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Title: A solution for 40 K interference from K internal to the human body, in an underground high sensitivity whole body counter at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Carlsbad, NM, USA

Abstract

The objective of the present work is to find a solution for the interference arising from 1461 keV photons emitted by 40K in natural K internal to the human body in the detection of 241Am and 210Pb activities at the level of 37 mBq (1 pCi). The response of a broad energy Ge (BEGe) reference crystal to 1461 keV photons was simulated using GEANT4 code. Simulations were performed for a point source without and with shielding, as well as for a Bottle Manikin Absorption (BOMAB) phantom in the shielded whole-body counting chamber (WBC). The WBC facility is located underground at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Carlsbad, NM, USA. The simulation results were discussed with regards to the interference in detecting the 241Am and 210Pb at the level of 37 mBq (1 pCi). The specific conclusion is that the interference counts from 40K activity at the natural levels present in the human body in typical clinical settings were found to be greater than the 210Pb and 241Am signal counts from 37 mBq (1 pCi), when a 38.1 mm diameter, 25.4 mm thick BEGe reference crystal was used. Our solution for minimizing the interference to the desired precision at the specified levelsmore » was found by sacrificing the broad energy response of the counting system.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. New Mexico State Univ., Carlsbad, NM (United States). Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center (CEMRC)
  2. The NORM Group, Guelph, ON (Canada)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
New Mexico State Univ., Carlsbad, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
OSTI Identifier:
1509477
Grant/Contract Number:  
EM0002423
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 10; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 1687-8507
Publisher:
Egyptian Society of Radiation Sciences and Applications
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; Interdisciplinary application; BOMAB phantom; Gamma-ray spectroscopy; Ge detector; Radiation shielding; Whole-body counter; 40K gamma-ray interference

Citation Formats

Pillalamarri, I., and Jagam, P. A solution for 40 K interference from K internal to the human body, in an underground high sensitivity whole body counter at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Carlsbad, NM, USA. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1016/j.jrras.2017.07.004.
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Pillalamarri, I., & Jagam, P. A solution for 40 K interference from K internal to the human body, in an underground high sensitivity whole body counter at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Carlsbad, NM, USA. United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2017.07.004
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Pillalamarri, I., and Jagam, P. Sun . "A solution for 40 K interference from K internal to the human body, in an underground high sensitivity whole body counter at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Carlsbad, NM, USA". United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2017.07.004. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1509477.
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@article{osti_1509477,
title = {A solution for 40 K interference from K internal to the human body, in an underground high sensitivity whole body counter at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Carlsbad, NM, USA},
author = {Pillalamarri, I. and Jagam, P.},
abstractNote = {The objective of the present work is to find a solution for the interference arising from 1461 keV photons emitted by 40K in natural K internal to the human body in the detection of 241Am and 210Pb activities at the level of 37 mBq (1 pCi). The response of a broad energy Ge (BEGe) reference crystal to 1461 keV photons was simulated using GEANT4 code. Simulations were performed for a point source without and with shielding, as well as for a Bottle Manikin Absorption (BOMAB) phantom in the shielded whole-body counting chamber (WBC). The WBC facility is located underground at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Carlsbad, NM, USA. The simulation results were discussed with regards to the interference in detecting the 241Am and 210Pb at the level of 37 mBq (1 pCi). The specific conclusion is that the interference counts from 40K activity at the natural levels present in the human body in typical clinical settings were found to be greater than the 210Pb and 241Am signal counts from 37 mBq (1 pCi), when a 38.1 mm diameter, 25.4 mm thick BEGe reference crystal was used. Our solution for minimizing the interference to the desired precision at the specified levels was found by sacrificing the broad energy response of the counting system.},
doi = {10.1016/j.jrras.2017.07.004},
journal = {Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences},
number = 4,
volume = 10,
place = {United States},
year = {2017},
month = {10}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2017.07.004
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Figures / Tables:

Fig. 1. Fig. 1.: Simulated response of a reference Ge crystal to the 1461 keV photonflux emitted by a 40K point source, (a) without a chamber, (b) with a chamber.
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Works referenced in this record:

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    Figures / Tables found in this record:

    Fig. 1. (p. 3)figure
    Fig. 2. (p. 4)figure
    Fig. 3. (p. 4)figure
    Table 1 (p. 5)table
    Table 2 (p. 6)table
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