Comparative assessment of natural radioactivity in fallout samples from Patras and Megalopolis, Greece

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity Vol. 78; no. 3; pp. 249 - 265
• Main Authors: Papaefthymiou, H., Kritidis, P., Anousis, J., Sarafidou, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Carbon; Cities; Coal; Coal Ash; Coal power plant; Dust; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Fallout; Fly ash; Greece; Gross β-activity; Natural radionuclides; Particulate Matter; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Power Plants; Radioactive Fallout - analysis; Seasons; Thorium - analysis; Uranium - analysis; Greece; Europe; Coal power plant; Fly ash; Natural radionuclides; Gross β-activity; Fallout; Natural origin pollution; Radioactive pollution; Atmospheric fallout; Troposphere; Urban area; Radioisotope; Thorium 232; Radioactive fall out; Radioactivity measurement; Beta radioactivity; Pollution source; Geogenic factor; Air pollution; Uranium 238; Comparative study; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2004.05.006

Bulk deposition samples were collected simultaneously from two Greek cities, Patras and Megalopolis, with different emission sources of natural radioactivity, on a monthly basis, during a whole year. Gross β-activity and 238U- and 232Th-activities were determined in a total of 95 samples of deposited dust. The results were statistically analyzed in order to determine the natural radioactivity levels and their variations in the above cities. No significant difference was found in deposited dust amount between the two cities, while the values of gross β-, 238U- and 232Th-activities were about 3, 71 and 4 times higher in Megalopolis than in Patras, respectively. This was attributed to the operation of lignite power plants A and B in the vicinity of the city of Megalopolis, while natural radioactivity concentrations in Patras' fallout samples were of natural sources.