The “MEYER” project (Protocolo Nacional para la MEdida de Yodo en tiroides en Emergencias Radiológicas), initiated by Spain's National R&D Platform for Radiological Protection (PEPRI), aims to enhance national capabilities for the rapid screening of the exposed population to iodine-131 (131I) during nuclear or radiological emergencies. Its primary objective is to address challenges in quantifying internal thyroid contamination in large-scale emergencies, where internal dosimetry services may became overwhelmed.The project is structured into three phases. In phase 1, age-dependent thyroid phantoms representing children (aged 1, 5, and 10 years old) and adults were developed. Each phantom incorporated a vial with a radioactive solution of 133Ba and 137Cs to simulate 131I contamination. A calibration protocol for both spectrometric and non-spectrometric devices was established, followed by an intercalibration campaign involving seven entities and the calibration of their own devices. Phase 2 focused on validating these protocols through the organization of an intercomparison campaign at selected centres, including hospitals, dosimetry services and military units. Finally, phase 3 involves the project's conclusion and the dissemination of results.This study presents the findings from the intercalibration campaign (Phase 1). Preliminary results indicate that counting efficiency values for most calibrated devices decreases with the age-dependent phantom type, with variations reaching up to 60%. Gamma cameras showed high detection sensitivity, making them suitable for large-scale screening in emergencies. On the other hand, surface contamination monitors and radiometers present lower sensitive compared to gamma cameras. These findings highlight the importance of leveraging existing equipment to enhance emergency management strategies.
El uso de material biológico como arma de guerra es tan antiguo como los propios conflictos bélicos, pero tras la firma, en 1972, de la Convención sobre la prohibición del desarrollo, la producción y el almacenamiento de armas bacteriológicas (biológicas) y toxÃnicas y su destrucción (CABT), su uso militar prácticamente ha desaparecido. Sin embargo, ha pasado a formar parte de los ataques de grupos terroristas, que constituyen una auténtica amenaza para la Seguridad Nacional. Las armas biológicas se incluyen dentro del grupo de las denominadas âarmas de destrucción masivaâ e incluyen a todo tipo de agentes, microbianos o no, virales, naturales o recombinantes, y a sus toxinas derivadas. Entre los factores claves en el desarrollo de este tipo de amenazas biológicas intencionadas, cabe mencionar el incremento de la aparición de patógenos emergentes, el gran desarrollo de las tecnologÃas de modificación y edición genética, como la CRISPR/Cas9, o el desvÃo y contrabando de precursores y materiales sensibles. El principal desafÃo al que se enfrenta la Seguridad Nacional ante este tipo de amenazas es su identificación y detección precoz. Para ello, se han implementado las siguientes medidas: puesta en marcha de la Comisión Nacional de Biocustodia; control de las exportaciones de material de doble uso; potenciación del Ãrea de Seguridad y Protección del Departamento de Aduanas e Impuestos Especiales de la Agencia Tributaria; desarrollo de la Red de Laboratorios de Alerta Biológica (RE-LAB), coordinada por el Instituto de Salud Carlos III; colaboración de los Equipos Técnicos Españoles de Ayuda y Respuesta en Emergencias (START).
The joint evaluated fission and fusion nuclear data library 3.3 is described. New evaluations for neutron-induced interactions with the major actinides $$^{235}\hbox {U}$$ 235U , $$^{238}\hbox {U}$$ 238U and $$^{239}\hbox {Pu}$$ 239Pu , on $$^{241}\hbox {Am}$$ 241Am and $$^{23}\hbox {Na}$$ 23Na , $$^{59}\hbox {Ni}$$ 59Ni , Cr, Cu, Zr, Cd, Hf, W, Au, Pb and Bi are presented. It includes new fission yields, prompt fission neutron spectra and average number of neutrons per fission. In addition, new data for radioactive decay, thermal neutron scattering, gamma-ray emission, neutron activation, delayed neutrons and displacement damage are presented. JEFF-3.3 was complemented by files from the TENDL project. The libraries for photon, proton, deuteron, triton, helion and alpha-particle induced reactions are from TENDL-2017. The demands for uncertainty quantification in modeling led to many new covariance data for the evaluations. A comparison between results from model calculations using the JEFF-3.3 library and those from benchmark experiments for criticality, delayed neutron yields, shielding and decay heat, reveals that JEFF-3.3 performes very well for a wide range of nuclear technology applications, in particular nuclear energy.
The joint evaluated fission and fusion nuclear data library 3.3 is described. New evaluations for neutron-induced interactions with the major actinides $$^{235}\hbox {U}$$ , $$^{238}\hbox {U}$$ and $$^{239}\hbox {Pu}$$ , on $$^{241}\hbox {Am}$$ and $$^{23}\hbox {Na}$$ , $$^{59}\hbox {Ni}$$ , Cr, Cu, Zr, Cd, Hf, W, Au, Pb and Bi are presented. It includes new fission yields, prompt fission neutron spectra and average number of neutrons per fission. In addition, new data for radioactive decay, thermal neutron scattering, gamma-ray emission, neutron activation, delayed neutrons and displacement damage are presented. JEFF-3.3 was complemented by files from the TENDL project. The libraries for photon, proton, deuteron, triton, helion and alpha-particle induced reactions are from TENDL-2017. The demands for uncertainty quantification in modeling led to many new covariance data for the evaluations. A comparison between results from model calculations using the JEFF-3.3 library and those from benchmark experiments for criticality, delayed neutron yields, shielding and decay heat, reveals that JEFF-3.3 performes very well for a wide range of nuclear technology applications, in particular nuclear energy.
