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1990-91 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC

RESEARCH PROGRAM
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INITIAL SUMMARY OF RESEARCH ACTIVITY,

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Antarctic Division 1
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Australia
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 Environmental Studies
49

Environmental Radioactivity in the Casey Area

Baciu, F. Institute for Environmental

Engineering Research, Romania
Project No. 463
Location: Casey

Original project aims: To determine natural radioactivity levels in the environment of the
studied area. The atmospheric concentrations of Radon (Rn 222) and Toron (Rn 220) are to
be measured. The atmospheric concentration of Be 7 is to be determined. To determine beta
global activity of vegetation, water and air samples. To determine artificial (man made) and
natural gamma ray emitters in all of the above-mentioned environmental samples.

Scientific reasons for project: Recent studies (Swedish Antarctic Expeditions, SWEDARP
88-89) have identified anthropogenic radionuclides (Cs 137, Am 241, etc.) in the Antarctic
Peninsula area. Phenomena of long range transport of the radioactive pollutants in the
marine and atmospheric environment are producing such contamination. Little is known
about the occurrence (if any) of such radioactive pollution in Eastern Antarctica. Also
involving natural radioactivity measurements, the present study is to provide reference data
for the investigated area.

Theoretical considerations:
1. Natural radioactivity. In certain given conditions it can be presumed that the short life-
time decay products of Rn 222 (Uranium 238 series) and Rn 220 (Thorium 232 series)
are at equilibrium with Rn 222 and Rn 220 respectively. In these conditions, the system
of differential equations describing the building and decaying of Ra A (Po 218), Ra B
(Pb 214), Ra c (Bi 214) and Th B (Pb 212), Th C (Bi 212) on the filters during and after
sampling is determined and the numerical solutions are ~valuated b~ the number of
events of disintegration which occur at precise intervals of time separabng sequences of
measurements. Be ta decay measurements are to be performed in order. to determine . .
Radon and 1 ""oron concentrations in the atmosphere. Gamma spectrometncal analysis 1s
1
• -1 · d
·d trab·on values for Be 7 in air samples and K 40 m soi , vegetation an
to prov1 e concen
water samples. . • ft
2. Artificial radioactivity. Gamma spectr0metrical analyses us~n~.::~~pnate so ~are
developed for low activity environmental samples and tested m . mter~o?1p~son
, ed . der to identify anthropogenic radionuchdes em1tt1ng m the
runs are to be per1orm m or ti d
V 1500 k V Alpha spectrometrical techniques are curren y un er
range of 46 ke - e . be later used for analysis of the samples
st
development at ERRL, Buchare ao may d
collected in 1991 at Casey.
Environmental Studies
so

Practical techniques: A low background beta radioactivity detection unit is operated at

Casey. Radon-Toron and global beta measurements of all the samples are performed at
Casey. The unit consists of a Geiger-Muller LND detector linked to a PSR 6 nuclear
ratemeter. The calibrating radiation source is a 47 Bq, Sr 90 source of appropriate geometry.
Air sampling is performed using a vacuum pump aspirating 5 microns Millipore membrane
filters. All other samples are prepared either by calcination or by infrared drying for later-
to-be performed measurements. Quanta 8100 with Ge (Li) detector and Saturn with HPGe
detector (resolution 1.9 keV at 1332.5 kev) systems on location at ERRL, Bucharest, are to
be employed for gamma spectrometrical analysis.

Field work: Summer and winter sampling campaigns for soil, vegetation and water are
planned. The sampling locations cover the area of SSSI 16 and SSSI 17. Some marine
sediment sampling is to be performed offshore from Casey station, Newcomb Bay.

. . of findings: In order to establish possible fiuh~•e

Significance
. ·
"" 1mpac t o f the anuuopogemc
.... _ ·
rad1oa~ttv1ty _upon the antarctic environment, the actual levels of radioactivit u n the
antarctic envrronment, the actual levels of radioactivity (both
kn Alth . . . nat
ural • ! po
and arufic1al) have to
be own. ough natural rad1oacttvity levels are e
and climate of the Antarctic) the natural radioacf . xpected to be low (due to the geology
in connexion with meteo-cli:natic studies Th •~It! m~urements may prove valuable
· erm1c inversions ar ted .
Radon and Toron concenttations at ground level and air .e expec to influence
to be influenced by the vertical dynamics of the tm concentrations of Be 7 are expected
fission products (as produced in nuclear weapo a os~here. If detected, concentrations of
products (as produced in nuclear plants fallo tsns) teSling) ~r/and of radioactive activation
. . l . u would give
rad10acuve po luuon of an eastern Antarctic ru; 1 . . an up-to-date image of the
A . p . 1 ea n COnJunctio 'th .
ntarct1c enmsu a these may serve as refere da n w1 mformation fiom the
· · m
momtonng · Antarcuca.
• nee ta for long-term radioactive pollution

Planned di~emination or results: A prelim. .

Division in the second half of 1991 One mary repan ts to be submitted to th
1992 · e gamma anal · · e Antarctic
. , the final report is to be edited in mid-1992 ys1s is completed in th
m refereP.,d journals. and the results sub . e first half of
muted for publication