engleski

137Cs in Wood

Global pollution by artificial radionuclides as a consequence of nuclear experiments or nuclear power plant accidents has resulted in radioactive contamination of trees in forest ecosystems. Processed wood as raw material is permanently present in the environment of humans, thus contributing by its radioactive contamination to an increase in the radiation dose. The gamma spectrometric measurements of the representative samples of wood and manufactured boards have shown the content of artificial radionuclide 137Cs in the range from 1.6 to 8.6 Bq/kg. By using an appropriate method there has been calculated an increase in annual equivalent radiation dose caused by content of 137Cs in wood, for a model family house and for hypothetical furniture, made of such wooden raw material, for a ten-hour daily stay in the house. The increase in annual equivalent radiation dose of 0.194 mSv for house and 0.318 mSv for furniture was obtained. The half-life of the radionuclide 137Cs is 30 years, which means it will influence the environment for many years to come. The use of wood as raw material is inevitable, and the resulting increase in the radiation dose rate is not disturbing. Considering the ever increasing concern about human environment, however, there is the necessity for knowledge and care about how and to what extent wood used as material can endanger natural life conditions.

caesium-137 in wood; radiocontamination of wood

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