[en] The main gaol of the Control Department of Radiation Protection at the Austrian Research Centers Seibersdorf (ARCS) is the personnel control of the people who are working with ionizing radiation. This paper describes the techniques used for ^239,240Pu, ²³⁸Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ²³²Th, and ⁹⁰Sr in the same bulk urine sample. After the coprecipitation of the radionuclides, they are separated by use of the anion exchange technique and chromatographic extraction. The measurement techniques are alpha spectrometry and gross beta gas proportional counter. The minimum detectable activity for actinides is about 1 mBq/l and for ⁹⁰Sr 9 mBq/l. (orig.)

[en] The catalytic chlorination of chrysene, pyrene and fluoranthene yields complex mixtures of partly isomeric chlorine substituted PAHs. Their distribution resembles that of chlorine compounds previously found in filter deposits of an incineration plant for radioactive waste. In the micro fluctuation test these chlorinated products are strong mutagens to Salmonella typhimurium even without enzymatic activation. Frameshift mutations as well as basepair alterations take place. (Author)

[en] The paper describes the surveillance of the radiation exposure of the employees of the Research Centre Seibersdorf. Results of measurements by TL-Dosemeters as well as internal contamination measurements are presented. The monitoring of working places and laboratories by external dose rate measurements, smear tests and by measurements of the activity concentration in air is also described. Furthermore, -in fulfilment of the license regulations and conditions -the monitoring results of the radioactive emissions from the research reactor, the safeguard analytical laboratory of the IAEA (SAL), the waste-incineration plant and other departments handling radioactive substances as well as the activity concentrations in the effluent water are explained. Also the results of the extensive environmental surveillance programme by monitoring the activity content of surface air, tap-and surface water, soil and vegetation in the vicinity of the Research Centre Seibersdorf are described. The surveillance and inspections as described in this paper are specified in a special QM-handbook for the Seibersdorf Radiation Protection Control. The measurements are carried out with the help of the 'QM-handbook 3 6/1-Radiometry' according ISO 9001 and as a 'Test Laboratory' according ISO 45001. (author)

[en] The uptake of labelled 2,4,5-Trichlorphenoxyethanol (2,4,5-TE), 2,4-Dichlorphenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5,2',4',5'-Hexachlorobiphenyl (''PCB'') by Chlorella fusca was tested. Whereas 2,4,5-TE was labelled with sup(3H) in the ring system, 2,4-D and ''PCB'' were labelled with ¹⁴C in the sidechain or ring system, respectively. Under the chosen experimental conditions the concentration of 2,4,5-TE in the algae reached a maximum after 8 hours at least; the following (considerable) release of labelled compound is ascribed to metabolisation to 2,4,5-T. After 72 hours the total uptake by 50 mg (moist weight) Chlorella fusca /ml came to an amount of 1,8% which was in good accordance with the amount of 2,4-D taken up during the same period. Whereas the uptake was low for 2,4-D it was high for 2,4,5,2',4',5'-Hexachlorobiphenyl (''PCB''); in both cases the uptake led to an equilibrium between the concentration of these compounds in the uptake medium and the cell after a few hours. (author)

[en] This report comprises the results of the surveillance of the radiation exposure of the employees of the Research Centre Seibersdorf. The monitoring of working places and laboratories by external dose rate measurements, smear tests and by measurements of the activity concentration in air is described. Furthermore, - in fulfilment of the license regulations and conditions - the monitoring results of the radioactive emissions from the research reactor, the SAL, the waste-incineration plant and other departments handling radioactive substances as well as the activity concentrations in the effluent water are presented. Also the results of the extensive environmental surveillance programme by monitoring the activity content of surface air, tap- and surface water, soil and vegetation in the vicinity of the Research Centre Seibersdorf are described. In 1998 again no exposure of persons above the limits was observed. The maximum annual exposure of a single person amounted to 9 % of the regulatory limit. The average exposure of the Seibersdorf staff was 1,40 mSv, including background radiation. Subtracting the natural background radiation of about 0,96 ± 0,12 mSv, the net dose, therefore, amounted to 0,44 mSv, i.e. 1,0 % of the annual limit of 50 mSv for occupationally exposed workers. Incorporation monitoring gave no reason to suppose significant intake of radioactive material. Dose calculations with worst case situations as time of intakes or compounds show that maximum incorporation doses are far bellow the regulation limits. Releases to the environment were also below the limits set by the authorities, generally by orders of magnitude. The releases of the research reactor amounted to 0,44 %, of the incineration plant to 0,068 % alpha emitter and 0,005 % beta-emitter, of the SAL to 1,5 % alpha-emitter and 0,24 beta-emitter, of the chemical laboratories 0,4 %, of the department of Radiopharmaceutical 0,3 % for ¹³¹I and 1,6 % for ¹²³I and of the liquid effluents to 10 % of the respective limits. In accordance with this, the measurements in the environment of the research centre proved that practically no influence of the research centre on the environment is observable. The surveillance and inspections as described in this report are specified in a special QM-handbook for the Seibersdorf radiation protection control. The measurements are carried out with the help of the 'QM-handbook 3 6/1 - radiometry' of the 'test laboratory radiation protection'. (author)

[en] In order to prove that workers and the environment of the Research Centre Seibersdorf are not exposed to undue radiation exposures, an extensive program of evidence monitoring is carried out in and around the Research Centre Seibersdorf. The program ranges from workers' surveillance on external and internal radiation exposure via the monitoring of working places and laboratories with regard to external dose rate, surface contamination and activity concentration in air, the surveillance of releases to immersion monitoring with regard to external dose rate and activity concentrations in the vicinity of the Research Center. The present report comprises a summary of the results of this radiation exposure surveillance of workers and the vicinity of the Research Center in the year 2001. The average radiation exposure of all surveyed persons in the year 2001 was 1.41 mSv including background radiation (1.09 mSv). Subtracting this natural background level, the net annual dose amounts to 0.32 mSv corresponding to 1.6 % of the limit for occupationally exposed persons. In the past year no surpassing of dose limits was observed. The maximum dose of a single worker was 5.46 mSv/a (27 % of the legal limit of 20 mSv/a). Workers which were occupied with open radioactive substances, were surveyed for incorporation. They showed no incorporations above limits, in most surveyed cases no incorporation at all was detected. Releases to the environment were, as in the past years, below limits set by the authorities, generally by orders of magnitude. For the shut-down research reactor for which the release monitoring was continued, the releases in the year 2001 amounted to 0.13 %, for the incineration plant to 0.11 % (alpha-emitters) and 0.0038 % (beta-emitters), for the Safeguard Analytical Laboratory to 3.2 % (alpha-emitters) and 0.67 % (beta-emitters), for the Hot Cell Laboratory to 3.0 % (alpha-emitters) and 0.4 (beta-emitters), and the radiopharmaceutical facility 0.02 % for ¹³¹I and 3,0 % for ¹²³I of the respective limits. The activity concentration in the liquid effluents amounted to 10 % of the limits. In accordance with this, immersion measurements in the environment showed virtually no influence of the research center. The gamma dose rate measuring devices at the fence of the center showed values between 0.6 - 1.0 mSv/a, in the next villages they were between 0.68 and 0.72 mSv/a. Both corresponds to typical values by natural radiation exposure. The particulate monitor operated at the site registered typical average beta-activity concentrations of 0.47 ± 0,15 mBq/m³. This corresponds to average values of the past years and is characteristic for natural activity concentrations in outdoor air. Also the extensive surveillance program with regard to the surface and tap water showed no conspicuous values. (author)

[en] This report comprises the results of the surveillance of the radiation exposure of the employees of the Research Centre Seibersdorf. The monitoring of working places and laboratories by external dose rate measurements, smear tests and by measurements of the activity concentration in air is described. Furthermore - in fulfillment of the license regulations and conditions - the monitoring results of the radioactive emissions from the research reactor, the SAL, the waste-incineration plant and other departments handling radioactive substances as well as the activity concentrations in the effluent water are presented. Also the results of the extensive environmental surveillance program by monitoring the activity content of surface air, tap- and surface water, soil and vegetation in the vicinity of the Research Centre Seibersdorf are described. In 1999 again no exposure of persons above the limits was observed. The maximum annual exposure of a single person amounted to 25 % (12,55 mSv/a) of the regulatory limit. The average exposure of the Seibersdorf staff was 1.44 mSv, including background radiation. Subtracting the natural background radiation of about 0.96 ± 0.12 mSv, the net dose, therefore, amounted to 0.48 mSv, i.e. 1.0 % of the annual limit of 50 mSv for occupationally exposed workers. Incorporation monitoring gave no reason to suppose significant intake of radioactive material. Dose calculations with worst case situations as time of intakes or compounds show that maximum incorporation doses are far bellow the regulation limits Releases to the environment were also below the limits set by the authorities, generally by orders of magnitude. The releases of the research reactor amounted to 0.25 %, of the incineration plant to 1.5 % alpha emitter and 0.12 % betaemitter, of the SAL to 2.2 % alphaemitter and 0,55 betaemitter, of the chemical laboratories 0.35 %, of the department of Radiopharmaceutical 0.2 % for ¹³¹I and 2.0 % for ¹²³I and of the liquid effluents to 10 % of the respective limits. In accordance with this, the measurements in the environment of the research centre proved that practically no influence of the research centre on the environment is observable. The surveillance and inspections as described in this report are specified in a special QM-handbook for the Seibersdorf radiation protection control. The measurements are carried out with the help of the 'QM-handbook 3 6/1 - Radiometry' of the 'test laboratory radiation protection'. On July 31, 1999 the ASTRA-Research-reactor was shut down after the board of directors decision following a proposal of the management of the Austrian Research Centres. As the fuel-elements can only be disposed at a later date, this facility is still a nuclear facility and all radiation protection regulations are still applied. (author)

[en] This report comprises the results of the surveillance of the radiation exposure of the employees of the Research Centre Seibersdorf. The monitoring of working places and laboratories by external dose rate measurements, smear tests and by measurements of the activity concentration in air is described. Furthermore - in fulfilment of the license regulations and conditions - the monitoring results of the radioactive emissions from the research reactor (shut down on July 31), waste-incineration plant and other departments handling radioactive substances as well as the activity concentrations in the effluent water are presented. Also the results of the extensive environmental surveillance programme by monitoring the activity content of surface air, tap- and surface water, soil and vegetation in the vicinity of the Research Centre Seibersdorf are described. In 2000 again no exposure of persons above the limits was observed. The maximum annual exposure of a single person amounted to 87 % (17,30 mSv/a) of the regulatory limit (20 mSv/a). The average exposure of the Seibersdorf staff was 1.54 mSv, including background radiation. Subtracting the natural background radiation of about 0.95 mSv, the net dose, therefore, amounted to 0.59 mSv, i.e. 3.0 % of the annual limit for occupationally exposed workers. Incorporation monitoring gave no reason to suppose significant intake of radioactive material. Dose calculations with worst case situations as time of intakes or compounds show that maximum incorporation doses are far bellow the regulation limits releases to the environment were also below the limits set by the authorities, generally by orders of magnitude. In July 31, 1999 the research reactor was shut down. The releases of the reactor (most natural radioactivity) amounted to 0.25 %, of the incineration plant to 0.03 % alpha emitter and 0.0012 % beta emitter, of the SAL to 2.6 % alphaemitter and 0,72 beta emitter, of the chemical laboratories 0.22 %, of the department of Radiopharmaceutical 0.5 % for 1311 and 3.0 % for 1231 and of the liquid effluents to 7.6 % of the respective limits. In accordance with this, the measurements in the environment of the research centre proved that practically no influence of the research centre on the environment is observable. The surveillance and inspections as described in this report are specified in a special QM-handbook for the Seibersdorf radiation protection control. The measurements are carried out with the help of the 'QM-handbook 3 6/1 - Radiometry' of the 'test laboratory radiation protection'. As mentioned above the ASTRA-Researchreactor was shut down an July 31, 1999 after the board of directors decision following a proposal of the management of the Austrian Research Centers. As the fuel-elements can only be disposed at a later date, this facility is still a nuclear facility and all radiation protection regulations are still applied. (author)

[en] Vegetative cultures of the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardi WT⁺ in the log-phase reduce mercury(II)-nitrate to elemental mercury which is removed from the cell suspension by the stream of gas bubbling through it. Monomethyl and dimethyl mercury as intermediate metabolic compounds are to be excluded, because none of them could be found in the algae, the nutrient medium or the gas phase. (author)