Monitoring the Radioactive Contamination of Some Surfaces

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VIII, Issue I, January 2021 | ISSN 2321–2705

Monitoring the Radioactive Contamination of Some Surfaces

Anas Shehu^1*, Iliyasu Usman², Ahmad Rufa’i ³, Jamilu A. Kwari^4
1,2 Department of Physics, Sokoto State University, Sokoto, Nigeria
³Department of Mathematics, Sokoto State University, Sokoto Nigeria
⁴Department of Physics, College of Agriculture and Animal Science Wurno, Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract: This paper describes the typical process for monitoring surfaces contaminated by different sources, such as strontium (90Sr), cobalt (60Co) and chlorine (36Cl), in a working environment. There are several detectors that are used to identify both the location and activity of a contamination source. In this report, the most effective detector to scan and monitor Beta-rays is the mini-monitor E, with an efficiency of 42.3%, 20% and 14% for detecting 90Sr, 36Cl and 60Co, respectively. However, the NE BP/4A/4C scintillator detector was the most suitable for detecting Gamma-rays. In addition, a smear test was carried out by using a high-efficiency G-M tube and several different sources of 90Sr. The decontamination process successfully reduced the contamination level to almost 2.1% of the original percentage of contamination when the first wipe was done.

Keywords Strontium, Cobalt, Chlorine, Detectorsetc

Introduction

The surfaces are occasionally contaminated by radioactivity either accidently or due to a misuse of radioactive resources. Generally, anything in the radiation laboratory can be exposed to the contamination, such as the air, water, apparatus and clothing. The people working in the laboratory or nuclear industries can also be exposed to the contamination, but this is generally just external; e.g., the radioactive material sticks to the person’s clothes or they touch a contaminated surface. Internal contamination can happen if a person drinks contaminated water or inhales contaminated air, but this is less common. Statistically, surface contamination limits are usually determined depending on the type of contaminant. For instance, the limits of Beta, Gamma emitters and low-toxicity Alpha emitters are calculated as 4 Bqcm2, while all other alpha-emitting radionuclides are about 0.4 Bqcm2 (Canada et al.,2008). This report discusses the best methods for determining the activity level on a contaminated surface using different types of detectors. The measured activity levels of various contaminants and assessed the ability of a few detectors to identify the different radioactive materials with different energy levels and then decontaminated the

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