial Aviation Flight Altitudes

by Panagiota Makrantoni, Anastasia Tezari, Argyris N. Stassinakis, Pavlos Paschalis, Maria Gerontidou, Pantelis Karaiskos, Alexandros G. Georgakilas, Helen Mavromichalaki, Ilya G. Usoskin, Norma Crosby and Mark Dierckxsens

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(11), 5297; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12115297 - 24 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2384

Abstract

The main source of the ionization of the Earth’s atmosphere is the cosmic radiation that depends on solar activity as well as geomagnetic activity. Galactic cosmic rays constitute a permanent radiation background and contribute significantly to the radiation exposure inside the atmosphere. In [...] Read more.

The main source of the ionization of the Earth’s atmosphere is the cosmic radiation that depends on solar activity as well as geomagnetic activity. Galactic cosmic rays constitute a permanent radiation background and contribute significantly to the radiation exposure inside the atmosphere. In this work, the cosmic-ray-induced ionization of the Earth’s atmosphere, due to both solar and galactic cosmic radiation during the recent solar cycles 23 (1996–2008) and 24 (2008–2019), was studied globally. Estimations of the ionization were based on the CRAC:CRII model by the University of Oulu. The use of this model allowed for extensive calculations from the Earth’s surface (atmospheric depth 1033 g/cm²) to the upper limit of the atmosphere (atmospheric depth 0 g/cm²). Monte Carlo simulations were performed for the estimation quantities of radiobiological interest with the validated software DYASTIMA/DYASTIMA-R. This study was focused on specific altitudes of interest, such as the common flight levels used by commercial aviation. Full article

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7 pages, 259 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Natural and Anthropogenic Radioactivity Content and Radiation Hazard Assessment of Baby Food Consumption in Italy

by Francesco Caridi, Giuseppe Paladini, Valentina Venuti, Sebastiano Ettore Spoto, Vincenza Crupi, Giovanna Belmusto and Domenico Majolino

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 5244; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12105244 - 22 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1301

Abstract

The natural (⁴⁰K) and anthropogenic (¹³⁷Cs) radioactivity concentration in four different typologies of early childhood (up to two years old) foods, i.e., homogenized fruit, homogenized meat, childhood biscuits and baby pasta, produced in Italy and sold [...] Read more.

The natural (⁴⁰K) and anthropogenic (¹³⁷Cs) radioactivity concentration in four different typologies of early childhood (up to two years old) foods, i.e., homogenized fruit, homogenized meat, childhood biscuits and baby pasta, produced in Italy and sold in Italian large retailers, was investigated through High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry. The present study is carried out with the aim to: (i) evaluate the background levels of the investigated radionuclides in the analyzed early childhood foods, (ii) identify whether the twenty analyzed samples were appropriate for infant consumption and (iii) contribute to construct a database on the radioactivity of early childhood foods sold in Italy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Environmental Applied Physics)

9 pages, 1839 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

A New Methodological Approach for the Assessment of the ²³⁸U Content in Drinking Water

by Francesco Caridi, Giuseppe Paladini, Valentina Venuti, Vincenza Crupi, Sebastiano Ettore Spoto, Santina Marguccio, Maurizio D’Agostino, Alberto Belvedere and Domenico Majolino

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3380; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12073380 - 26 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1629

Abstract

The radiological quality of drinking water is directly associated with the health of the population. Indeed, it is well known that the presence of radionuclides in drinking water constitutes a health risk for humans because the consumption of such water increases the likelihood [...] Read more.

The radiological quality of drinking water is directly associated with the health of the population. Indeed, it is well known that the presence of radionuclides in drinking water constitutes a health risk for humans because the consumption of such water increases the likelihood of incurring cancer. For this reason, all the studies aimed at developing new methodologies for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the radioisotopic composition of drinking water are absolutely desired by the international scientific community, as well as by the institutes that deal with the protection of public health. In this paper, a new methodological approach was developed for the evaluation of the ²³⁸U content in drinking water. A sample coming from Paola, Calabria region, southern Italy, was taken as a case study. The assessment was performed by using High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry, with the aim of quantifying the specific activity of the ^234mPa radioisotope after a preconcentration procedure, and thus to assess the activity concentration of ²³⁸U, in the hypothesis of the secular radioactive equilibrium between it and its daughter. The obtained results were validated through the comparison with the ²³⁸U (µg/L) concentration as measured with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Environmental Applied Physics)

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21 pages, 1183 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monte Carlo Simulation-Based Calculations of Complex DNA Damage for Incidents of Environmental Ionizing Radiation Exposure

by Spyridon A. Kalospyros, Violeta Gika, Zacharenia Nikitaki, Antigoni Kalamara, Ioanna Kyriakou, Dimitris Emfietzoglou, Michael Kokkoris and Alexandros G. Georgakilas

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 8985; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11198985 - 27 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2675

Abstract

In this paper, we present a useful Monte Carlo (MC)-based methodology that can be utilized to calculate the absorbed dose and the initial levels of complex DNA damage (such as double strand breaks-DSBs) in the case of an environmental ionizing radiation (IR) exposure [...] Read more.

In this paper, we present a useful Monte Carlo (MC)-based methodology that can be utilized to calculate the absorbed dose and the initial levels of complex DNA damage (such as double strand breaks-DSBs) in the case of an environmental ionizing radiation (IR) exposure incident (REI) i.e., a nuclear accident. Our objective is to assess the doses and complex DNA damage by isolating only one component of the total radiation released in the environment after a REI that will affect the health of the exposed individual. More specifically, the radiation emitted by radionuclide ¹³⁷Cs in the ground (under the individual’s feet). We use a merging of the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport code (MCNP) with the Monte Carlo Damage Simulation (MCDS) code. The DNA lesions have been estimated through simulations for different surface activities of a ¹³⁷Cs ground-based γ radiation source. The energy spectrum of the emitted secondary electrons and the absorbed dose in typical mammalian cells have been calculated using the MCNP code, and then these data are used as an input in the MCDS code for the estimation of critical DNA damage levels and types. As a realistic application, the calculated dose is also used to assess the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) for eight hypothetical individuals, living in different zones around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, exposed to different time periods at the days of the accident in 1986. We conclude that any exposition of an individual in the near zone of Chernobyl increases the risk of cancer at a moderate to high grade, connected also with the induction of complex DNA damage by radiation. Generally, our methodology has proven to be useful for assessing γ rays-induced complex DNA damage levels of the exposed population, in the case of a REI and for better understanding the long-term health effects of exposure of the population to IR. Full article

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11 pages, 697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Natural Radioactivity and Radon Exhalation from Building Materials in Underground Parking Lots

by Dainius Jasaitis and Milda Pečiulienė

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7475; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167475 - 14 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1755

Abstract

The change of natural ionizing radiation and the radon exhalation rates from typical building materials in underground parking lots are presented in the article. The activity concentration of natural radionuclides ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K in six important types of construction [...] Read more.

The change of natural ionizing radiation and the radon exhalation rates from typical building materials in underground parking lots are presented in the article. The activity concentration of natural radionuclides ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K in six important types of construction materials, which are mostly used in Lithuania, were analyzed using high-resolution gamma spectroscopy. The highest values were found in concrete and ferroconcrete samples: ²²⁶Ra 44 and 90 Bq kg⁻¹; ²³²Th 29 and 34 Bq kg⁻¹; ⁴⁰K 581 and 603 Bq kg⁻¹. A strong positive correlation (0.88) was observed between radium activity concentration and radon concentration. The activity indexes (I_α and I_γ) and radium equivalent activity (R_eq) evaluating the suitability of materials for such constructions from the view of radiation safety were determined. The average values of the calculated absorbed dose rate in samples ranged from 18.24 nGy h⁻¹ in the sand to 87.26 nGy h⁻¹ in ferroconcrete. The calculated annual effective dose was below the limit of 1.0 mSv y⁻¹. The values of the external and internal hazards index (H_ex and H_in) were all below unity, and the values of I_γ and I_α were below the recommended levels of 0.5 and 1. Dosimetric analysis of underground parking lots was carried out. It was determined that the external equivalent dose rate caused by the ²²²Rn progeny radiation in the underground car parking lots varies from 17 to 30% of the total equivalent dose rate. Full article

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13 pages, 1881 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Radiological and Chemical Risk for Public Health from Flour Sample Investigation

by Francesco Caridi, Giuseppe Acri, Alberto Belvedere, Vincenza Crupi, Maurizio D’Agostino, Santina Marguccio, Maurizio Messina, Giuseppe Paladini, Valentina Venuti and Domenico Majolino

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(8), 3646; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083646 - 18 Apr 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2185

Abstract

Flour investigation, in terms of physical and chemical pollutants and mineral content, is of great interest, in view of its high consumption for nutritional purposes. In this study, eleven types of flour (five samples for each one), coming from large retailers and employed [...] Read more.

Flour investigation, in terms of physical and chemical pollutants and mineral content, is of great interest, in view of its high consumption for nutritional purposes. In this study, eleven types of flour (five samples for each one), coming from large retailers and employed by people for different cooking food purposes, were investigated through high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry, in order to estimate natural (⁴⁰K) and anthropogenic (¹³⁷Cs) radioisotope specific activity and thus, to assess the radiological risk due to the flour ingestion. Inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively-coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) were also employed to evaluate any possible heavy metal contamination and the mineral composition, and to perform multivariate statistical analysis to deduce the flour authenticity. The evaluation of dose levels due to flour ingestion was performed, for the age category higher than 17 years, taking into account the average yearly consumption in Italy and assuming this need to be satisfied from a single type of flour as a precaution. All obtained results are under the allowable level set by Italian legislation (1 mSv y⁻¹), thus excluding the risk of ionizing radiation effects on humans. As far as heavy metal contamination is concerned, Cd and Pb concentrations turned out to be lower than the threshold values, thus excluding their presence as pollutants. Finally, the multivariate statistical analysis allowed to unambiguously correlate flour samples to their botanical origin, according to their elemental concentrations. Full article

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13 pages, 1477 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Assessment of Natural Radioactivity and Radiological Risks in River Sediments from Calabria (Southern Italy)

by Francesco Caridi, Marcella Di Bella, Giuseppe Sabatino, Giovanna Belmusto, Maria Rita Fede, Davide Romano, Francesco Italiano and Antonio Francesco Mottese

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(4), 1729; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041729 - 15 Feb 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2550

Abstract

This study was developed to carry out a comprehensive radiological assessment of natural radioactivity for river sediment samples from Calabria, southern Italy, and to define a baseline background for the area on a radiation map. In the studied area, elevated levels of natural [...] Read more.

This study was developed to carry out a comprehensive radiological assessment of natural radioactivity for river sediment samples from Calabria, southern Italy, and to define a baseline background for the area on a radiation map. In the studied area, elevated levels of natural radionuclides are expected, due to the outcropping acidic intrusive and metamorphic rocks from which the radioactive elements derive. To identify and quantify the natural radioisotopes, ninety river sediment samples from nine selected coastal sampling points (ten samples for each point) were collected as representative of the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian coastline of Calabria. The samples were analyzed using a gamma ray spectrometer equipped with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The values of mean activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K measured for the studied samples are (21.3 ± 6.3) Bq kg⁻¹, (30.3 ± 4.5) Bq kg⁻¹ and (849 ± 79) Bq kg⁻¹, respectively. The calculated radiological hazard indices showed average values of 63 nGy h⁻¹ (absorbed dose rate), 0.078 mSv y⁻¹ (effective dose outdoors), 0.111 mSv y⁻¹ (effective dose indoors), 63 Bq kg⁻¹ (radium equivalent), 0.35 (H_ex), 0.41 (H_in), 0.50 (activity concentration index) and 458 µSv y⁻¹ (Annual Gonadal Equivalent Dose, AGED). In order to delineate the spatial distribution of natural radionuclides on the radiological map and to identify the areas with low, medium and high radioactivity values, the Surfer 10 software was employed. Finally, the multivariate statistical analysis was performed to deduce the interdependency and any existing relationships between the radiological indices and the concentrations of the radionuclides. The results of this study, also compared with values of other locations of the Italian Peninsula characterized by similar local geological conditions, can be used as a baseline for future investigations about radioactivity background in the investigated area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Environmental Applied Physics)

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