Methods for improving the safety of nuclear energy production and use facilities, including nuclear power plants (NPP) and other large industrial facilities in various countries, are presented and discussed. According to Concern «Rosenergoatom» data, the operation of all 10 Russian nuclear power plants (NPPs) was analyzed in details. The risks to the population in the region of each NPP were assessed when new reactors are commissioned under the Federal Purposed Program (FPP) for the intensive development of the Russian nuclear energy industry until 2021. It was determined that all of them comply with permissible sanitary standards. Their background radiation levels do not exceed natural one. Measures were proposed to reduce the likelihood of uncontrolled chaos, strengthen favorable social dynamics and the human factor in preventing both natural and man-made disasters. In the context of the rapidly changing global political situation, several possible methods of protection against targeted terrorist attacks and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) used for these purposes. It was determined that all of them comply with the permissible sanitary standards. Their background radiation levels do not exceed natural levels. Measures were proposed to reduce the likelihood of uncontrolled chaos, strengthen favorable social dynamics, and utilize the human factor in preventing both natural and man-made disasters. In the context of the rapidly changing global political situation, some several possible methods of protection against targeted terrorist attacks and drones used for these purposes were proposed. These methods reduce the likelihood of uncontrolled chaos and enhance favorable social dynamics and the human factor in preventing both natural and man-madе possible disasters.
Internal dosimetry deals with the measurement of the radiation dose absorbed internally by an organ after the administration of isotopes for diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this research was to evaluate bladder-urine transfer coefficient impact on the bladder technetium activity in the MIRD bio kinetic model and propose a simplified biokinetic model using the ICRP 134 model. The residence time in the bladder and kidneys was determined using scans of five volunteer patients at three different time points (1 h, 2 h, and 3 h post-injection). To quantify activity in the kidneys and bladder, the conjugate-view method was applied to the imaging data. In the present study technetium activity has been calculated in human organs using the MIRD et ICRP bio-kinetic models. The theoretical results were obtained by simulation on the MatLab software of the matrix equations obtained from different equations of the quantity of technetium in the different organs used in the bio-kinetic models. The study showed that it is important to take into account the transfer coefficient between the bladder and urine to reduce the fraction of technetium in the bladder. The ICRP model and the proposed simplified model predict technetium fractions better than the MIRD model three hours after injection. The study also showed that the ICRP model and the proposed simplified model are in agreement in predicting the technetium fraction in the bladder and kidneys.
In the literature, there are several theoretical and experimental methods for calculating the resonance energies and natural widths of atomic systems. For the 1s22s2p6np ¹P1 series of Ne, Na+, Mg2+, and the 1s2s22p5np ¹P1 series of Ne+, various methods have been employed. In this present work, resonance energies resonance energies and width of the 1s22s2p6 np 1P1 series of the Ne, Na+, Mg2+, and 1s2s22p5 np 1P1 of Ne+ ions are calculated. The energies are calculated in the framework of the Modified Atomic Orbital Theory (MAOT). The results obtained compared very well with theoretical and experimental literature values. The possibility to use the MOAT formalism report rapidly with an excellent accuracy the position of the resonances as well as their width within simple analytical formulae is demonstrated. It is demonstrated that the MOAT-method can be used to assist fruitfully experiments for identifying narrow resonance energies. Thus, our results can be used as reference data for the interpretation of atomic spectra for the diagnosis of astrophysical and laboratory plasma. Through this method new values of these energies are reported going up to n=40. These excellent agreements between theory and experiments indicate that the MAOT formalism can be used to report accurate high-lying excited Rydberg series of atomic species for the diagnostic and the modeling of astrophysical or laboratory plasmas.
Water contamination by heavy metals and radionuclides poses a major environmental and public health concern due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation potential. This study aimed to assess the contamination levels of water sources near industrial, automobile, and residential areas in Gboko, Nigeria. Specifically, the concentrations of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn), as well as naturally occurring radionuclides including 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, were analysed in borehole, well, and stream water samples. Results showed that residential areas generally had metal concentrations below WHO permissible limits, while automotive and industrial areas recorded higher levels, especially for Pb, Cd, Cr, and Fe. Lead levels in industrial streams reached 0.04 mg/L, exceeding WHO standards, with potential long-term health risks such as neurological damage and kidney dysfunction. Radionuclide activity was highest at the industrial sites, with Total Annual Effective Dose (TAED) values ranging from 0.00146 to 0.00221 mSv/year, which, although within WHO safety limits, approached the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) thresholds. The elevated contamination levels in industrial and automotive areas were attributed to emissions from vehicular activities, industrial discharges, and surface runoff carrying pollutants into water bodies. Overall, while zinc concentrations remained within safe limits across all sites, the presence of other heavy metals and increasing radionuclide activities in industrial areas indicate a growing pollution burden. The study concludes that periodic monitoring and implementation of pollution control measures are essential to mitigate the potential health hazards associated with contaminated water sources in Gboko, thereby ensuring the safety of residents who rely on these water supplies for domestic and drinking purposes.
Maintaining effective border security against the threat of nuclear and radiological materials is a critical challenge, requiring the development of advanced detection technologies and integrated security systems. This review examines the key challenges, innovative approaches and future research priorities in the field of radiation detection and interdiction for border security applications. To address these challenges, the review highlights a range of innovative technological advancements, such as the use of high-performance radiation detectors, spectroscopic identification techniques, active interrogation methods, and automated screening systems enhanced by artificial intelligence and data fusion. Furthermore, the review explores the development of mobile and deployable detection systems, as well as the integration of multi-modal approaches that combine different sensor technologies to create more comprehensive and robust border security solutions. Looking to the future, the paper identifies key research priorities, including improving sensor performance, enhancing material identification and categorization, leveraging AI and machine learning, strengthening system resilience and adaptability, and promoting international cooperation and information sharing. By addressing these critical areas, the research community and border security agencies can work together to enhance the protection of global borders against the persistent threat of nuclear and radiological materials, ultimately contributing to the broader goal of strengthening global nuclear security.
