Radioactive Releases in the Environment: Impact and Assessment

Man′s environment is pervaded by ionizing radiation of predominantly natural origin but now with an important contribution from anthropogenic activities. Exposure to ionizing radiation can have serious health implications, which is why it is of concern to us. This book brings together under one cover, the fundamentals of radiological protection, the techniques used for measuring radioactivity and radionuclides and the methods for modelling the dispersion of radionuclides in the environment. Information on radioactive decay, the interaction of ionizing radiation with matter and biological effects of radiation is provided in a form that enables the reader to quickly appreciate its importance to the environment and human health. Summaries of the effects of past releases, including the Chernobyl accident, are included as well as examples of applications of models to calculate and predict concentrations of radionuclides in our environment.
This book is aimed at all those studying, at undergraduate and graduate levels, radioactivity in the environment and its impact on man. It will also serve as a handbook for workers in the fields of radiochemical analysis and environmental modelling and for scientists, consultants and environmental health and pollution officers who have to provide radiological data or information for legislative and related purposes.

Spis treści:
Preface.
1. INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY.
2. NATURE OF RADIOACTIVITY.
3. INTERACTION OF RADIATION WITH MATTER.
4. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION AND RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION.
5. MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE.
6. NUCLEAR POWER.
7. RELEASES OF RADIONUCLIDES FROM NON–NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRIES.
8. INSTRUMENTATION FOR RADIATION DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT.
9. MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES.
10. SAMPLING AND SAMPLE PREPARATION.
11. STATISTICAL TREATMENT OF RADIOACTIVITY MEASUREMENTS.
12. RADIOACTIVE SURVEYING AND R EMOTE SENSING.
13. MODELLING THE DISPERSION OF RADIONUCLIDES IN THE ENVIRONMENT: AN INTRODUCTION TO MODELLING CONCEPTS.
14. MODELLING DISPERSION OF RADIONUCLIDES IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
15. MODELLING DISPERSION OF RADIONUCLIDES IN AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS.
16. ASSESSMENT OF RADIATION DOSES.
APPENDIX 1. Acronyms Used in the Text.
APPENDIX 2. Units, Terms and Conversion Factors for Radiation, Radioactivity and Related Areas.
APPENDIX 3. Data for the Most Important Environmental Radionuclides.
Bibliography.
References.
Index.

Okładka tylna:
Man′s environment is pervaded by ionizing radiation of predominantly natural origin but now with an important contribution from anthropogenic activities. Exposure to ionizing radiation can have serious health implications, which is why it is of concern to us. This book brings together under one cover, the fundamentals of radiological protection, the techniques used for measuring radioactivity and radionuclides and the methods for modelling the dispersion of radionuclides in the environment. Information on radioactive decay, the interaction of ionizing radiation with matter and biological effects of radiation is provided in a form that enables the reader to quickly appreciate its importance to the environment and human health. Summaries of the effects of past releases, including the Chernobyl accident, are included as well as examples of applications of models to calculate and predict concentrations of radionuclides in our environment.
This book is aimed at all those studying, at undergraduate and graduate levels, radioactivity in the environment and its impact on man. It will also serve as a handbook for workers in the fields of radiochemical analysis and environmental modelling and for scientists, consultants and environmental health and pollution officers who have to provide radiological data or information for legislative and related purposes.