Currently, Japan is undertaking a nationwide project to measure and map radioactive contamination around Fukushima, as part of the efforts to restore normalcy following the nuclear accident. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) manages the Fukushima Environmental Safety Center, located approximately 20 km north of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Minamisōma City, Fukushima Prefecture. In collaboration with the JAEA, this study involved conducting comparison experiments and analyses with radiation detectors in high radiation environments, a challenging task in Korean environments. Environmental radiation surveys were conducted using three types of detectors: CZT, NaI(Tl), and LaBr3(Ce), across two contaminated areas. Dose rate values were converted using dose rate conversion factors for each detector type, and dose rate maps were subsequently created and compared. The detectors yielded similar results, demonstrating their feasibility and reliability in high radiation environments. The findings of this study are expected to be a crucial reference for enhancing the verification and supplementation of procedures and methods in future radiation measurements and mobile surveys in high-radiation environments, using these three types of radiation instruments.

In-situ gamma spectrometer with mobile equipment can be used for rapid determination of radioactivity in the environment within a very short interval. 2”×2” NaI(Tl) scintillator are used to build a mobile radiation measurement system (called as Monitoring of Ambient Radiations of KAERI for Backpack, MARK-B3) with a signal processing unit, and GPS and interface units to a PC for wireless controlling system. Development of the survey system is to measure ambient gamma-ray spectrometry for estimating ground radioactivity and radiation dose in the environment. The ambient dose rate is estimated using G-factor method. For determination of G-factor, we conducted MCNP simulations in assumptions of various incident photons into the detector system. And the scintillator was exposed to Cs-137 source in the range of 1- 300 mGy/hr. Calculated dose rates for different simulation results were compared to the irradiated dose rate to derive correction factor of G-factor. To evaluate performance of the MARK-B3, in-situ gamma spectrometry was conducted in Jeju island.

Airborne surveys are an essential analysis method for rapid response and contamination identification in the early event of a radiation emergency. On the other hand, airborne surveys are far from the ground, so it is necessary to convert the dose rate at a height of 1 m above the ground. In order to improve the accuracy of the analysis value, a lot of analysis of the measurement data is required. In our previous research, we developed MARK-A1, an instrument for rapid radiation aerial survey in high radiation environment, and MARK-M1, a multipurpose instrument for radiation detection. In this study, a large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to conduct airborne surveys using three types of detectors in the Jeju Island environment. The NaI(Tl) detector uses one 3-inch scintillator (38 mm φ × 38 mm H), and the LaBr3 detector uses two 2-inch scintillators (25 mm φ × 25 mm H). The CZT detector uses a detector with dimensions of (15 mm × 15 mm × 7.5 mm). The UAV has a payload of 15 kg (J10, JCH systems Inc. Seoul, Korea). Three different detectors were operated at a constant height of 20 m, 30 m, and 50 m. The flight experiments were performed in the west near Jeju City. Dose rate conversion factors were used to convert the dose rate from the measured spectra, and hovering flights were conducted between 1 and 50 meters to derive altitude correction factors. In this paper, the data measured with each detector in the same area were compared and the differences were derived.

This study was performed to assess the cosmic-ray effect caused by altitude in the aerial gammaray measurement. For the gamma-ray measurement experiment by altitude, the aerial survey system composed of four 4×4×16 inches large volume NaI (Tl) detectors was used. The aerial survey system was installed in a rotor-craft to stably keep its flight altitude and position. In addition, in order to avoid to time-dependent shielding effects with the amount of fuel, a rotor-craft of which the fuel tank is not located beneath the cabin floor was selected. In this study, the ROI (Region Of Interest) was set to the 3~6 MeV range to assess the cosmic-ray contribution to the gamma-ray spectrum that could ignore the contribution of the dominant natural radionuclides. The gamma-ray spectra measured inside and outside of the rotor-craft on the ground were compared to evaluate the shielding effects of the aircraft body. As a result, the count rate of the 40K photo peak was decreased by about 10% when measuring the inside compared to the outside. On the other hand, the total count rate of the 3~6 MeV region was decreased by about 0.7% under the same condition. Therefore, the aircraft body effect was insignificant in 3~6 MeV region considering the relative uncertainty of 0.04~0.78% (1σ). In addition, the count rate in the 3~6 MeV range according to altitude was evaluated to assess the cosmic-ray effect. In order to evaluate the change in the ROI count rate according to the altitude, the gamma-ray spectrum was measured in the range of 300~2,000 m above the sea to avoid the effect of terrestrial radiation. As a result, the relationship between altitude and count rate in the 3~6 MeV range showed a high correlation with the R2 value of 0.99, when the approximate equation was derived in the form of a quadratic polynomial. Also, the count rate of 3~6 MeV at 50~500 m above the ground was estimated using the correlation equation, and this value was compared with the measured count rate. As a result of comparing the average value of estimated count rate and measured count rate, the relative difference is less than 2%. Considering the relative uncertainty of 0.78~4.11% (1σ), it was possible to evaluate the count rate of the 3~6 MeV region relatively accurately. The results of this study could be used for further study on background dose corrections in aerial survey.

본 연구에서는 원자력 사고 또는 방사선 비상 시 지표면에 침적될 수 있는 감마선방출 핵종의 방사능을 신속하게 평가하기 위해 이용될 수 있는 NaI(Tl), LaBr3(Ce) 및 CeBr3 섬광검출기의 성능을 비교 평가하였다. 검출성능은 최소검출가능방사능 (MDA, Minimum Detectable Activity)을 통해 평가하였으며, 각 검출기의 지표면 침적 감마선방출 핵종에 대한 검출효율은 수학적 모델링과 점선원을 이용하여 반실험적으로 산출하였다. MDA 평가를 위한 백그라운드 감마선에너지스펙트럼은 비교적 넓고 평탄한 초지에서 측정되었으며, 원자력 사고 시 방출될 수 있는 주요 핵종에 대한 각 검출기의 MDA를 산출하였다. 그 결과 일반 환경방사능 준위에서 지표면 침적 감마핵종에 대한 각 검출기의 MDA 크기는 대체로“NaI(Tl)> LaBr3(Ce)> CeBr3”로 평가되었으며, 백그라운드 준위가 유사한 에너지 영역에서는 분해능이 가장 우수한 LaBr3(Ce)에서 최소 값을 보였다. 이는 관심 핵종의 감마선에너지 영역에 대한 각 검출기의 자체 및 측정 환경 백그라운드, 측정 효율, 그리고 에너지 분해능 특성을 바탕으로 비교 분석되었다.

곡류, 두류, 어패류분말, 건조채소류 및 다류 등 5가지 식품유형에 대하여 전자선과 감마선 0-10 kGy 조사 후 광자극발광법(PSL)과 열발광법(TL) 분석을 통해 적용 가능성을 확인하고 두 선종의 결과를 비교·분석 하였다. PSL 분석 결과, 새우분말을 제외한 비조사 검체는 700 이하의 PCs, 음성검체로 나타났다. 전자선과 감마선 조사된 곡류, 두류 및 다류는 양성검체뿐만 아니라 중간검체, 음성검체로도 확인되어 적용 가능성이 낮았다. 특히, 두류는 감마선보다 전자선 조사된 검체가 더 명확한 판별이 가능하였 다. 전자선과 감마선 조사된 어패류분말과 건조채소류는 모두 양성검체로 나타나 조사선원에 관계없이 조사여부 확인이 가능하였다. TL 분석 결과 조사되지 않은 검체는 자연방사선에 의해 300oC 전후에서 낮은 peak를 가지는 글로우곡선이 나타났고, 대부분의 조사 검체에서는 150- 250oC의 부근에서 특유의 글로우곡선이 나타났다. 하지만, 쌀과 레몬홍차는 조사에 따른 특이적인 peak가 나타나지 않아 조사여부 확인이 어려웠다. 또한 TL 비를 산출해본 결과, 쌀과 레몬홍차를 제외한 대부분 비조사 검체는 0.0001- 0.0728, 전자선과 감마선 조사된 검체는 0.1004-4.6748로 나타나 조사여부를 확인할 수 있었다. 쌀과 레몬홍차의 TL 비는 0.1 이하로 나타나 글로우 1에서 확인한 것처럼 조사여부를 판단하기 어려웠다. 따라서 조사 선원에 따른 곡 류와 두류의 PSL 측정 결과는 전자선 조사된 검체가 더 명확한 판별이 가능하였고, TL 측정 결과는 쌀과 레몬홍차를 제외하고 모든 검체에서 조사 선원에 관계없이 조사 여부 판별이 가능하였다. 본 연구를 통해 전자선 조사에 따른 확인시험법 적용 가능성을 확인하고 선종에 따른 PSL 시험법에 대한 검지감도의 차이를 확인하였다. 연구결과는 전자선 추가 허용에 따른 데이터베이스 구축 및 조사 식품 관리체계 마련에 기초자료로 활용될 계획이다.

본 연구는 비허용 품목인 유지종실류 5종(달맞이꽃씨, 홍화씨, 유채씨, 해바라기씨 및 아마씨)을 선정하여 광자 극발광법(PSL), 열발광법(TL), 전자스핀공명법(ESR) 및 기체크로마토그래프/질량분석법(GC/MS)을 활용하여 검지 특성 연구를 수행하였다. PSL 및 TL 측정 결과, 5종 모두 적용 가능성이 높은 것으로 판단하였다. ESR 분석결과는 5종 모두 조사시료에서 조사유래의 특이 ESR signal이 관찰되지 않아 적용 가능성이 낮다고 판단하였다. GC/MS 분석 결과, 홍화씨, 유채씨, 해바라기씨 및 아마씨의 경우에는 조사 유래의 hydrocarbon류가 검출되어 적용 가능성이 높은 것으로 판단하였다. 특히, oleic acid에서 유도된 8-heptadecene (C17:1), 1,7-hexadecadiene (C16:2)이 조사 여부를 확인하는 화학적 마커로 활용 가능성이 높았다. 달맞이꽃씨 경우에는 oleic acid에서 유도된 hydrocarbon류가 검출되지 않아 적용 가능성이 낮다고 판단하였다. 또한, 달맞이꽃씨, 홍화씨 및 해바라기씨에서 감마리놀렌산의 주요 원료인 linoleic acid에서 유도된 1,7,10-hexadecatriene (C16:3)과 6,9-heptadecadiene (C17:2)이 검출되어 조사여부를 확인하는 화학적 검지 마커로 활용 가능성이 높다고 판단 하였다. 본 연구 결과를 통해 유지종실류 5종에 대한 적용 가능성 및 다중분석 체계(PSL-TL-GC/MS)를 확립하였다.