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Radiological environmental monitoring at the ESS facility – Annual report 2020

Bernhardsson, Christian LU orcid and Eriksson Stenström, Kristina LU (2021) In MA RADFYS 2021:01
Abstract
Results from the radiological environmental monitoring of the European Spallation Source (ESS) are presented for year 2020.

Among the 63 environmental samples analysed for gamma emitting radionuclides, no elevated levels of anthropogenic radioactivity were observed. All samples (except two samples of lichen) had activity concentrations below the MDA for the natural radionuclides as well as 137Cs, and normal levels of 40K. In sewage sludge, detectable levels of 177Lu and 1311 were observed in samples that were measured within one week after sampling.

Mobile gamma spectrometry surveys were carried out around ESS and MAX IV (when operating at high frequency during a test run). No... (More)
Results from the radiological environmental monitoring of the European Spallation Source (ESS) are presented for year 2020.

Among the 63 environmental samples analysed for gamma emitting radionuclides, no elevated levels of anthropogenic radioactivity were observed. All samples (except two samples of lichen) had activity concentrations below the MDA for the natural radionuclides as well as 137Cs, and normal levels of 40K. In sewage sludge, detectable levels of 177Lu and 1311 were observed in samples that were measured within one week after sampling.

Mobile gamma spectrometry surveys were carried out around ESS and MAX IV (when operating at high frequency during a test run). No deviating radiation levels were observed.

The samples analysed for their 3H activity concentration (120 samples) were generally below the detection limit using the current procedure, instrumentation and analysis time (MDA typically 1.6 Bq L-1). The results show no evidence of any local contamination of 3H in Lund during 2020.

The 14C data in the 26 samples of grass, fruits, berries, crops, milk, honey and meat of in the Lund area and in southern Sweden is consistent with the declining 14C specific activity in atmospheric CO2. Seasonal variations were observed in the 14C data. No evidence of anthropogenic 14C contamination in the Lund area was noted during 2020.

The report presents the first base-line measurements of 129I (10 samples) in the ESS environmental monitoring programme. The 129I activity concentrations ranged between (3.18 ± 0.20)∙1011 atoms/kg d.w. for grass and (1.31 ± 0.03)∙1013 atoms/kg d.w. for moss. These values are in the expected range. (Less)
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author
and
contributor
LU ; LU and LU
organization
publishing date
type
Book/Report
publication status
published
subject
in
MA RADFYS 2021:01
pages
28 pages
project
Assessment of “Zero Point” radiation around the ESS facility
Framework agreement for the provision of projects, services and reporting linked to the radiological and environmental monitoring system at ESS
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1f9e204f-b5ee-4412-a269-548af69a4df7
date added to LUP
2021-09-09 02:26:11
date last changed
2023-02-21 11:14:47
@techreport{1f9e204f-b5ee-4412-a269-548af69a4df7,
  abstract     = {{Results from the radiological environmental monitoring of the European Spallation Source (ESS) are presented for year 2020.<br/><br/>Among the 63 environmental samples analysed for gamma emitting radionuclides, no elevated levels of anthropogenic radioactivity were observed. All samples (except two samples of lichen) had activity concentrations below the MDA for the natural radionuclides as well as <sup>137</sup>Cs, and normal levels of <sup>40</sup>K. In sewage sludge, detectable levels of<sup> 177</sup>Lu and<sup> 131</sup>1 were observed in samples that were measured within one week after sampling.<br/><br/>Mobile gamma spectrometry surveys were carried out around ESS and MAX IV (when operating at high frequency during a test run). No deviating radiation levels were observed.<br/><br/>The samples analysed for their <sup>3</sup>H activity concentration (120 samples) were generally below the detection limit using the current procedure, instrumentation and analysis time (MDA typically 1.6 Bq L<sup>-1</sup>). The results show no evidence of any local contamination of <sup>3</sup>H in Lund during 2020.<br/><br/>The <sup>14</sup>C data in the 26 samples of grass, fruits, berries, crops, milk, honey and meat of in the Lund area and in southern Sweden is consistent with the declining <sup>14</sup>C specific activity in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>. Seasonal variations were observed in the <sup>14</sup>C data. No evidence of anthropogenic 14C contamination in the Lund area was noted during 2020.<br/><br/>The report presents the first base-line measurements of <sup>129</sup>I (10 samples) in the ESS environmental monitoring programme. The <sup>129</sup>I activity concentrations ranged between (3.18 ± 0.20)∙10<sup>11</sup> atoms/kg d.w. for grass and (1.31 ± 0.03)∙10<sup>13</sup> atoms/kg d.w. for moss. These values are in the expected range.}},
  author       = {{Bernhardsson, Christian and Eriksson Stenström, Kristina}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  series       = {{MA RADFYS 2021:01}},
  title        = {{Radiological environmental monitoring at the ESS facility – Annual report 2020}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/102196468/Annual_EMP_report_2020_final_public.pdf}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}