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Nuclear forensics case in Croatia: elevated U and Ra radioactive material found at Karasovići border

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Abstract

A case of illegal possession of suspect material at the Karasovići border crossing in Croatia was recently recorded and resolved. An increased activity of 226Ra was detected in the suspect material. The seized material consisted of 2 types of samples, black powder and jewellery. The material was analysed by the high-resolution gamma spectrometry method in the Laboratory for Radioecology of the Ruđer Bošković Institute. The seized material was confirmed to contain uranium. The material was additionally analysed by the X-ray diffraction method. Identified mineral phases have not been found in Croatia so far, therefore it is not possible that the material in question originates from Croatia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ekoteh Dosimetry LLC, Vladimira Ruždjaka 21, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Željka Topolovac

  2. Laboratory for Radioecology, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institut, Bijenička Cesta 54, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Ivana Tucaković, Delko Barišić & Željko Grahek

  3. Faculty of Metallurgy, University of Zagreb, Aleja Narodnih Heroja 3, 44000, Sisak, Croatia

    Vladimir Bermanec

Authors
  1. Željka Topolovac
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  2. Ivana Tucaković
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  3. Delko Barišić
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  4. Željko Grahek
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  5. Vladimir Bermanec
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Contributions

All authors contributed to this article. Conceptualization: ŽT, IT; Methodology: IT, ŽG, DB; Formal analysis and investigation: IT, DB, VB; Writing—original draft preparation: ŽT; Writing—review and editing: IT, ŽG; Supervision: ŽG.

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Correspondence to Željka Topolovac.

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Topolovac, Ž., Tucaković, I., Barišić, D. et al. Nuclear forensics case in Croatia: elevated U and Ra radioactive material found at Karasovići border. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 333, 847–852 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09286-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09286-5

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