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U-238, Th-232 series, and Pu-239 + Pu-240 concentration analysis in biological samples of high natural background radiation residents by alpha spectrometry

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Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine the isotope concentration of the actinide radioelements 238U, 232Th series, and 239Pu in biological samples (urine) using the alpha spectroscopy system. The samples were selected from the residence of high natural background radiation (HNBR) area and analyzed using chemical procedure. The separated sample was placed on a membrane filter by the sedimentation method, and it was prepared for counting with the alpha spectrometry system. The average radioactive concentrations found in these samples were as follows: 234U > 226Ra > 230Th > 228Ra > 228Th > 224Ra > 232Th > 239Pu. The average concentrations of 234U and 226Ra were much greater than the other radionuclides.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project (Grant No. PNURSP2023R378), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Guilan University.

Funding

The authors express their gratitude to Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project (Grant No. PNURSP2023R378), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Contributions

AA: experiments, data processing, original draft, and manuscript preparation. FM: lab analysis, manuscript revision. AWA: methodology, software, HMHZ: methodology, software, writing—original draft preparation, writing—review and editing.

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Correspondence to Akbar Abbasi.

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Abbasi, A., Mirekhtiary, F., Alrowaily, A.W. et al. U-238, Th-232 series, and Pu-239 + Pu-240 concentration analysis in biological samples of high natural background radiation residents by alpha spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 4343–4353 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09147-1

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