U svrhu ispravne procene apsorbovanih doza za pacijente pri radioterapiji primenom polja gama zra... more U svrhu ispravne procene apsorbovanih doza za pacijente pri radioterapiji primenom polja gama zračenja (Co-60) kao i visokoenergetskih polja X-zračenja generisanih u linearnim akceleratorima, veći broj radioterapijskih centara iz Srbije je učestvovao u programu IAEA/WHO Postal Dose Quality Audit. Radiofotoluminescentni dozimetri (RPLD) su u okviru ovog programa postavljani u 15 polja X-zračenja različitih energija i jedno polje gama zračenja (Co-60) u različitim ustanovama, radi komparativne procene apsorbovane doze u vodi. Program je sproveden u periodu februar-maj 2016. godine.In order to accurately assess the absorbed dose delivered to the patients during the radiotherapy procedures, where Co-60 gamma radiation fields and high-energy X-ray radiation fields are employed, many of the radiotherapy centers in Serbia participated in the IAEA/WHO Postal Dose Quality Audit Program. Radio photoluminescent dosimeters were irradiated in 15 different X-ray ionizing radiation fields of vario...
Abstract The procedure of radioactive standards preparation by spiking selected matrices with a c... more Abstract The procedure of radioactive standards preparation by spiking selected matrices with a certified mixture of radionuclides and its validation is presented in this paper. The uncertainty budget of standard total activity was elaborated in details. The experimentally obtained efficiency curves, as well as comparison with the curves obtained by the efficiency transfer, are presented. Additionally, in order to confirm claimed homogeneity of prepared standard bulk materials, the efficiency versus density dependence for the individual gamma ray energies was checked for the same geometries and the results are presented. The results of the participation in recent IAEA PT scheme are discussed also.
Background: Maps are important tools for geographic visualization of the state of the environment... more Background: Maps are important tools for geographic visualization of the state of the environment with respect to resources as well as to hazards. One of the hazards is indoor radon (Rn), believed to be the most important cause of lung cancer after smoking. In particular, as part of Rn mitigation policy and in compliance with the European Basic Safety Standards, EU Member States have to declare areas with elevated indoor Rn concentration levels. However, as this is done by national authorities according to individually chosen criteria, the resulting maps are not easily comparable. Objective: We aim to identify causes for the lack of compatibility of maps and suggest solutions for the problem. Design: This study draws from experiences of recent research projects, literature, and personal involvement of the authors in the discussions. Results: An overview is given on causes and effects of lack of compatibility between maps. Existing experiences are reported. Options for defining lack ...
Workshop named Data Evaluation Workshop on Determination of Low Activity Radio-Caesium in Freshwa... more Workshop named Data Evaluation Workshop on Determination of Low Activity Radio-Caesium in Freshwater was held in February 2017 in Vienna, as a part of project RER/7/008 Strengthening Capabilities for Radionuclide Measurement in the Environment and Enhancing Quality Assurance/Quality Control System for Environmental Monitoring. Total of 31 participating laboratories from 29 European countries and Japan took part in this workshop. Prior to the workshop, the participating laboratories received samples of fresh water from Japanese rivers and Danube, as well as the QA/QC sample of known activity. The task was to determine very low concentrations of 134 Cs and 137 Cs in these samples using some method of sample preparation preconcentration. The laboratories used total evaporation, evaporation to a finite volume, chemical enrichment and ion exchange methods in order to concentrate the radiocaesium in the samples. Despite the very low concentration of analytes in the samples (order of magni...
The second most important source of indoor radon, after soil beneath dwelling, is building materi... more The second most important source of indoor radon, after soil beneath dwelling, is building material. With the increase in environmental awareness and new energy-saving policies, residents tend to replace the existing windows with tighter windows, which leads to a decrease in air exchange rate and consequently an increase in indoor radon concentration. In case of low exchange rates, dose caused by inhalation of radon and its progeny can exceed external dose originating from the radium content in the surrounding building material. In this paper, surface exhalation rates of radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) from typical building materials used for construction and interior decoration of houses in Serbia were investigated. Surface exhalation rate measurements were performed using the closed-chamber method, while concentrations of radon and thoron in the chamber were continuously measured using an active device, RTM1688-2, produced by SARAD® GmbH. Finally, the impact of the replacement of...
One of the main problems in quantitative gamma-ray spectroscopy is the determination of detection... more One of the main problems in quantitative gamma-ray spectroscopy is the determination of detection efficiency, for different energies, source-detector geometries, and composition of samples or sources. There are, in principle, three approaches to this issue: experimental, numerical, and semiempirical. Semiempirical approach is based on the calculation of the efficiency for the measured sample on the basis of an experimental efficiency measured on the same detector, but with a calibration source that can be of different size, geometry, density, or composition—the so-called efficiency transfer. The aim of this paper is to analyze the semiempirical approach, using EFFTRAN and MEFFTRAN software as a typical example. These software were used in the Department of Radiation and Environmental Protection, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, on three HPGe detectors. The results were compared to the experimentally obtained efficiency, and further validation is performed by measuring reference ...
Radio-ecological monitoring of the environment encompasses the measures of specific radionuclide ... more Radio-ecological monitoring of the environment encompasses the measures of specific radionuclide activity in the samples from the environment that is relevant for the exposure of inhabitants, first of all in air, drinking water, food and in some typical representatives of flora and fauna with characteristic features of radioactive contamination (the ability of radionuclide to concentrate). The aim of monitoring is: a) timely detection and identification of all uncontrolled radiation sources or radiation contamination; b) assessment of real and possible exposure of the critical group or inhabitants to radioactive matters in the environment due to use of any radiation sources; c) keep the record on the radioactivity level in the environment; d) check if all the legislative regulations and other restrictions are fulfilled; e) inform the public. According to the final results of measuring different samples form the territory of the Republic of Serbia in the period 1986 to 2008, it may b...
The first step in every systematic approach to investigating population exposure to radon on a na... more The first step in every systematic approach to investigating population exposure to radon on a national level is to perform a comprehensive indoor radon survey. Based on the general knowledge of the radon levels in Serbia and corresponding doses, the results obtained from a national indoor radon survey would allow policy-makers to decide if it is necessary to establish a national radon programme. For this reason, Serbia initiated work on a national radon action plan (RAP) in 2014 when it was decided to carry out the first national indoor radon survey. The responsibility for establishing the RAP in Serbia is that of the national regulatory body in the field of radiation protection - the Serbian Radiation and Nuclear Safety and Security Directorate (SRBATOM), formerly known as the Serbian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (SRPNA). The first national indoor radon survey was supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through a Technical Cooperation Programme. Thanks to the IAEA, we received 6,000 passive radon devices based on track-etched detectors. In addition, in order to ensure technical support for the project, SRBATOM formed a task force made up of expert radon representatives from national research institutions. This paper presents a thorough description of the sampling design of the first Serbian indoor radon survey. It also presents the results of the national indoor radon survey, including descriptive statistics and testing of the distribution of the obtained results for log-normality. Based on GPS coordinates, indoor radon data were projected onto a map of 10x10 km grid cells. Two values were calculated for each cell to create two distinct maps. One map shows the arithmetic mean value of indoor radon concentration per grid cell, and the other map shows the number of radon detectors per grid cell used for the calculation of mean values.
Results and conclusions of interlaboratory comparison of indoor radon in 2015 in Serbia are prese... more Results and conclusions of interlaboratory comparison of indoor radon in 2015 in Serbia are presented. The participants were three accredited laboratories from Serbia: Serbian Institute of Occupational Health “Dr Dragomir Karajović”, Laboratory for Radioactivity and Dose Measurements at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad and Radiation and Environmental Protection Department, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Science. The laboratories make use of the same method for radon measurement, using charcoal canisters according to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocol 520/5-87-005. Calibration of detection efficiency was performed using EPA radium standard. Radon activity concentrations were determined on the basis of the intensity of short-living radon daughters, 214Bi and 214Pb, gamma lines. The results of intercomparison were evaluated by using the u-test, which was calculated according to the International Atomic Energy Agency criteria. In this paper, not only limitation...
U svrhu ispravne procene apsorbovanih doza za pacijente pri radioterapiji primenom polja gama zra... more U svrhu ispravne procene apsorbovanih doza za pacijente pri radioterapiji primenom polja gama zračenja (Co-60) kao i visokoenergetskih polja X-zračenja generisanih u linearnim akceleratorima, veći broj radioterapijskih centara iz Srbije je učestvovao u programu IAEA/WHO Postal Dose Quality Audit. Radiofotoluminescentni dozimetri (RPLD) su u okviru ovog programa postavljani u 15 polja X-zračenja različitih energija i jedno polje gama zračenja (Co-60) u različitim ustanovama, radi komparativne procene apsorbovane doze u vodi. Program je sproveden u periodu februar-maj 2016. godine.In order to accurately assess the absorbed dose delivered to the patients during the radiotherapy procedures, where Co-60 gamma radiation fields and high-energy X-ray radiation fields are employed, many of the radiotherapy centers in Serbia participated in the IAEA/WHO Postal Dose Quality Audit Program. Radio photoluminescent dosimeters were irradiated in 15 different X-ray ionizing radiation fields of vario...
Abstract The procedure of radioactive standards preparation by spiking selected matrices with a c... more Abstract The procedure of radioactive standards preparation by spiking selected matrices with a certified mixture of radionuclides and its validation is presented in this paper. The uncertainty budget of standard total activity was elaborated in details. The experimentally obtained efficiency curves, as well as comparison with the curves obtained by the efficiency transfer, are presented. Additionally, in order to confirm claimed homogeneity of prepared standard bulk materials, the efficiency versus density dependence for the individual gamma ray energies was checked for the same geometries and the results are presented. The results of the participation in recent IAEA PT scheme are discussed also.
Background: Maps are important tools for geographic visualization of the state of the environment... more Background: Maps are important tools for geographic visualization of the state of the environment with respect to resources as well as to hazards. One of the hazards is indoor radon (Rn), believed to be the most important cause of lung cancer after smoking. In particular, as part of Rn mitigation policy and in compliance with the European Basic Safety Standards, EU Member States have to declare areas with elevated indoor Rn concentration levels. However, as this is done by national authorities according to individually chosen criteria, the resulting maps are not easily comparable. Objective: We aim to identify causes for the lack of compatibility of maps and suggest solutions for the problem. Design: This study draws from experiences of recent research projects, literature, and personal involvement of the authors in the discussions. Results: An overview is given on causes and effects of lack of compatibility between maps. Existing experiences are reported. Options for defining lack ...
Workshop named Data Evaluation Workshop on Determination of Low Activity Radio-Caesium in Freshwa... more Workshop named Data Evaluation Workshop on Determination of Low Activity Radio-Caesium in Freshwater was held in February 2017 in Vienna, as a part of project RER/7/008 Strengthening Capabilities for Radionuclide Measurement in the Environment and Enhancing Quality Assurance/Quality Control System for Environmental Monitoring. Total of 31 participating laboratories from 29 European countries and Japan took part in this workshop. Prior to the workshop, the participating laboratories received samples of fresh water from Japanese rivers and Danube, as well as the QA/QC sample of known activity. The task was to determine very low concentrations of 134 Cs and 137 Cs in these samples using some method of sample preparation preconcentration. The laboratories used total evaporation, evaporation to a finite volume, chemical enrichment and ion exchange methods in order to concentrate the radiocaesium in the samples. Despite the very low concentration of analytes in the samples (order of magni...
The second most important source of indoor radon, after soil beneath dwelling, is building materi... more The second most important source of indoor radon, after soil beneath dwelling, is building material. With the increase in environmental awareness and new energy-saving policies, residents tend to replace the existing windows with tighter windows, which leads to a decrease in air exchange rate and consequently an increase in indoor radon concentration. In case of low exchange rates, dose caused by inhalation of radon and its progeny can exceed external dose originating from the radium content in the surrounding building material. In this paper, surface exhalation rates of radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) from typical building materials used for construction and interior decoration of houses in Serbia were investigated. Surface exhalation rate measurements were performed using the closed-chamber method, while concentrations of radon and thoron in the chamber were continuously measured using an active device, RTM1688-2, produced by SARAD® GmbH. Finally, the impact of the replacement of...
One of the main problems in quantitative gamma-ray spectroscopy is the determination of detection... more One of the main problems in quantitative gamma-ray spectroscopy is the determination of detection efficiency, for different energies, source-detector geometries, and composition of samples or sources. There are, in principle, three approaches to this issue: experimental, numerical, and semiempirical. Semiempirical approach is based on the calculation of the efficiency for the measured sample on the basis of an experimental efficiency measured on the same detector, but with a calibration source that can be of different size, geometry, density, or composition—the so-called efficiency transfer. The aim of this paper is to analyze the semiempirical approach, using EFFTRAN and MEFFTRAN software as a typical example. These software were used in the Department of Radiation and Environmental Protection, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, on three HPGe detectors. The results were compared to the experimentally obtained efficiency, and further validation is performed by measuring reference ...
Radio-ecological monitoring of the environment encompasses the measures of specific radionuclide ... more Radio-ecological monitoring of the environment encompasses the measures of specific radionuclide activity in the samples from the environment that is relevant for the exposure of inhabitants, first of all in air, drinking water, food and in some typical representatives of flora and fauna with characteristic features of radioactive contamination (the ability of radionuclide to concentrate). The aim of monitoring is: a) timely detection and identification of all uncontrolled radiation sources or radiation contamination; b) assessment of real and possible exposure of the critical group or inhabitants to radioactive matters in the environment due to use of any radiation sources; c) keep the record on the radioactivity level in the environment; d) check if all the legislative regulations and other restrictions are fulfilled; e) inform the public. According to the final results of measuring different samples form the territory of the Republic of Serbia in the period 1986 to 2008, it may b...
The first step in every systematic approach to investigating population exposure to radon on a na... more The first step in every systematic approach to investigating population exposure to radon on a national level is to perform a comprehensive indoor radon survey. Based on the general knowledge of the radon levels in Serbia and corresponding doses, the results obtained from a national indoor radon survey would allow policy-makers to decide if it is necessary to establish a national radon programme. For this reason, Serbia initiated work on a national radon action plan (RAP) in 2014 when it was decided to carry out the first national indoor radon survey. The responsibility for establishing the RAP in Serbia is that of the national regulatory body in the field of radiation protection - the Serbian Radiation and Nuclear Safety and Security Directorate (SRBATOM), formerly known as the Serbian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (SRPNA). The first national indoor radon survey was supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through a Technical Cooperation Programme. Thanks to the IAEA, we received 6,000 passive radon devices based on track-etched detectors. In addition, in order to ensure technical support for the project, SRBATOM formed a task force made up of expert radon representatives from national research institutions. This paper presents a thorough description of the sampling design of the first Serbian indoor radon survey. It also presents the results of the national indoor radon survey, including descriptive statistics and testing of the distribution of the obtained results for log-normality. Based on GPS coordinates, indoor radon data were projected onto a map of 10x10 km grid cells. Two values were calculated for each cell to create two distinct maps. One map shows the arithmetic mean value of indoor radon concentration per grid cell, and the other map shows the number of radon detectors per grid cell used for the calculation of mean values.
Results and conclusions of interlaboratory comparison of indoor radon in 2015 in Serbia are prese... more Results and conclusions of interlaboratory comparison of indoor radon in 2015 in Serbia are presented. The participants were three accredited laboratories from Serbia: Serbian Institute of Occupational Health “Dr Dragomir Karajović”, Laboratory for Radioactivity and Dose Measurements at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad and Radiation and Environmental Protection Department, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Science. The laboratories make use of the same method for radon measurement, using charcoal canisters according to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocol 520/5-87-005. Calibration of detection efficiency was performed using EPA radium standard. Radon activity concentrations were determined on the basis of the intensity of short-living radon daughters, 214Bi and 214Pb, gamma lines. The results of intercomparison were evaluated by using the u-test, which was calculated according to the International Atomic Energy Agency criteria. In this paper, not only limitation...
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Papers by Gordana Pantelic