Radionuclides in the environment

Lecturer:

Milan Matolín (gar.), Lenka Thinová (gar.)

Tutor:

Milan Matolín (gar.), Lenka Thinová (gar.)

Supervisor:

Department of Dosimetry and Application of Ionizing Radiation

Synopsis:

The curriculum focuses on presenting an overview of the most important ionizing radiation sources, sorted according their origin (natural versus manmade). Further the course aim is to inform about characteristics of individual radio nuclides, their behavior in the environment, opportunity for their transport, accumulation or transfer amid environments. Overview of radioactive and non-radioactive ore deposits, process of their discovery, mining and clean-up of the mining consequences.

Requirements:

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Introduction; legislative requirements, origin of radionuclides in the environment.

2. Radioactivity of rocks and cosmic radiation.

3. Geochemistry of Uranium and Thorium and their movement in the environment.

4. Artificial radionuclides, nuclear facilities, radioactive waste and repositories.

5. Models of propagation of the radionuclides in the environment, weathering, transportation.

6. Methods of measurement - monitoring of radionuclides in the environment.

7. Physical principles of the gamma methods.

8. Basic physical principles of the neutron methods.

9. Geophysical measurement of the rock?s radioactivity and the radioactivity of the environment.

10. Radioactive raw materials.

11. The uranium mining, radioactive waste and rescue.

12. Old environmental loading, in connection with uranium mining.

13. Old environmental loading in connection with artificial radionuclides.

14. Excursion.

Syllabus of tutorials:

Study Objective:

Knowledge:

Awareness of the radionuclides origin in the environment ,and their behavior. Understanding of processes involved in deposits discovery, mining and clean-up following mining activities.

Skills:

Gaining awareness of measurement methods and processes instrumental in searching for specific types of minerals. Overview of older ecological burdens and methods for their decontamination.

Study materials:

Key references:

[1] Kathren, R.L.: Radioactivity in the Environment. Harwood Academic Publisher. USA 1984.

[2] Shaw, G.: Radioactivity in the Terrestrial Environment. Elsevier Ltd. 2007.

[3] Voigt, G., Fesenko, S.: Remediation of Contaminated Environments. Elsevier Ltd. 2009.

[4] Scott, E.M.: Modelling Radioactivity in the Environment. Elsevier Ltd. 2003.

[5] Papastefanou, C.: Radiactive Aerosols. Elsevier Ldt. 2008.

[6] Izrael, Y.A.: Radioactive Fallout after Nuclear Explosion and Accidents. Elsevier Ltd. 2003.

Recommended references:

[1] Mares, S.: Introdusction to Applied Geophysics. CIP 1984.

[2] Bečvář a kol.: Nuclear power plants. SNTL. 1978. (in Czech)

Note:

Time-table for winter semester 2011/2012:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2011/2012:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans: