Instruction Manual for MiniTRACE CSDF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
08/2012 Page 9
2.4 Measurements
2.4.1 Information for your own radiation protection
• Protect yourself from an unnecessary dose. The easiest way is to reduce the length
of exposure.
•
Increasing the distance reduces the dose due to the inverse square law.
• Radiation doses should all be kept as low as reasonably achievable.
• Protect yourself against contamination by using the rubber gloves and the tweezers.
• Do not touch the surface with your hand or the MiniTRACE to prevent the spread of
contamination.
• Avoid incorporation and inhalation. Incorporation or inhalation of radioactivity is much
more dangerous than contamination of the skin.
For more information see:
Euratom: http://www.euratom.org
IAEA: http://www.IAEA.org
WHO: http://www.who.int
2.4.2 Examples of natural radionuclides in food and limits for artificial
radionuclides in food
In all foods you will find some natural radionuclides, mainly the long-lived K-40 and the long-
lived radionuclides of the uranium-radium and thorium decay series. Alongside the nutrients
necessary for growth, plants and animals also absorb radionuclides, due to their similar
chemical properties. The level of radionuclide concentration in food is determined by the
radioactivity of the source media used (soil, water), the availability of nutrients and other
substances from soil and water and other conditions at the location of the plant or animal
production.
Higher radionuclide concentrations are found in the livers and kidneys of animals (in
comparison to the meat) due to their function as "pollution filters" as part of the metabolism of
various elements, above all radionuclides.
Some interesting numbers (literature source BfS/Germany):
• Natural K-40 in:
o fruits: approx. 50 Bq/kg
o milk: approx. 50 Bq/l
o meat: approx. 100 Bq/kg
o peas/beans: approx. 380 Bq/kg
o man: approx. 40-60 Bq/kg
The national threshold for food differs from country to country.
In Germany the following thresholds apply: Regulation 1707/86 dated 30.5.86
(2) for:
• Total Cesium 370 Bq/kg for milk and baby food
• 600 Bq/kg for other food.
To Next Page
Loading...