[en] Recent trends in the radiation protection of the environment focusing on basic changes of the protection philosophy from the egocentric to ecocentric approach are presented and discussed. The globalization of the economy is accompanied by global contamination of the environment that requires changes in the attitude of the protection of the total environment, i.e. protection of humans, fauna and flora, all ecosystems and the Earth in general, as well as the cosmic space. This complex approach is illustrated on the radiation protection of the environment that has always been in the forefront in developing protection philosophy, methodology and standards, which later has also been applied to the protection of the environment caused by non-radioactive contaminants, such as heavy metals and organic compounds. High radiation doses delivered to biota are illustrated on shellfish and fish collected in the Mururoa and Fangataufa lagoons (affected by series of nuclear weapons tests), and on fish in Novaya Zemlya bays (affected by dumping of nuclear reactors and radioactive wastes). On the methodological site an example is discussed focusing on the in situ sea-bed radionuclide mapping and seawater monitoring using submersible gamma-ray spectrometers operating with NaI(Tl) and HPGe detectors which has proved to be important pre-requisite for estimation of the spatial distribution of radionuclides in the water column and on the sea floor, as well as for optimisation of sediment sampling for studying the radionuclide distribution with depth

[en] Steps towards improving the accuracy and precision of gamma- spectrometric measurements of environmental samples are discussed. It is shown that proper detector efficiency calculations and the application of correction factors (matrix corrections, coincidence correction, etc.) are important for high precision data generation and for the quantification of the uncertainty budget.The Monte Carlo method has been found to be a powerful tool for improving quality assurance in gamma-spectrometry. Using the described procedures, it is possible to reach relative standard uncertainty below 5% even for very low activity environmental samples (Authors)

[en] Long-term measurements of carbon-13 and carbon-14 content in soil CO₂ are presented. Temporal ¹⁴C and ¹³C variations with period of one year has been observed and discussed in two soil levels (exhaled CO₂ and CO₂ in depth 0.8 m). Analyses shows that there are significant differences in phase shifts of variations and in fractionation rates at different soil levels. (authors)

[en] Particle induced x-ray/gamma emission (PIXE/PIGE) analytical methods were used to determine elemental composition of commonly available food and organic food. Previous measurements of surface concentrations of thick targets indicated issues with inhomogeneity, which have been studied with new measurements. An approach for preparation of thin targets out of organic materials was introduced and tested. Different types of beam particles were used for PIXE and PIGE analysis. Thin targets were prepared by pipetting solution of chemically dissolved samples of fruits and vegetables on Mylar foil, with yttrium added as internal standard. Samples were irradiated at the Centre for Nuclear and Accelerator Technologies (CENTA) with beams of protons and deuterons with energy of ∼3 MeV and alpha particles with energy of ∼4.5 MeV, generated by an accelerator system. The measured spectra were evaluated by the GUPIXWIN software. The determined elements included potassium (K), calcium (Ca), chrome (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), bromine (Br), rubidium (Rb), strontium (Sr) and barium (Ba). Spectra obtained using PIGE analyses were evaluated only qualitatively. (authors)

[en] Particle induced x-ray/gamma emission (PIXE/PIGE) analytical methods were used to determine elemental composition of commonly available food and organic food. Previous measurements of surface concentrations of thick targets indicated issues with inhomogeneity, which have been studied with new measurements. An approach for preparation of thin targets out of organic materials was introduced and tested. Different types of beam particles were used for PIXE and PIGE analysis. Thin targets were prepared by pipetting solution of chemically dissolved samples of fruits and vegetables on Mylar foil, with yttrium added as internal standard. Samples were irradiated at the Centre for Nuclear and Accelerator Technologies (CENTA) with beams of protons and deuterons with energy of ∼3 MeV and alpha particles with energy of ∼4.5 MeV, generated by an accelerator system. The measured spectra were evaluated by the GUPIXWIN software. The determined elements included potassium (K), calcium (Ca), chrome (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), bromine (Br), rubidium (Rb), strontium (Sr) and barium (Ba). Spectra obtained using PIGE analyses were evaluated only qualitatively. (authors)

[en] We employed NAA with radiochemical separation (RNAA) for determination of ultra-low levels of ²³²Th and ²³⁸U in copper for SuperNEMO experiment aimed at searching for neutrinoless double beta decay. The RNAA procedures are based on sample dissolution in nitric acid and separation of ²³³Pa and ²³⁸U with TRU resin and extraction with tributyl phosphate, respectively. After purification of the separated fractions we obtained limits of detection (LOD) of 0.08 μBq and 0.2 μBq for ²³²Th and ²³⁸U, respectively. The RNAA procedures developed can be used not only for radiopurity testing of materials for the detection of rare nuclear processes, but also for analysis of environmental materials after an easy adaptation of the decomposition step. NAA can also be used for determination of ¹²⁹I, a long-lived fission product, using neutron capture and measurement of ¹³⁰I. We developed NAA with both preirradiation separation (sample combustion followed by trapping of the released iodine in a LiOH solution) and post-irradiation, radiochemical separation (RNAA) using extraction of elementary iodine in CHCl₃. We employed this method for ¹²⁹I determination in bovine thyroid and other biomonitors collected in the vicinity of Temelin nuclear power plant to study whether releases of ¹²⁹I occur into the environment during normal operation of the NPP. Using the above described procedure we obtained a LOD of 1.68 μBq for measurement of ¹²⁹I.

[en] Double electron capture has been of interest of many theoretical and experimental works as a possible extension of double beta-decay investigations. The neutrinoless double-electron capture, similarly as the neutrinoless double beta-decay may help to clarify if neutrinos are Majorana or Dirac particles. Results obtained in several double electron capture experiments are reviewed and new experiments to be carried out in deep underground laboratories using enriched sources and multidimensional HPGe-HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry with a few years of counting time are proposed, which should be able to improve half-lives limits by at least an order of magnitude

[en] In this presentation the results of monitoring of the activities of ¹⁴C in the vicinity of nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic. Analysis of the graphitization of the samples with accelerated mass spectrometry was used.

[en] A non-destructive approach to the sample treatment during the analytical process is one of the crucial advantages of the particle induced X-ray emission technique. Rare and precious environmental and space samples can be analyzed in order to evaluate concentrations of individual elements presented in specimens. A non-destructive analysis of two meteorite samples was carried out using 3 MeV protons incident in a narrow ion beam (1.5 mm diam.). GUPIXWIN software package was used for spectra evaluation. Concentrations of several elements (Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn) were determined and quantitative surface elemental distribution maps were constructed.

[en] A single 13.95 kg mass of a slightly weathered iron meteorite was found in the forest near Smolenice (48 grad 31.2'N, 17 grad 23.9'E; Trnava County, Slovakia). The bulk chemical composition (in wt. %) is: Fe 88.78, Ni 8.16, Co 0.38, P 0.05, S<0.006 and (in μg/g): Ge<0.18, Ir 1.67, Ga 1.80, Cr 87.3, Cu 135.1, As 4.52, Mo 5.82, Sn 1.53, W 0.56, Re 0.18, Ru 3.56, Rh 0.90, Pd 4.12, Pt 5.35, Au 1.19, Zn<5, B<0.68, Pb<0.06. Bulk geochemistry, and Ni, Ga, Ge and Ir contents in particular suggest that the meteorite is an octahedrite belonging to the IVA group. The average thickness of kamacite lamellae is 0.22 mm, ranking it as fine octahedrite (Of). The mineral composition is simple, the most abundant minerals being iron (kamacite) (5.16-7.36 wt. % Ni) followed by taenite (16.73-33.93 wt. % Ni). Troilite nodules and daubreelite inclusions and thin veinlets are rare. The Widmanstaetten pattern is uniform across the meteorite and plessite structure is developed locally. Analyses of cosmogenic radionuclides (¹⁴C and ²⁶Al) indicate that the radius of the Smolenice meteorite could be 30±10 cm and its terrestrial age 11±2 kyr. (authors)